Why do my parents HATE video games?

[GilmourD]

11 hours ago, iKingRPG said:

Well I know my mom had a Nintendo for a couple years and my dad grew up in another country and I don't think he had a computer until he was around 18-20 (just guessing). My mom also hates MODERN games more than what she grew up with. I like the kinds of games she grew up with too. I guess most of my life I had access to games since I used to play PC games since I was about 4-5. I love video games, but I am not addicted to them. The whole point of this forum was to find other people who's parents are like this. Of course I love games, I know playing a lot can waste time, which is why I have other hobbies too.

Challenge your mom to a Tetris battle.

[mlitttler89]

It's because old people don't like fun.

[N1NJ4W4RR10R]

On 11/10/2018 at 5:38 PM, Amazonsucks said:

I would personally tell her "Ok ill go run the streets and do drugs, get someone pregnant(if youre male) or get STDs like tons of others do. Thats better than playing games riiiight? Gets me out of the house, riiight?" 

 

That shuts them right up every time.

 

And i wouldnt insult children by saying that gaming youtubers have child minds. I would rather watch spongebob youtube poops than 99% of gaming youtubers. The ytps are more intellectually stimulating and informative.

Don't go to crazy, lol. They're doing it to protect the kid, not to purposely anger them.

 

Run the classic t.v argument (assuming they watch a fair amount of t.v), as well as making sure they're aware it's a hobby. I'd advise potraying it as a mix between movies/t.v and books (IMO what they are). Has the cinematic experience of the former, with the thought and brain power of the latter.

[N1NJ4W4RR10R]

On 11/10/2018 at 6:23 PM, LinusTech said:

My son probably spends 2-5 hours a week playing games during the winter. Closer to 1-2 in the summer. 

 

When I'm hooked on something he ends up watching me play sometimes, but I'm finally done BotW so it hasn't been an issue for the last couple weeks haha.... 

 

Still haven't figured out what will be considered acceptable once he's older. The weird thing is that I parlayed my love of gaming and PCs into a successful career, but I still see it largely as a spectacular waste of time given that the odds of becoming me (or Ninja or whatever else) are pretty slim without also investing significant time into something else - STEM, business skills, etc.. 

IMO absolutely reasonable for kids so young. Games can absolutely be addictive, gotta make sure they get into a good habbit with em.

[N1NJ4W4RR10R]

On 11/11/2018 at 4:16 AM, paddy-stone said:

I do have one thing to add...

 

Maybe they would be more interested if you suggested a family game night, and either get some suitable games for the PC that you could play together... or buy a used wii/wii-U or similar to play on, from my experience more adults feel unopposed to playing sports/music/trivia type games. And to be honest that is really fun to play as a group... maybe your parents are more opposed to the playing alone aspect of gaming, whereas a family activity where everyone can join in might make them not hate it so much.

Ironically this is probably why I end up being able to play a fair chunk...ah the good old wii sports.

[Canada EH]

2 hours ago, N1NJ4W4RR10R said:

ah the good old wii sports.

Yup I bought that and them all, plus all the games. Now a days I buy two systems so the kids can play and play and play no matter where they are. Two systems plus the game$. Like any overindulgence, there has got to be balance, otherwise they end up skewed and the problem gets worse in time and is harder and harder to fix them later on in life. Parents have a lifetime of experience, where as the child has a miniscule amount of anything if knoweldge and experience. Parents see the signs of addiction and what unbalances in life can do.

[Amazonsucks]

22 hours ago, N1NJ4W4RR10R said:

Don't go to crazy, lol. They're doing it to protect the kid, not to purposely anger them.

 

Run the classic t.v argument (assuming they watch a fair amount of t.v), as well as making sure they're aware it's a hobby. I'd advise potraying it as a mix between movies/t.v and books (IMO what they are). Has the cinematic experience of the former, with the thought and brain power of the latter.

I realize thats their intention, but what i said is also true. If they create perverse incentives it can lead their kid to doing something far worse than playing videogames. Thats the point i would try to make to a parent.

 

Plus, if theyre playing a lot of games, youd hope theyre also learning about computers in the process, which can be a very constructive thing. 

 

If you spend time on computers, you really SHOULD really learn at least the basics of cybersecurity(so you dont get scammed, hacked, malware, lose money, or have your identity stolen) as well as basic PC and networking maintenence so you can keep your computer working, upgrade it etc. 

 

They could also make a point of explaining how building and maintaining a IT equipment and cybersecurity are useful skills in the modern world.

 

I remember back when 77,000 Steam accounts were hacked and hijacked each month. I helped a lot of gamers with cybersecurity at that time. I always tried to give them the basic knowledge to help themselves as well, since it can end up saving them thousands of dollars.

[Benjy98]

Personally, my parents didn't play any video games in their life. So to them, it looks like it's a "kids thing/activity", even though grown-ups play them worldwide. I have to agree with on 1 fact with them that there are better ways to spend your free time. But in my case, my parents themselves just watch Netflix or TV and they don't view that as a problem (time waste) like video games so there's that.

[ewitte]

A few  hours a week is fair but a child is supposed to be a child not a "person" working to become an adult.   You can't get that time back.   Find alternative fun things so that they don't want to as much.   

 

I've been working in a custom loop my daughter asked if she can do that someday

[FadedCrown]

Sorry to bump but...

 

Most of the people who hate video games spend their time watching Reality TV and meaningless entertainment. In their eyes video games are meaningless. No irony by the way.

 

OP, do you think your Mom has had a successful career? If so, then her way of thinking might be justified. If not, then well.

[Beskamir]

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be in computer science if it wasn't for playing games and more importantly trying to mod them.