How old is too old?

Wucked

Wucked

Wucked

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Is PC gaming a childish hobby? Is there an age limit to it, some specific time that you should stop at, like giving up sucking your thumb? Or watching cartoons...

I've been a gamer for years. Its not so bad now that its become more mainstream.. But I still often experience people looking down their noses at me if I mention that I like gaming, or if they see a copy of PC gamer sitting around. "Oh, my children 'read' that" *sniff*

I can kind of see their point, gaming is pretty unproductive really. And most computer games are also childish in nature. But what should I be doing instead, rushing out to buy a copy of the financial times? Playing Golf? Attending business meetings? What exactly is it that makes their life styles so much more important and better?

Just curious what people think about this and how they justify it, or not...
 
Wucked said:
Is PC gaming a childish hobby? Is there an age limit to it, some specific time that you should stop at, like giving up sucking your thumb? Or watching cartoons...

I've been a gamer for years. Its not so bad now that its become more mainstream.. But I still often experience people looking down their noses at me if I mention that I like gaming, or if they see a copy of PC gamer sitting around. "Oh, my children 'read' that" *sniff*

I can kind of see their point, gaming is pretty unproductive really. And most computer games are also childish in nature. But what should I be doing instead, rushing out to buy a copy of the financial times? Playing Golf? Attending business meetings? What exactly is it that makes their life styles so much more important and better?

Just curious what people think about this and how they justify it, or not...
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Don't care what other people think.

If you enjoy gaming then so be it. Personally I see gaming better than watching half the junk on TV nowadays.
 
No age is too old, I am 40 and game , my missus is 46 and games. Its just a hobby, no different to any other in my opinion. Most hobbies are fairly unproductive, they are timesinks, things we do to pass the time for enjoyment. Arrogance and Self Importance doesnt make anyone else more important or better and as for justification, my missus and I justify it simply by saying that we have fun gaming, together and with friends, thats justification enough in life to do something.
 
There's no age limit and gaming keeps your mind far more active than an "adult" pastime like watching television.

Doing something more active (such as the golf you mentioned) is probably a good thing as it involves physical activity - exercise, no matter how light, is always good.

There is still a bit of a negative stigma attached to gaming but this has lessened massively in recent years and will continue to lessen as pc usage is so pervasive these days.
 
Don't think you can ever be too old for gaming. I'm 41 and still enjoy playing all types of games. There are a few 70+ year old gamers I know on LOTRO who enjoy playing every day.
 
I don't see how playing a game is any different to watching TV, infact its much more involved and infinitely more intelligent (depends what you play or watch though, so subjective). My 70 year old grandparents watch TV on a daily basis, if gaming is childish, then so is television IMO.
 
As above, its what you enjoy doing that matters. If you get satisfaction and pleasure out of gaming, then it is worthwhile.
 
Gaming is no more childish then watching tv or a film. i would actually say it's a better past time as you are actually using your brain rather then sitting there like a blob watching the screen.
 
Wucked said:
Just curious what people think about this and how they justify it, or not...
Click to expand...

Why the hell should I need to justify it to others ? Personally I could not care what people think.

What you do in your spare time is up to you. You do what you find enjoyable.

Some people play games, some watch TV, some enjoy cooking, some read books, some listen/play to music. Age should not affect what you find enjoyable.

Gaming is just a hobby like any other hobby you do it until you either get bored or move on to something else.
 
Why should there be a limit? Is there a limit to stop listening to music? To stop watching films?

If its something that is enjoyed then you should continue to do it until that enjoyment ends.

Simple as that.

Who cares what anyone else thinks/says.
 
In reality, I think probably around 23-ish is the upper limit by which you should be mature enough to longer be wanting to sit there and "bing bing" around with Sonic Mario or whatever other childish games there are these days.

Once the student days are over and you're into the real world of employment, one would hope you'd be grown up enough, and have enough responsibilities, to make video games the obvious child's play they are.

