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in reply to Tio

Playing video games is a lot cheaper and accessible than the old days, especially with the proliferation of smart phones and the oodles of free-2-play and free webgames out there.
in reply to Isaac Kuo

Well I bet those "free" games are not trade-free. You probably have to trade your attention (watch ads), or data. Had to mention that 😛
in reply to Tio

That's a take, one that is frankly insulting and belittling a large swath of people. Do you feel the same way about people who watch films and enjoy literature?
in reply to GrayGooGirl 🏳️‍🌈

Only about those who watch movies and read a lot of fictional stuff. But how can I say that video games are mostly a waste of time in my view and not insult anyone? Because for sure I do not want to insult anyone. I don't even understand what that means.

For example I love watching documentaries but I will never feel insulted if anyone would say that watching documentaries is a waste of time in their view. For one it is their view, and second I could argue that they are not a waste of time.
in reply to Tio

I play video games in a way that actually helps others. GamesDoneQuick is an organization that raises money for various causes by holding marathon events for video game speed running. Their event before last raised over $3 million dollars for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The last event I directly participated in (Frost Fatales 2023) generated $170,000 for Malala Fund. By casting all video game playing as a waste of time, you denigrate those of use who use it for the betterment of others.
This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to GrayGooGirl 🏳️‍🌈

From my perspective video games are mostly a waste of time

I said mostly not all ofc.

I play video games in a way that actually helps others. GamesDoneQuick is an organization that raises money for various causes by holding marathon events for video game speed running.

See that's nice ofc that they raise money. It is sad we have to come up with such events in order to help the poor and the ones that suffer. But yeah, nice of you for doing that.

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in reply to GrayGooGirl 🏳️‍🌈

Your original post also treated playing games as a purely solo activity, when it's not. Not only has participation in Frame Fatales events given me an outlet for a passion of mine, it's created a sense of community with others who share common interest. Online gaming has a huge social component. One of the earliest uses for Pong was as a game to be played over cocktails with potential dating partners (this was the inspiration for the cocktail arcade cabinet design).
This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to GrayGooGirl 🏳️‍🌈

It is still spending time in a fantasy world chitchatting with some humans on the phone basically. I personally do not see these as different from my parents watching nonsense TV shows. I'm sorry but that's how I see it. Probably, rarely, there are some more interesting games, but it is a pity that humans live in such a mind blowing world that they mostly ignore on a daily bases and are more excited about fantasy stories. Nothing wrong with fantasy stories, but it is a pity when they eat most of people's time, considering the amazing reality we live in.
in reply to Tio

It's also far more accessible than some of the things you've suggested, especially from a disability standpoint. It's quite frankly disconcerting to see an entire art medium disregarded because you've simply decided that it's childish and has no merit. The only thing pitiable here is that you feel you've the right to judge others for how they find their joy in a life that's far too short.
in reply to GrayGooGirl 🏳️‍🌈

in reply to GrayGooGirl 🏳️‍🌈

I don't know if you have any hobbies (other than watching documentaries, a thing which is definitely not a waste of time) but I can tell you one thing, no one should be judging you for having them. Personal joy is an important aspect of life, no matter where it's found.
in reply to GrayGooGirl 🏳️‍🌈

I agree joy is joy, a feeling, regardless how it is created. But we can't ignore the fact that game companies, or hardware ones, and so on, play a huge role in creating these "hobbies" for so many people, simply because they wanna sell more of their thing.

Same with movies and most entertainment.

From what I see and know, most humans spend their free time watching movies, playing video games, scrolling through tiktok and so forth. I consider these as mostly mindless activities that are mainly influenced by a trade-based society where merchants need to sell stuff to you, and thus the game, movie and "social network" industries are to blame for transforming people into zombies who have no clue how mind blowing the reality of our natural world is. Just feed them simplistic content because it is easy to produce.
in reply to GrayGooGirl 🏳️‍🌈

in reply to Tio

A lot of them are ad supported, but a lot are not. For example, one popular one that I've played a lot is Doge2048. It's a simple javascript web game with no ads. There is a small link to go to another page to buy NFTs of the doge images, so there is some sort of revenue stream, but it's so small that I think most people would never even notice it. I don't really know what the thinking behind that is.

