http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-ways-growing-up-changes-way-you-see-video-games/
So this article got me thinking the other day; why is that every time someone mentions things grown-ups need, have or "should" be doing, they don't seem to apply to me, or appeal to me. Its like there is this block that keeps me from giving a damn about things I'm apparently suppose to. I mean, I'm 25 and;
My job isn't going to get much better
I kind have to face the fact that my job isn't going to get much better. I'll likely be stuck making $12 an hour for the rest of my life - jobs are few and far between around here. What professional jobs there are immediately get sucked up by people with way fancier and better degrees than I have. And the kinds of jobs that people like me used to get promoted to either got cut, or shipped off to India/Pakistan/China where the workers work for the daily wage of "If you work we won't beat you", a wage most can't compete against.
"Career Advancement" isn't much of a thing nowadays.
You're supposed to have a girlfriend/planning a family by now
Well, I've never had a girlfriend, and I've only ever been on one date, ever. My job isn't exactly a place to meet someone, nor something terribly interesting. Most (read: all) of my hobbies are personal, alone things, like video games and reading. And I'm on the low-end of the desirability scale; shy, awkward, quiet. Don't make a lot of money. Don't have a car and don't like or want children. Thats....pretty much the lowest of the barrel that one can get before you start getting into people with actual issues (IE: Criminals, attitude problems, ugly, etc.).
You're supposed to worry about things like owning a house!
Yeah well...what if I don't need a house? They're massively expensive to buy, maintain and use. I don't have any need for that kind of room anyway. A small apartment suits me just fine, and costs less.
You should socialize more
The thing is...I could not possibly give less of a damn about things people like to socialize over. I don't care about sports. Or music. Or art. Well, I suppose I care about sports, since League of Legends and Starcraft have made gaming into a sport...but not sports that people actually get together about.
I play video games and read. I maybe go see a movie once or twice a year (this year will likely only be Age of Ultron. Maybe the Water Diviner if it turns out to be good). None of that is very "social". I don't have anything to socialize over - I'd just be that weird guy, not there doing anything. Things I could socialize over are out of my price range; I'll never be able to afford to go Blizzcon or PAX East or E3 or anything like that.
You should go out and do things!
Yeah. Its not like I didn't TRY.
Skiing? Tried that. Was a danger to myself and those around me even after 2 years of lesson and practice. Stopped, 'cause I don't want to be that guy who winds up breaking someone's kid because he shouldn't be on the slopes.
Play an instrument? Tried that too. For years when I was a kid. I was so bad I actually got berated and told to just stop by the music instructor at school.
Volunteer work? Did enough of that to last me a lifetime in high school.
You shouldn't play video games so much. You should do more adult things, like X!
Yeah. Adult things suck. TV isn't that interesting. Adult sports, like golf, tennis etc. aren't that fun to play or watch. Or any of the other things you're probably thinking of listing. But yet, I'll be inundated with articles like this one suggesting that the thing I DO like to do isn't appropriate for adults, likely for the rest of my life.
Joy.
So this article got me thinking the other day; why is that every time someone mentions things grown-ups need, have or "should" be doing, they don't seem to apply to me, or appeal to me. Its like there is this block that keeps me from giving a damn about things I'm apparently suppose to. I mean, I'm 25 and;
My job isn't going to get much better
I kind have to face the fact that my job isn't going to get much better. I'll likely be stuck making $12 an hour for the rest of my life - jobs are few and far between around here. What professional jobs there are immediately get sucked up by people with way fancier and better degrees than I have. And the kinds of jobs that people like me used to get promoted to either got cut, or shipped off to India/Pakistan/China where the workers work for the daily wage of "If you work we won't beat you", a wage most can't compete against.
"Career Advancement" isn't much of a thing nowadays.
You're supposed to have a girlfriend/planning a family by now
Well, I've never had a girlfriend, and I've only ever been on one date, ever. My job isn't exactly a place to meet someone, nor something terribly interesting. Most (read: all) of my hobbies are personal, alone things, like video games and reading. And I'm on the low-end of the desirability scale; shy, awkward, quiet. Don't make a lot of money. Don't have a car and don't like or want children. Thats....pretty much the lowest of the barrel that one can get before you start getting into people with actual issues (IE: Criminals, attitude problems, ugly, etc.).
You're supposed to worry about things like owning a house!
Yeah well...what if I don't need a house? They're massively expensive to buy, maintain and use. I don't have any need for that kind of room anyway. A small apartment suits me just fine, and costs less.
You should socialize more
The thing is...I could not possibly give less of a damn about things people like to socialize over. I don't care about sports. Or music. Or art. Well, I suppose I care about sports, since League of Legends and Starcraft have made gaming into a sport...but not sports that people actually get together about.
I play video games and read. I maybe go see a movie once or twice a year (this year will likely only be Age of Ultron. Maybe the Water Diviner if it turns out to be good). None of that is very "social". I don't have anything to socialize over - I'd just be that weird guy, not there doing anything. Things I could socialize over are out of my price range; I'll never be able to afford to go Blizzcon or PAX East or E3 or anything like that.
You should go out and do things!
Yeah. Its not like I didn't TRY.
Skiing? Tried that. Was a danger to myself and those around me even after 2 years of lesson and practice. Stopped, 'cause I don't want to be that guy who winds up breaking someone's kid because he shouldn't be on the slopes.
Play an instrument? Tried that too. For years when I was a kid. I was so bad I actually got berated and told to just stop by the music instructor at school.
Volunteer work? Did enough of that to last me a lifetime in high school.
You shouldn't play video games so much. You should do more adult things, like X!
Yeah. Adult things suck. TV isn't that interesting. Adult sports, like golf, tennis etc. aren't that fun to play or watch. Or any of the other things you're probably thinking of listing. But yet, I'll be inundated with articles like this one suggesting that the thing I DO like to do isn't appropriate for adults, likely for the rest of my life.
Joy.