So, naturally, I spent most of it sitting on my ass playing The Sims.
My god, that game is a time suck! One minute you're thinking "Hmm, I'll just put it on for an hour or so, kill a bit of time before I have to meet the gang for brunch", and the next thing you know six hours have passed and you just spent the last two of them trying to convinces a couple of very reluctant computer generated people to take proper care of a toddler.
But it's not like I can just leave the poor little digital dears to their own devices! Who will help them cook so they don't burn the house down? And remind the kids to get on the school bus so they don't get sent to military school? And make them go to the bathroom when they're doing that funny little crotch-grab dance that reminds me so much of my three year old nephew? Hmm?
No one, that's who, unless I sit there and direct them like the benevolent dictator that I am.
But seriously, why do I play these games? They're complete wastes of time, and I know that, so why do I keep loading them up? The Sims, Diablo, Farmville, Bejewelled, World of Warcraft, Tetris, they're all the same. I get nothing from them, nothing to show for my hours of investment. Sort of like high school. (Just kidding kids, stay in school)
Really, I should just take a stand and reclaim my spare time. Make a clean break, uninstall all the games from my computer and start afresh. I am the mistress of my own fate! I can choose how and where to spend my time! I don't have to be be controlled by these digital forces who are out to suck up every free second with their seductive graphics and mildly interesting storylines!
I'll do it next weekend ... or the weekend after. Definitely by Easter ... maybe ...
By the way, don't forget to go enter my Geeky Competition. Unless you're not a geek ... in which case, no judgement here. It takes all kinds, after all.
Those games are addictive. Just face it; you're hooked.My daughter only come out of her bedroom to complain about the mould growing on her walls. And that's only if we get a power cut.
ReplyDeleteSad, but true. Hi, my name is Kellie, and I'm a gamerholic.
DeleteProcrastinators of the World, Unite! Sometime soon! Yeah, when we get around to it -- maybe next week?
ReplyDeleteI'll be there ... maybe...
DeleteI would like to blame the computer for all my housework woes, but if it wasn't time spent on the computer it would be time spent reading. Housework is just so unappealing compared to almost anything else.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, the only reason I get any housework done is because of podcasts and podfics
DeleteI definitely have my share of time wasting vices, but none of them involve computer games. ;)
ReplyDeleteS
If it wasn't the computer, I'm sure it'd be something else. I'm good at procrastinating, it's a gift.
DeleteBecause the game helps distract you for a minute from the ever-chattering voices in your head. The anxiety, the self-doubt, the worries, we all need to be distracted from our own thoughts if only for a brief window. Playing the Sims is much healthier than drinking to quell the chattering. Or heroin. Definitely don't substitute gaming with heroin. Bad idea.
ReplyDeleteVery good advice, I'll make sure to write it down somewhere so I don't forget ;D
DeleteI've never played The Sims, but I was so addicted to Tetris once that I starting seeing the city skyline in Tetris shapes. Now I'm only addicted to blogs (only). Husband has had to remove Spider from his machines more than once because he gets caught in the web.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm totally addicted to blogs and blogging too, but at least I can see what I accomplish there.
DeleteThat's a legitimate q uestion. Why do we devote hours to such fruitless diversion? Is it cuz we want to be distracted from our dull reality? Or because our reality is harsh and tiring and we need brainless downtime. I dunno. Which is it for you?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure. I think it's that I like the imaginative escapism in games like Sims and WoW, and the puzzle solving factor of Tetris and Bejewelled.
DeleteI had to learn how to say noooo to the Sims a while ago. Five hours can pass in the blink of an eye, especially if there are babies in the house. I wish the Sims were a little more productive when you leave them to their own devices; without controlling their every move they are always burning the house down or getting visits from child protective services.
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem, isn't it. If you're trying to create a legacy family (10 generations) then you really can't leave them to their own devices. They'll never marry anyone, they'll forget to go to work, and they'll end up dying in squalor after they can't work out how to get out of a room because they've left dirty dishes in the doorway.
DeleteWe got rid of the tv, so that we would become more "productive". Hasn't worked. There are a million ways to waste time and I've tried every one!
ReplyDeleteAs long as I have wifi, I'll never lack for methods of procrastination. I can get lost in Tumblr or Youtube for days!
DeleteThere is real time and there is computer time. Real time drags but computer time speeds by...gone before you know it. I don't play computer games very often but if I am working on a blog post that requires drawing pictures or doing research, I can lose track of hours of my time.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm the same if I'm researching a blog entry. I can spend hours googling weird things. But at least with blogging I can tell myself it's a constructive use of my time.
