Gaming isn't a life style, its a hobby.

[Aposthebest]

I actually agree,it can not be described completely as a lifestyle.To me it's more of a hobby.

It's all up to in what way you use your free time,some people watch TV,others read books,others watch movies,others go to gym and so on.

Saying that just because it affects behaviour in some way doesn't mean it's a lifestyle,all of the above and well...actually everything we do shapes our personality and the way we act,reply,etc,etc. All of these are information,take Movie Bob's "Scre4m" review for example and the point he makes about his childhood.

But in the end of the day,it's what we use in order to fill our free time.Whether you organise that free time or are "addicted" and try to evade responsibilities,it's still the same,you use up your free time in front of the console/pc.

It's a hobby and you could be using that time doing anything else mentioned as much.

 

[Smooth Operator]

No it is not a lifestyle, but it is part of it, i.e. you define your lifestyle with your hobbies/interests.

So now that we cleared that... anyone got good porn links? What, it's part of my lifestyle

 

[Anah'ya]

I dont know why everyone seems to think gaming is a life style. Video games are nothing more then something to have fun with and blow time on. People dont (and never did) consider watchng T.V. as a lifestyle so why do gamers?

lifestyle

? n
1. a set of attitudes, habits, or possessions associated with a particular person or group
2. such attitudes, etc, regarded as fashionable or desirable

By definition of the word "Lifestyle", gaming fits the bill for communities focusing around it. Anyone arguing this point may go and do so with whoever came up with the term "lifestyle" to begin with, not with people belonging to it.

 

[SmokingMirrors]

Eh, i've never taken issue with those who'd seek to claim gaming as their way of life. I just get irritated by the ones who claim its a sport. Its not. No matter how good your memory or how swift your twitch reflexes might be, you're not an athlete. Thats like me claiming I am because I partake in chess tournaments.

 

[Monsterfurby]

I dont know why everyone seems to think gaming is a life style. Video games are nothing more then something to have fun with and blow time on. People dont (and never did) consider watchng T.V. as a lifestyle so why do gamers?

Amen. Thanks.

This applies to many things incorrectly called a lifestyle - Tabletop Role-Playing, LARP, any sport, and so forth.

However, there is one thing that, in my opinion, qualifies it as a lifestyle. A lifestyle, in my opinion, is a singular theme/topic/activity that a notable majority of the disposable income is spent on, so yeah, so people might be celebrating gaming as a lifestyle.
Most of us, though... nah.

 

[Legendairy314]

Considering that games are no longer just time sinks or are exclusively fun I'd have to disagree. Games have evolved into experiences that can vary from the dramatic, artistic, or even horrendous. I don't play limbo to have fun. I do it for emotional impact, devious puzzles, and an incredibly interesting artistic style. I don't play Portal to waste time. I play it to experience a unique and often hilarious universe in which I feel rewarded for forging a way onwards.

I'm making gaming my career and as such it now comprises a hefty chunk of my existence. When I start writing novels it will be with what games have shown me that I draw inspiration. When people ask how I'm able to shoot people in a video game and call it a lifestyle I will smile knowing that the only way they would ever understand was if they had the same experiences I have had. There's something special about this medium and I understand that other people may never see it in the same light I do. And I'm OK with that. I'd just appreciate it if they have a more open mind past what they believe entertainment should or shouldn't be. Ask any Movie/TV Director, Author, or Game Designer and I'm sure you'd get a similar response.

 

[Wondermint13]

I dont know why everyone seems to think gaming is a life style. Video games are nothing more then something to have fun with and blow time on. People dont (and never did) consider watchng T.V. as a lifestyle so why do gamers?

Although I have seen statements like this far too many times now. I still always whole heartedly agree.
Though The gaming industry could be considered a decent enough lifestyle. There's money and a future in it with many creative paths and opportunities and endless fanbases. But leave that for the clever and talented people who get paid to work with games all day.
Thats where the missunderstanding sometimes arises. People who just play the games and people who work with them are so far apart but all fall into 'gaming'.

It's a hobby.
Sure, be passionate and take it seriously from time to time for the sake of immersion but ffs, dont make it a lifestyle or a second job (looking at you WoW raiders.
Buy the merchandise and express your fanism, but for god sake dont go out into the world with nothing to talk about except you online pwnage and artistic views on another bullsh*t halo game..
Planet Earth aint all bad y'know =)

 

[Zaik]

In before a bunch of raging extra credits fans kick your door down and zombify you.

I tend to agree, but that's just because of how I define the word "lifestyle". It's not *just* what you do in your spare time, or in some cases do in your not-spare time. "Gamers" don't eat or dress or walk or speak differently from people who don't. Nor are they identifiable to people who are not just by appearance outside of wearing something plainly obvious. Makes it a bit difficult for me to even consider the idea.

Someone who sees sports fans living a "lifestyle" based off the team wouldn't really have trouble seeing "gaming" as one. I disagree, but it's just a matter of how you define the word.

We don't dress differently?

I beg to differ. We don't speak differently? Lolspeak and memes beg to differ.

Right, if you're going to wear a big giant sign on your face, it kind of ruins the test. It's not a required uniform, so it doesn't really count as far as pushing a lifestyle, beause for every person who wears one of those, 10 to 30 probably don't, or at least aren't at the time.

Not everyone in any lifestyle wears the same thing. The point is, there's clothing ONLY gamers wear, like those things.

That was why I brought up uniforms. The entire lack of any consistency in anything while painting with such a broad brush disqualifies it, and breaking it down into smaller groups for consistency doesn't really offer enough of a base to really call it a lifestyle.