Honestly, sitting there with your controller getting jolly like a 5 year old because you made some pixel dude jump? There are much better, grown up things to do with your time -- like DIY, cleaning the car, reading a book or watching X-Factor. Get with the program.










;)
 
You're never too old to do anything you enjoy. I'm 43 and have been playing games since they first appeared in the 70's. I have no intentions of stopping, nor do I care if other people think its childish. I also still enjoy watching cartoons, whether they be classic Tom & Jerry or modern stuff like The Simpsons or Spongebob.

I'm also quite partial to Drumsticks, Fruit Salads, Refreshers and Cola Cubes. You even get a pack of Haribo's when you order stuff from Overclockers. Great stuff.

Another benefit is sharing a hobby with my 16 year son.
 
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I just touched on this in my reply to the thread about gaming and partners....

My ex girlfriend always used to bang on about me growing out of games.... im 27 and have been gaming ever since I can remember and its not going to change, its my hobby and ill be doing it until I die.

Games are made for everyone, he gaming industry is bigger than the movie industry these days! Games don't have a set target audience they cater for everyone and there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with gaming at any age - the only time I do disagree is when I see young kids playing the likes of GTA..... IMO there parents must be missing something upstairs.

But yeah....there is nothing childish about gaming, e-sports is growing and growing I wouldn't be surprised if one day in the future we don't start seeing competitive gaming broadcasted live and having the same levels of support of some sports we see.
 
Wucked said:
Is PC gaming a childish hobby? Is there an age limit to it, some specific time that you should stop at, like giving up sucking your thumb? Or watching cartoons...

I've been a gamer for years. Its not so bad now that its become more mainstream.. But I still often experience people looking down their noses at me if I mention that I like gaming, or if they see a copy of PC gamer sitting around. "Oh, my children 'read' that" *sniff*

I can kind of see their point, gaming is pretty unproductive really. And most computer games are also childish in nature. But what should I be doing instead, rushing out to buy a copy of the financial times? Playing Golf? Attending business meetings? What exactly is it that makes their life styles so much more important and better?

Just curious what people think about this and how they justify it, or not...
Click to expand...

There is no age limit to gaming (I still enjoy the odd game of DoW)... BUT as you get older your priorities often change significantly, and if all goes according to plan you will not need to spend hours at your PC playing games, and will be out with your friends or significant others having more quality and social times. Video games are fun, but if you spend as much time playing them as a 30 year old man as you did when you were 18, then there is imo (imo, imo) clearly some imbalance in your life. Gaming is fun in bursts, but ultimately rather pointless if you are spending serious time doing it, and is no substitute for being out in the world experiencing new things and forming and maintaining social relationships. I learnt that myself the hard way.

Just my opinion.
 
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I don't think anything in life has an age limit mate. Least of all gaming.

If you are surrounded by people that judge you and 'sniff' at you for things you enjoy that don't harm, affect or bother them in any way shape or form, welp, it's probably time to surround yourself with better people.

If you're ever made to feel embarrassed by someone for doing something you love just thank them for their condescension and offer them the door tbh.

The whole 'oh, ha ha, my child does that' statement isn't something said to reward or compliment, and it is so hypocritical seeing as most of these people veg in front of the TV watching poop out of habit rather than enjoyment most evenings.

A final point on the subject, I imagine this is someone judging you from a generation above your own as I think an individual would have to lead a fairly sheltered life to not be constantly exposed to gaming and its culture almost constantly otherwise?

As time goes on and gaming grows as we grow (up) I believe the sniffing will become even more rare.

Keep on gaming!
 
53, not thinking of stopping yet, Ping-Pong or whatever it was called was great, have not stopped the enjoyment of gaming since, don’t intend to either..
Its not childish.. :p:cool::eek::D:);) where’s that dancing banana...
 
i am 38 & still playing computers games a LOT ( no consoles as i do not like them sorry to say )& i have done since i was 6 years old,,,, old school game player here ha-ha
 
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