Video Games Make You Less Manly?

Off Topic
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[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

No I don’t consider these acts in and of themselves manly. Now if a man hunts to put food on the table for his family that is manly. If a man builds his own home to provide shelter for himself/family then yes this is manly and so on and so forth.

I do not think an “act” is inherently manly, but the reasoning behind the act is what makes it manly.

Going to war is not manly, but going to war to fight for the freedom of a persons family/country is manly. The personal sacrifice for others is what makes the act manly in my opinion. [/quote]

Ok, good, that’s helpful. And, according to your stated standard then, since video gaming doesn’t put food on the table of a family, it isn’t “manly”, correct?

So, what then, constitutes being “un-manly”?

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[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

If learning history is for personal enjoyment isn’t that entertainment?[/quote]

Sure it is, it just isn’t cheap and lazy. And no, I don’t mean “cheap” as in “price of”.

Incorrect - reading history (as an example) makes you wiser, it exercises your brain, and yes, there is inherent value in learning history, whether someone recognizes it or not.

Which is precisely why you can major in, for example, history in college, but you can’t major in World of Warcraft.

It isn’t lazy, because reading requires work. It requires imagination. And no, don’t say something as idiotic as the notion that reading and gaming are one and the same. Good grief.
[/quote]

I disagree.

  1. History does not necessarily make you wiser. You believe that which is fine, but that’s your opinion.
  2. You can major in a field related to gaming such as graphic design. There are also technical schools that offer video game design programs.
  3. Video games exercise your brain. Ask any gamer that has had to solve a particularly difficult puzzle or challenge. The brain might be used differently while gaming, but you are still forced to use it. Things like focus, precision, and snap decision making are part of gaming. Is that not a function of the brain?
  4. Reading requires no more work or imagination then gaming in my opinion.
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[quote]Derek542 wrote:

Okay so then you would need to list your manly traits, because the ones you chose of course are what you consider manly.

Learn how to make a clear point because using general examples like you did obviously shows your lack of making that point. [/quote]

My point was clear, you just didn’t read clearly. I tossed out a few examples, not an exhaustive list, that’s all. It’s not complicated.

I didn’t make a mistake, but nice try. I didn’t make the kinds of generalizations you seemed to hope I did. Not my problem to fix.

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[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

No I don’t consider these acts in and of themselves manly. Now if a man hunts to put food on the table for his family that is manly. If a man builds his own home to provide shelter for himself/family then yes this is manly and so on and so forth.

I do not think an “act” is inherently manly, but the reasoning behind the act is what makes it manly.

Going to war is not manly, but going to war to fight for the freedom of a persons family/country is manly. The personal sacrifice for others is what makes the act manly in my opinion. [/quote]

Ok, good, that’s helpful. And, according to your stated standard then, since video gaming doesn’t put food on the table of a family, it isn’t “manly”, correct?

So, what then, constitutes being “un-manly”?
[/quote]

I don’t believe I ever said gaming is manly. I have defending gaming as a perfectly legitimate pursuit throughout the thread.

I don’t think gaming is manly or unmanly. I believe if you game so much that you neglect your responsibilities that it is unmanly of you, but the act itself is not manly or unmanly.

All I’ve tried to say is that if gaming helps a man get through the daily grind then gaming is just fine. The guy in the article said gaming makes men less manly. I simply don’t agree especially by his definition.

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[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

I disagree.

  1. History does not necessarily make you wiser. You believe that which is fine, but that’s your opinion. [/quote]

Are you serious? You think that finishing Halo 4 provides no intellectual distinction to reading the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire?

That isn’t gaming - that’s high level applied math.

Staring at SpongeBob Squarepants for a half hour technically “exercises” your brain. Get serious. Video games are cheap entertainment - sure, they exercise the brain, but again, it’s brain candy. It’s for quick self-gratifying fun. That’s fine, it is what it is - but don’t try and pretend it’s something else.

Preposterous.

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[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

I don’t think gaming is manly or unmanly. I believe if you game so much that you neglect your responsibilities that it is unmanly of you, but the act itself is not manly or unmanly. [/quote]

Well, I think that was the major point of his article - this addition to gaming was, in fact, making men neglect their responsibilities, or primarily, making them avoid taking them on at all in the first place (i.e., remaining adoloscents well in their 30s, etc.).

Ok, so what makes something (anything) “unmanly”?

