Does gaming count as a hobby?

Lunchbox · Post by **Lunchbox** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:30 pm

So I was sitting in the car on my way home from work and my dad asks me what I bought my brother for Christmas. I tell him I bought him an Xbox game and mydad rolls his eyes, just like he does whenever videogames are mentioned when he's around. "Why can't you show a little interest in my hobbies and interests?" I say. He says gaming is not a hobby because hobbies are constructive. Is this true? Or is he just too set in his old-school ways? Keep in mind he hasn't played a game since the early 90's.

FETUS · Post by **FETUS** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:35 pm

Hobbies are just something you do for yourself. So when you get to the next level or get that special weapon you've done something constructive for yourself. No different then say model rockets, nobody else cares if you've just finsished a level 3 rocket.

Lartrak · Post by **Lartrak** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:40 pm

The dictionary says

An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.

Covar · Post by **Covar** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:54 pm

i always viewed them as more of pastimes but that could be just me.

Post by **|darc|** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:04 pm

Of course gaming is a hobby.

Nico0020 · Post by **Nico0020** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:09 pm

To quote Norman Bates(spelling?)

"A hobby is suppost to pass the time, not take it up"

Just depends on how much you play maybe. heh.

Sir C.A.T · Post by **Sir C.A.T** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:15 pm

yes, I think gaming is a hobby as much as fixing on computers and such.

Veggita2099 · Post by **Veggita2099** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:38 pm

My dad does that crap yet he watches about 5 hours of TV per day. I guess its ok to sit in front of a television and watch tv, but its bad to play videogames.

Eckostyle · Post by **Eckostyle** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:47 pm

A very unproductive one, but yes, it's a hobby.

JuddWack · Post by **JuddWack** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:52 pm

To answer your question, yes... but

Do you show any interest in his? I mean not actually taking part, but simply asking questions.

My dad has never touched a controller, but he will stand by the TV and watch us play Halo2 for about 3 minutes every couple days or ask us questions about them from time to time. Same with us and his stuff.

Veggita2099 · Post by **Veggita2099** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:53 pm

Some people collect porn for a hobby. Gaming is probably more productive then that?

Zealous zerotype · Post by **Zealous zerotype** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 8:04 pm

They burn more calories tough.

Lunchbox · Post by **Lunchbox** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:15 pm

JuddWack wrote: Do you show any interest in his? I mean not actually taking part, but simply asking questions.

Yes. I even joined one of the clubs he's in. And when I turn 20 i'm going to join the masons too, so 2 clubs.

Its not that he doesn't want to play games that bothers me, its that he just doesn't care and even looks down on them. He thinks games are stupid and a waste of time and money. It got to a point where whenever he so much as saw me pick up a controller he'd literally yell at me, and I was forced to move my gaming to the basement to avoid confrontation. There was no real reason for it. My work was always done, and I never gave him trouble. One day when I got home from class I found all of my games and systems (all paid for myself I might add) in a garbage bag. He was planning to throw them out or sell them. I grabbed it and hid it. He then says he "did it to teach me a lesson and he's not afraid to do it again", yet to this day I don't know what I did to deserve it. My most prized posessions are nothing but garbage to him.

Zealous zerotype · Post by **Zealous zerotype** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:20 pm

Lunchbox wrote:
JuddWack wrote: Do you show any interest in his? I mean not actually taking part, but simply asking questions.
Yes. I even joined one of the clubs he's in. And when I turn 20 i'm going to join the masons too, so 2 clubs.

Its not that he doesn't want to play games that bothers me, its that he just doesn't care and even looks down on them. He thinks games are stupid and a waste of time and money. It got to a point where whenever he so much as saw me pick up a controller he'd literally yell at me, and I was forced to move my gaming to the basement to avoid confrontation. There was no real reason for it. My work was always done, and I never gave him trouble. One day when I got home from class I found all of my games and systems (all paid for myself I might add) in a garbage bag. He was planning to throw them out or sell them. I grabbed it and hid it. He then says he "did it to teach me a lesson and he's not afraid to do it again", yet to this day I don't know what I did to deserve it. My most prized posessions are nothing but garbage to him.

Man wtf did you do?I knwo prolly nothing,but any idea why he's like that?

Lunchbox · Post by **Lunchbox** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:24 pm

zerotype wrote:
Lunchbox wrote:
JuddWack wrote: Do you show any interest in his? I mean not actually taking part, but simply asking questions.
Yes. I even joined one of the clubs he's in. And when I turn 20 i'm going to join the masons too, so 2 clubs.

Its not that he doesn't want to play games that bothers me, its that he just doesn't care and even looks down on them. He thinks games are stupid and a waste of time and money. It got to a point where whenever he so much as saw me pick up a controller he'd literally yell at me, and I was forced to move my gaming to the basement to avoid confrontation. There was no real reason for it. My work was always done, and I never gave him trouble. One day when I got home from class I found all of my games and systems (all paid for myself I might add) in a garbage bag. He was planning to throw them out or sell them. I grabbed it and hid it. He then says he "did it to teach me a lesson and he's not afraid to do it again", yet to this day I don't know what I did to deserve it. My most prized posessions are nothing but garbage to him.
Man wtf did you do?I knwo prolly nothing,but any idea why he's like that?

I don't know. I don't smoke. I don't drink. I've never tried drugs. I've never been in trouble with the cops. I've had good marks in school and i'm graduating from college at age 19. I paid for all my games with my own money too, they never costed him a damn thing.

I just don't know. Just to spite me I guess, that kind of thing happens when your father is an abusive asshole

Master Higgins · Post by **Master Higgins** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:33 pm

Well people who are cinephiles consider watching and talking about movies a hobby, so I guess gaming, if you are a game buff it'd be about the same thing.

Veggita2099 · Post by **Veggita2099** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:49 pm

Might be abit off topic, but this brings another thing up. I find it amazeing how movies are released that are ultra violent/scary/gore/etc and nothing is ever said. Yet if a Videogame is violent its horrible. So Silence of the Lambs, a movie about a man who skins women and makes coats out of them is ok. But violence in games = Bad.

mankrip · Post by **mankrip** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 10:23 pm

Lunchbox wrote:I don't smoke. I don't drink. I've never tried drugs. I've never been in trouble with the cops.

I'M NOT ALONE!

JuddWack · Post by **JuddWack** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 11:41 pm

Well you know what man, I see where your coming from but thats just how he was raised.

I mean my Nana told me when I go to Japan not to bring home a Japanese bride and that she liked me better before I got my eyebrow pierced.

Sometimes you need to judge people by the times they live in. Think of the things he does that shows he loves you.

Warmachine · Post by **Warmachine** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 11:49 pm

Gaming a hobby? Of course it is! What else would it be? Punishment?