You should try getting her into a game, then if she continues to push what would then be a double standard she's really just a ...wait, yeah, she's just an ordinary stubborn parent.
How do I convince her games have merit?
- Thread starter cairocat
- Start date
Recommended Videos
10 hours a week and she thinks you have a problem?! I had to write a term paper on gaming addiction and trust me, 10 hours a week puts you on the ass end of the spectrum. You have about as much chance to get addicted with that kind of playtime as a amish child.
But, you're here for solutions, and as zero pattern said, she's going to believe what she wants to believe. Even if you present her with evidence that gaming turns kids into people like Mother Teresa she's going to see it as a waste of time. Probably the best thing to do is get involved with an extra curricular activity if you have the time. If you don't, or just really don't want to do anything, you're just gonna have to live with a biased parent.
But, you're here for solutions, and as zero pattern said, she's going to believe what she wants to believe. Even if you present her with evidence that gaming turns kids into people like Mother Teresa she's going to see it as a waste of time. Probably the best thing to do is get involved with an extra curricular activity if you have the time. If you don't, or just really don't want to do anything, you're just gonna have to live with a biased parent.
Do this.Judgement101 said:
Also, explain to her that you don't need to be doing productive things all the time. Sometimes you just need recreation.
Jesus, some of the people here are just... she told him he can't play video games, not that she's sending him to one of those gay-camps for having a different sexual orientation! Calm the hell down!
OT: Try telling her about a book your reading. If she asks what it's about, tell her the plot and story of the best story from a video game you know, then tell her that it is actually the plot and story from a video game. If she says that you're lying, then find other sources that say the same thing.
Take what I say with a grain of salt, however, because I've never had to deal with this problem.
OT: Try telling her about a book your reading. If she asks what it's about, tell her the plot and story of the best story from a video game you know, then tell her that it is actually the plot and story from a video game. If she says that you're lying, then find other sources that say the same thing.
Take what I say with a grain of salt, however, because I've never had to deal with this problem.
I don't think my dad really likes video games. I remember him calling them pointless or something to that effect. I pointed out that television, movies, and books are all pointless entertainment. And that his smoking and drinking have no merit. Funny enough, my mom heard this and supported me in it, saying that I had a valid point.ALuckyChance said:
And I third it!RagnorakTres said:
Even if you don't show her the Extra Credits episodes, I'd recommend listening to some video game music (without telling her). When she asks, what this is, tell her it's music from a video game. Has she heard the Halo theme? Also recommend the Final Fantasy theme. Seriously, you can't deny the artistic merit of games, when just the music is so good.
If all else fails, just try to reason with her. Explain to her that games let you spend time with friends that you otherwise couldn't do to distance. Explain that these are things that you enjoy just as much as she enjoys [insert entertainment medium here]. Ask her how she would feel if she was denied something which she enjoys. You may be surprised how a reasoned approach might work. You could even blame your ability to do this on games, if she wants to blame negative actions on games.
Good luck!
Impress her in discussion and outside of videogame playing. Then, when she comments on the change, tell her it was due to videogames.
Tell her that it's no different from watching TV, maybe she'll forbid you to watch TV too 
If she says games are mind killing get a DS and show her Profesor Layton or Brain Age
If she says games are mind killing get a DS and show her Profesor Layton or Brain Age
What about Portal? It teaches you about physics and philosophy, is a fascinating character study, and if she accepts it, you can play together when the sequel comes out the February!
I wish there was a way to comfort you buddy, but that's just how some people, (moms especially), view video games. You could try to approach her in a mature way and express to her how much the companionship you have with your friends online means to you. Try to have her sit with you and watch what you do. (Might want to tell your buddies to clean up the dialogue of course.) 10 hours a week may not seem like much to you but that's not how parents think bro. They think "Well that's 10 hours you could be studying or being outside or doing something other than being inside GLUED to the T.V." I hate that phrase. That's why I put it in caps. lol I think your best bet is to take the high road on this and try to reason with your mom. Don't whine, cry, scream or be petulant. Doing that will only reinforce her idea that games are making you anti-social and underdeveloped. Try surprising her by coming at her like a mature adult and asking her to sit with you and watch you play with your buddies. Maybe she'll figure out that you play mostly for the friendships you have with your teammates, not necessarily the "epic frags", you know? Another thought: you say you only play 10 hours a week so you should have plenty of time for other stuff. Do stuff in the day outside or hit the books or whatever it is you do when you're not playing video games and try to help relieve your mom's fears a little bit. Maybe she's just concerned because she doesn't see you doing other things on your downtime. I remember growing up that it sucked that the only time my mom ever seemed to see me was in the evening after she got home from work, after my football practices and homework were done, (well, homework for the most part was done...hehe), while I was winding down with some FFVII or Twisted Metal 2. She'd come in like "Oh you're playing video games again. Surprise!" We'd get into the same debate: "Mom, you only see me for like two hours every night and it's at the end of the day. All my work is done. What is your problem?" Oh was that the wrong thing to say. She didn't care about the games at that point or the fact that my homework was (mostly) done. All she saw was her son popping off his lip at his mother. (And I was, to be honest.) Dunno buddy. Hope it works out for you. Come at your mom like an adult, is the best advice I can offer. You may not have a way to go here. I promise you, it gets pretty awesome once you move out on your own bud. Just stay away from WOW and games of its ilk once you get free from home and you'll be fine.
Ask her if she remembers the people who wanted to ban rock & roll. Then ask her how stupid she thought that was. If the answer is something like "That was silly", tell her she is the same type of ignorant person who is scared of anything new, or of anything changing. If she says the opposite of the previous statement, show her Extra Credits. If all else fails, go to a friends house to play Halo: Reach, or whatever else is hip at the time, she'll either miss you, or you get to be social and play video games. It's a win-win scenario.
Hey, we'll all die in the end, right? In a few million years, the sun will burn out and we'll all die a horrible death, if we don't kill each other already.Zero Pattern said:
...
Also, before you ask, no, I'm not a pessimist.
Find out what she enjoys. Movies? They do the same thing. Television? Does the same thing. Books? Do the same thing. Playing cops and robbers outside? Does the same thing.
ALL entertainment has the ability to become addictive IF YOU LET IT, and affect your personality IF YOU LET IT. Does she enjoy knitting? You can get obsessed with that too, and become antisocial. Maybe what she means is she wants you to be "an outstanding productive American" and go get an industrial job right this instant.
ALL entertainment has the ability to become addictive IF YOU LET IT, and affect your personality IF YOU LET IT. Does she enjoy knitting? You can get obsessed with that too, and become antisocial. Maybe what she means is she wants you to be "an outstanding productive American" and go get an industrial job right this instant.
Sorry hun, but it sounds like your mom is set in her ways. Mine was the same way, when i was a child she absolutely forbade me from saying the word "nintendo" or she would spank me. Anyways, I'm living on my own now and have a gaming collection that would crush you if I dropped it on your body. My advice is as follows. Get your gaming wher eyou can. Hand-helds are a good idea, though understandablyt, not as fulfilling.cairocat said:
Friends houses, whatever, do what you can. Then, when you move out, you will be able to do what you want. She'll be able to say whatever she likes about your gaming habit then and not be able to do a thing about it. It's petty, but ironically also the most mature way of handling it IMO.