I mostly deal with retro stuff, and there are a lot of games that are just released as freeware, especially ones which would otherwise get themselves in hot water. For example, there have been recent C64 ports of Super Mario Bros and Sonic - both released strictly as freeware fan projects, to try and avoid the ire of Nintendo and Sega.

Some C64 titles have commercial releases, but the majority of modern retro C64 releases don't. And the nature of the platform isn't really practical for ads or other indirect means of acquiring revenue.
in reply to Tio

> I used to play video games too when I was in school, like 80 years ago

Damn when did you get so old, haha 😄

So I don't really play any video games myself but I don't mind if others do it, everyone will have their own preferences when it comes to what they enjoy doing and who am I to judge them for it and say my way is better than theirs? 🤷
in reply to Rokosun

There are more objective criticisms of this for sure. Like ofc whatever people like, like. This is subjective. What is a lot less subjective is that these video games are aggressively marketed by big companies who mostly want to make more profits, and that will have a strong effect on people, making them want to play video games. Same way Facebook wanna make people stay on their platform.

Also, considering the complexity and mindblowingness of our world, the one discovered through science, it is objectively pity that most humans spend their time being amazed and entertained by simplistic, many times violent entertainment. And this is again because of a huge marketing influence. #TradeRuinsEverything
in reply to Tio

in reply to Rokosun

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in reply to Tio

in reply to Rokosun

My personal social profile is separated from TROM for this reason, so that I can post whatever I want on my profile, while TROM is for more thoughtful posts. I want to be able to live a life where I can say whatever I want and don't give a fuck about what people think and such. I don't care if I put off some people, because I do this via my personal account. I do want to be more exact, calm, and reasonable via the official TROM "outlets".

I've used my website to rant about things since 2005. Helped to not basically kill myself since I was so angry about this society I tried to do that in highschool. So it does help a lot. That's not to say I rant nonsense. I'll stand behind my rants. It is just the way that I express myself while I rant, that may put people off or look too generalized.

In any case, I did not expect this huge conversation because of this post haha. Stay wise and calm! ;)
in reply to Tio

@Tio @Rokosun @Stephanie R Maxwell 🏳️‍🌈
Yeah good point, I don't want you to self-sensor yourself just 'cause you have this project TROM, you should keep being you because that's genuine. And BTW I also do rant sometimes, if I start to post more often here then you may see more of it. Lastly, sorry for dragging this conversation along for too long, I just had some things in my head that I wanted to put out there and this seemed like a good chance to do that, it'd be weird if I came to you and randomly started a conversation about movies or ranting, lol 😄
in reply to Tio

I don't disagree, but it's a fun exercise to replace "video games" in your post with say computers, television, books, a solo card game or jigsaw puzzles etc. and see how much it changes the argument XD

Love the octopus!😍
in reply to BB

Computers, TV, books are neutral tools - it depends what you consume via these. Video Games are tilted one sided form my knowledge. Look we wrote a book for TROM about The For Profit Entertainment - https://www.tromsite.com/books/#flipbook-df_9908/1/ - and when we showcased educational games it was really really really difficult to find any. Most games seem to be violent/retarded to be honest.

It is a similar situation for books and tv. We showcase that too. But a lot less than for video games. A lot less.

The issue is when that's one of your main activities, to consume retarded content. That will make you stupid. That's the point here. And how the "gaming" became a "thing" I'd say mostly because of the reasons I listed in the original post.
in reply to Tio

The point I was trying to make is that fundamentally they are all neutral tools. Though I must admit to having a similarly negative attitude myself towards television, and also that the format/platform can have a role to play in what kind of content it most naturally plays host to or promotes. A good example being how faceless and short-form messages on the internet so easily arouse antagonistic feelings 🙁
in reply to BB

I also very much agree that the content and people you engage with, and the environment you surround yourself with, play very significant roles in moulding your own personality and outlook. It is frustratingly difficult to address serious topics like this on a platform with such tiny character limits...
in reply to BB

Use Friendica 😀 - Feel free to join our node https://social.trom.tf - it also works with the Mastodon API so any Mastodon app works with Friendica too.
in reply to Tio

Thank you! I'd been meaning to try Friendica sometime, so I've signed up to your one now :flow:
in reply to BB

Approved! If you have any questions tag me and I'll help you out ;).