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[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

Okay so then you would need to list your manly traits, because the ones you chose of course are what you consider manly.

Learn how to make a clear point because using general examples like you did obviously shows your lack of making that point. [/quote]

My point was clear, you just didn’t read clearly. I tossed out a few examples, not an exhaustive list, that’s all. It’s not complicated.

I didn’t make a mistake, but nice try. I didn’t make the kinds of generalizations you seemed to hope I did. Not my problem to fix.[/quote]

Well lets see.

I clearly addressed your topic with examples asking for clarification, I do not see where that is reading failure.

YOU have yet to address those questions in reference to your original generalizations which would clarify YOUR mistake.

Your generalization in the original mistake was clarified to some point in later posts, which do not require you to repost. However your whole premise is of course MEN are only manly if they do not engage in any activity that is below your standard, which you have listed examples of.

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[quote]Derek542 wrote:

I clearly addressed your topic with examples asking for clarification, I do not see where that is reading failure.

YOU have yet to address those questions in reference to your original generalizations which would clarify YOUR mistake.

Your generalization in the original mistake was clarified to some point in later posts, which do not require you to repost. However your whole premise is of course MEN are only manly if they do not engage in any activity that is below your standard, which you have listed examples of. [/quote]

But I didn’t make a mistake. I listed some examples. I can list more from a wide range - let’s see, change a tire, taking care of women and children, be able to talk intelligently on important topics, all kinds of stuff.

Mastering Gears of War ain’t one of them.

In any event, my point was (and remains) that the over-indulgence in video games - the kinds that results in 30-somethings acting like adoloscents - is “unmanly”. And it is. Refusing to grow up is pretty much the definition of being “unmanly”, because people who are supposed to be “men” remain “boys”.

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[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

I disagree.

  1. History does not necessarily make you wiser. You believe that which is fine, but that’s your opinion. [/quote]

Are you serious? You think that finishing Halo 4 provides no intellectual distinction to reading the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire?

That isn’t gaming - that’s high level applied math.

Staring at SpongeBob Squarepants for a half hour technically “exercises” your brain. Get serious. Video games are cheap entertainment - sure, they exercise the brain, but again, it’s brain candy. It’s for quick self-gratifying fun. That’s fine, it is what it is - but don’t try and pretend it’s something else.

Preposterous.
[/quote]
Once again all of these are your opinion. Knowing the history of the Roman Empire is useless for most people. Unless you teach it or can apply it in someway to you life it doesn’t help. Everything you have listed you believe is better and that is entirely based on your opinion.

Video game design can be highly mathematical, but it can also have nothing at all to do with math. Designers use tools like paint or photoshop to create the gaming environment. Code has to be written, but not by them.

Entertainment is entertainment regardless of the vehicle used. reading is no more manly than gaming. For me manliness is an abstract concept not a concrete act. A woman can chop wood or build a house or play rugby so how these inherently manly.

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I already said going to war is manly in the sense that the personal sacrifice for others is what makes the act manly.

I’m out for now “responsibilities” are calling

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542×963 162 KB

I’ll just leave this here…

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/online_gaming

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[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

I clearly addressed your topic with examples asking for clarification, I do not see where that is reading failure.

YOU have yet to address those questions in reference to your original generalizations which would clarify YOUR mistake.

Your generalization in the original mistake was clarified to some point in later posts, which do not require you to repost. However your whole premise is of course MEN are only manly if they do not engage in any activity that is below your standard, which you have listed examples of. [/quote]

But I didn’t make a mistake. I listed some examples. I can list more from a wide range - let’s see, change a tire, taking care of women and children, be able to talk intelligently on important topics, all kinds of stuff.

Mastering Gears of War ain’t one of them.

In any event, my point was (and remains) that the over-indulgence in video games - the kinds that results in 30-somethings acting like adoloscents - is “unmanly”. And it is. Refusing to grow up is pretty much the definition of being “unmanly”, because people who are supposed to be “men” remain “boys”.[/quote]

Okay now I would agree with this of course, this makes clear sense.

I had a friend I worked ER with, her husband spent every fucking weekend hunting, pretty much all year long. Now he worked put food on the table, was there during the week for his wife and kids (to an extent). However every weekend he was gone, he was doing “manly” stuff and he could point to the fact he took care of his family.

You know what, she ended up having an affair, who is at fault in this?

