The stereotype of the socially inept adult glued to a gaming console in their parents’ basement has persisted for far too long, and, dammit, it’s time for us gamers to rise up and say, “No more!”
Okay, I admit that was a bit dramatic, but it’s true nonetheless. This morning, I discovered that, for some reason, video games and the people who love them happen to be one of the issues of the day; so, as a gamer, I thought I’d chime in.
Some folks on X criticized adults who enjoy gaming, intimating that it is a waste of time and unattractive to women. In fact, some featured an image of a chart seeming to show that most women find men who play video games unattractive. More on that later.
The question is: Do gamers deserve much of the criticism that some have thrown their way? My argument is an emphatic: “Hell no.”
Author and media figure Liz Wheeler on Monday wrote a post with a screenshot of the aforementioned survey. “This is 💯 true. Men playing video games is peak unattractive. Beyond red flag. Like dealbreaker zone. It’s weird that so many dudes don’t get this,” she wrote:
This is 💯 true. Men playing video games is peak unattractive. Beyond red flag. Like dealbreaker zone. It’s weird that so many dudes don’t get this. pic.twitter.com/nJcNiVPr8T
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) August 20, 2024
Conservative writer Allie weighed in, saying women dislike video games because they are “anti-social and consumption-based,” and that “Hobbies should involve actually doing, making, or learning something.”
Women don’t dislike video games because they’re geeky
We dislike them because they’re anti-social and consumption-based, like if a woman said TikTok or online shopping was her hobby
Hobbies should involve actually doing, making, or learning something
— Allie (@Cluffalo) August 19, 2024
Those on the pro-gaming side of the debate responded. RedState’s Brandon Morse pointed out that “Video games aren’t just currently the greatest storyteller, they’re one of the most socially connective mediums ever.”
Love you, Liz, but hard disagree. Video games aren’t just currently the greatest storyteller, they’re one of the most socially connective mediums ever. Gaming is not what many believe it to be, and I’ve found that a lot of nay saying about it is often based in inexperience.
— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) August 20, 2024
Conservative radio host Dana Loesch expressed her love for gaming. “Nothing wrong with games — or any hobby in healthy doses — especially when you can do four player family co-op,” she wrote.
I love playing games. Waiting for the new Space Marines. Fired up COD Cold War Zombies the other day for nostalgia. Nothing wrong with games — or any hobby in healthy doses — especially when you can do four player family co-op.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 20, 2024
It’s not clear where the study the anti-gamers were sharing came from. There was no source shared for it. X’s Community Notes (on Allie’s post, above) indicated that it is a satirical study.
Most people play video games to relax, de-stress, and have fun. But what tends to fly under the radar is the fact that gaming also carries a slew of benefits.
For starters, gaming has been shown to improve cognitive functions. Research revealed that video games can help enhance problem-solving skills, adaptability, and even creativity. For example, a study published in JAMA Network Open found that children who played video games for three hours or more per day performed better on tasks involving impulse control and working memory than those who did not. These skills translate into real-life abilities that can be valuable in personal and professional settings.
Video games often require players to think strategically, make quick decisions, and adapt to new challenges. I’ve seen this throughout my gaming life. Whether I’m planning out how to eliminate my target while playing “Hitman,” or solving complex mysteries as Sherlock Holmes, my brain is fully engaged in accomplishing my objective.
Gaming also carries with it numerous mental health benefits, something that is often overlooked by critics. A global survey involving over 12,000 gamers showed that 71 percent of respondents felt less stressed after playing video games and 61 percent reported that this activity helped to reduce their anxiety. These findings are no surprise for those who enjoy the immersive experience of “Red Dead Redemption 2” or any of the “Assassin’s Creed” games, which happen to be my favorites.
As someone who lives politics on a daily basis, sometimes escaping to other worlds where I can kill bandits in the Wild West or explore the world as an assassin is a welcome distraction from the nastiness that American politics has become. The same can be said for people in other stressful professions as well.
It is also worth mentioning that those claiming that gamers are antisocial don’t seem to understand the social dimension of modern gaming. While I’m not into online gaming, many others are. Games are designed with multiplayer features that foster collaboration, communication, and teamwork. In the same global survey, 67 percent of gamers reported that playing video games helped them meet new people and build positive relationships. In fact, for some lucky gamers, they manage to find love while enjoying their hobby.
In a 2007 study looking at social interactions in MMOs, 75 percent of participants said they’d made friends via online games and 30 percent said they’d met a “romantic associate”.
For folks who find it challenging to maintain social connections due to busy schedules or geographical barriers, online gaming communities offer a way to stay connected and socialize. Through these digital spaces, people can make new friends. At a time when loneliness is being described as an epidemic, what could be wrong with bonding with others over shared interests?
Perhaps it is time to move beyond outdated and misguided criticisms of gaming. Sure, there are people who go overboard and become obsessed with their gaming consoles. This applies to any hobby or pastime. But this does not apply to most who enjoy video games. Maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge the whole by the actions of a few.