DeleteThere was a time when I was gripped to 'Farmville'. I was working 12-16 hours a day and on con-calls after. But that din't stop me from harvesting my crops in time for it not to wither! (yeah that addicted). But I guess we need some distractions from the real world and if that is virtual reality games, so be it! Fortunately I grew out of farmville. Now I stick to blogging(at-least my general knowledge has improved since - its good to talk about 'treason for broken hearts, euthanasia roller coaster, plagiarism by GLEE' and be looked upon as a very learned person by your circle ;) )
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'm glad to be of service! That's my goal, to spread the ludicrous stories far and wide.
DeleteSo true! I've finally gotten to the point where even I don't believe myself when I say, "I'll only play for an hour." A hour turns into all day and then the husband and kids come home looking for dinner and I'm all, "I was really, really busy today." HA! I've had to start a strict disciplined approach to Simming. No Sims if there are major chores to be done. No Sims unless dinner is planned. No Sims if I have anything else I need to do ever that day. So, really, I've gotten down to maybe once or twice a week.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is I'm even worse when it comes to building the families and houses. I can spend days constructing the perfect mansion for my digital family!
DeleteMy partner rolls his eyes and leaves the room when I fire up my games. Everyone needs a hobby, is what I tell myself, and there's no shame in it. NO SHAME.
ReplyDeleteWell, there are definitely more shameful hobbies out there. At least you're not making those horrible lifelike baby dolls!
DeleteElectronic dolls...
ReplyDeleteI gave up Sims (the only computer/video game I've ever committed to) five years ago. Since then I've moved to London, finished writing another book, been to Thailand, France, the Netherlands, and all over the UK, worked two different jobs, finished painting 22 tarot cards on 24X36" canvas, learned to drive in the UK, gotten married, learned how to use illustrator and InDesign, eaten in seven Michelin Starred restaurants and sent manuscripts off to dozens of agents.
I'm not saying these things are related but they might be. Hard to say.
Holy crap! I'm feeling very un-accomplished right now.
DeleteLOL I am soooo laughing at you since I have been there on the brain/time-suck games addiction. Now I just let blogs suck my time and brains... either way, doesn't matter to me. I just enjoy having my brain sucked I guess.
ReplyDeleteI should really let my blog be my obsessive time suck too. At least I'd feel accomplished.
DeleteIt's tough stuff but if you really want to do it, you can. Moderation is key, in everything. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I never did get that whole moderation thing right. I tend to be an all or nothing kind of gal. Or, as some uncharitable people put it, obsessive compulsive.
DeleteI haven't jumped into the computer game pool, but my husband is addicted to Diablo. I do play a lot of Sporcle, but those are quizzes, so I'm basically in school.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Can I argue Sims as being a lifestyle skills building activity?
DeleteI have a secret 'gamer' side to myself. I keep it under wraps, but every once in a while it rears it's head.
ReplyDeleteI remember when my ex husband and I had our first computer. I did not even know what to do with it, as dial up made the internet to slow and 'not fun' to search through. So I downloaded a game that someone had given me. Roller Coaster Tycoon. Same concept as the Sims, but you build your own roller coaster parks. Good lord, the time wasted!! But boy oh boy, if I was to ever build my own amusement park, I'd be an expert.
And Tetris? My fave!!! My son bought me the Original Nintendo Game Boy (black and white, no color) for Easter. He found it at a Thrift Store, with the Tetris game. Talk about memories.
Don't let them win Kellie!!! Only let them have you once in a while, but don't let them over take you................ ;)
I'm going to have to be brave and uninstall I think. I'm just not strong enough to do it once in a while.
DeleteThere is real time and there is computer time. Real time drags but computer time speeds by...gone before you know it. I don't play computer games very often but if I am working on a blog post that requires drawing pictures or doing research, I can lose track of hours of my time.
ReplyDeleteHoly FRAK that game is a time suck!! I've literally raised an entire village of Sims from bean to sprout. Sent them off to college... Let them get jobs of their own. Now, like the unjust god, I've forsaken them. I just checked on them actually... There's pee everywhere. And they're all crying.
ReplyDeleteI win at life.
Hugs!
Valerie
They're hopeless when you leave them on their own, aren't they. They just sit around in their own filth and cry about the fact that there's no food in the fridge. Jeez, order a pizza!
DeleteFor some unknown reason I've never gotten into computer games - just lucky I guess - goodness knows I spend enough time online. I'm pretty sure if I did though, I'd be hooked right away - I'm kind of addictive like that :)
ReplyDeleteI never thought I would either, then my brother convinced me to start playing World of Warcraft, and it was all over.
DeleteOh god I'm totally with you on this one... I've lost so many hours on The Sims it's criminal x
ReplyDeleteI used to play Farmville for atleast an hour a day. Longer on weekends, cos I'd go visiting farms etc. Then I decided I was frittering my life away, only problem now is: How do I fill my time?
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