The point most of us are just trying to make is ANYTHING activity wise could be an addiction that could devalue a man. It is not the activity to blame but the individual themselves.

To blame gaming is an easy unintelligent argument to me.

Blame our society for establishing a culture where people are lacking the mental fortitude and strength to control our self indulgence being food or leisure.

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I cant really agree that video gamnes have a negative relation with manlliness, although some of the least manly people i know are gamers. The article reeks of old man bitching about young men which has been going on since time immemorial. Its hard pick on video games and gamers while ignoring televised sports and sports fans (note that im referring to those who obsess over sports, not athletes or casual viewers).

Which constitue the vast majority of the least manly people i know, as well as a much higher amount of older viewers. I find the actions and attitudes of hardcore sportsfans much more problematic and somewhat disturbing. Personally i think its pretty fucking unmanly to skip work to watch a football game(keep in mind im a supervisor at a large corporate grocery story in alabama, sucks ut it pays for rent & college) especially when that same person bitches about not getting any hours and struggling to pay bills the rest of the year, or paying $40 for to wear a shirt with another mans name and number on it(seems like something that happens prison bitches would do).

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[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:

[quote]Edevus wrote:

But you were talking about doing manly things to be manly, so, pick archery, play ruby…and do lots of other stuff.[/quote]

Right - so what? I picked out some “manly” things for examples, and you started talking nonsense about how apparently my list included as “manly” cheating on your wife, etc. - none of which I made a case for.[/quote]

No, you misunderstood my point.

I don’t think that hunting, playing rugby or cutting wide a deer is “manly” and a man can do all that and still be unmanly. That’s why I put the exaggerated example of a man doing that, but also some awful things.

Like a person who plays videogames can be manly, one who does “manly” things, according to you, may not do them.

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[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:

Heh, to answer the original question, the answer is yes.

Not the occasional fun, but the “I’m an adolescent stuck in an adult’s body” with an addiction to brain candy can’t possibly fit inside any definition of manliness.

Take up archery. Or rugby. And learn how to field dress a deer or build a cabinet in your spare time.[/quote]

Okay so Since I am a nurse practitioner, read books, play video games, married with 5 kids would not be manly cause I do not have time to hunt, shot a bow or play rugby.

However a guy who is lets say homosexual who happens to play rugby and bow hunts is manly?

Generalizations are a bitch.[/quote]

Nope - I never said my list of manly activities was all-inclusive; they were just examples.

Poor reading compehension is a bitch.[/quote]

Okay so then you would need to list your manly traits, because the ones you chose of course are what you consider manly.

Learn how to make a clear point because using general examples like you did obviously shows your lack of making that point.

Also learn how to address someone’s question if you want to have a discussion. By deflecting back to justification of your first mistake is really not an effective way to argue. [/quote]

Dude, I’ve told him the same shit too many times to count. That is why I leave the political forum to guys like this. It is a waste of time.

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What the fuck makes archery manly? LOL

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[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:

Heh, to answer the original question, the answer is yes.

Not the occasional fun, but the “I’m an adolescent stuck in an adult’s body” with an addiction to brain candy can’t possibly fit inside any definition of manliness.

Take up archery. Or rugby. And learn how to field dress a deer or build a cabinet in your spare time.[/quote]

Okay so Since I am a nurse practitioner, read books, play video games, married with 5 kids would not be manly cause I do not have time to hunt, shot a bow or play rugby.

However a guy who is lets say homosexual who happens to play rugby and bow hunts is manly?

Generalizations are a bitch.[/quote]

Nope - I never said my list of manly activities was all-inclusive; they were just examples.

Poor reading compehension is a bitch.[/quote]

Okay so then you would need to list your manly traits, because the ones you chose of course are what you consider manly.

Learn how to make a clear point because using general examples like you did obviously shows your lack of making that point.

Also learn how to address someone’s question if you want to have a discussion. By deflecting back to justification of your first mistake is really not an effective way to argue. [/quote]

Dude, I’ve told him the same shit too many times to count. That is why I leave the political forum to guys like this. It is a waste of time.[/quote]

I know, sometimes I get hard headed and this is breaking the stress of work right now. I have about 10 things going on so this always helps.

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[quote]Professor X wrote:
What the fuck makes archery manly? LOL

[/quote]

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[quote]Professor X wrote:
What the fuck makes archery manly? LOL

[/quote]

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