Loneliness Is Fatal. Video Games Can Keep Men Alive

[Mblake81]

[You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]
NEGGED

[Cecily]

Haven't read the article yet, but EQ, L2, and P99 probably did keep me disassociated long enough from my inner demons to give myself time to heal. 13 to 33, 20 years, I "knew" I was going to end up killing myself and thought about it constantly. October 2017 to now, I've only been suicidal once, in April, which was extra special bad, but it's been such a nice a change of pace wanting to live. I don't need the video games to block out my thoughts anymore.

[Cecily]

This is interesting. I always felt people (men) bonded more with me than I did with them online. The relationships had a "not real" feeling to them and the bonds were easily broken. I always assumed everyone felt like that, and I've definitely hurt some feelings sharing that observation with my e-friends.

I think the male model, doing things together, isn't how I consider friendship, and the closer online relationships I've had definitely focused on conversations and feelings. I've never played EQ with some of my closest EQ friends.

[Vormotus]

Originally Posted by Cecily [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

This is interesting. I always felt people (men) bonded more with me than I did with them online. The relationships had a "not real" feeling to them and the bonds were easily broken. I always assumed everyone felt like that, and I've definitely hurt some feelings sharing that observation with my e-friends.

I think the male model, doing things together, isn't how I consider friendship, and the closer online relationships I've had definitely focused on conversations and feelings. I've never played EQ with some of my closest EQ friends.

Glad to hear you feel better.

The way you bond is unique to you and your own personal experiences, so there is never a need to compare how you do it, they are not better or worse , so do not worry about that Cecily. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I found intriguing the article for many reasons, specially as a lot of my friends, including me, escape reality constantly, specially due to loneliness.

Several of them are married , and with kids, yet , for many reasons too long to enumerate, loneliness hit us deeply and frequently.

We cope with several mechanisms and fall in the social safeguard of family and friends, yet the feeling persists.

Work related issues, stress and many other factors are the culprits, yet, gaming has always been a lifesaver of sorts, a stopgap, hence why my overworked friend sent me the article.

On the other issue, I can corroborate that I have never played with my closest rl friends EQ either [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

There is something so profoundly alien about this elf sim that it only caters to a particular type of people haha.

Also the chatting aspect, talking , sharing ideas is a model I can understand more. I do enjoy talking more than doing things together, goes with the job I guess.

I am the kind of guy that forces my friends to actually talk ... I believe we need to talk more, not our feelings, but anything ...

Communication is key.

I believe that men are suffering in silence and our social support networks do not reinforce the unburdening of this , hence outlets like video gaming are actually quite important, though not necessarily the best way to handle it.

Just a thought [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

As usual much love to everybody! Super hug from the Isthmus!

Small Edit: Got inspired writing this as I am watching Equilibrium in the scene where Bale hears music for the first time. Felt it was a powerful scene ... then the doggo scene omg.

[Hoppkins_Wytchfinder]

I used to play EQ with a japanese person who did art for games. No idea what.

They were massivley stressed out, always had headaches, tired and felt sick. Seems EQ was the easiest escapism without having to leave their house. Bare minimum social stuff.

[You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[nostalgiaquest]

Lived in Japan for 5 years working for the Navy. While it's a beautiful country that I miss dearly, below the surface there's massive problems with overwork, racism, sexism, and a failed "honor or death" mentality.

What other culture has a word for literally dying due to overwork. Karoshi.

It's a shame really. That country needs to legalize cannabis for reals.

[Donkey Hotay]

Yeah, they could really use the example set by this community as precisely the behaviors to avoid.