I quit playing video games

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James94

New member
May 4, 2022
22
13
3
29
Reno NV
#21
There is nothing more exiting than being used by God for eternal purposes. Find a church with lots of outreach ministries going on and get involved.
You can also enroll in an online Bible College like Global University and learn the bible like never before. It will help you be better at the most exiting adventure ever offered to mankind. The Great Commission. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature and behold I am with you unto the ends of the world.

Take the Gospel to the North Sentenilese Island. They shoot anyone who tries to talk to them with arrows. Go there fully decked out in tactial armor so that the arrows bounce off you. They might decide you are a god and worship you. That would be exciting, no?
dude.....pump the breaks a little. I got a couple hours to kill, I'm not looking to start the crusades 2.0 and besides, wouldn't this be heresy? however I do grade your suggestion 10/10 for enthusiasm
 

Amanuensis

Well-known member
Jun 12, 2021
1,457
460
83
#22
dude.....pump the breaks a little. I got a couple hours to kill, I'm not looking to start the crusades 2.0 and besides, wouldn't this be heresy? however I do grade your suggestion 10/10 for enthusiasm
OK Fine then, be an underachiever, see if I care.:p
 

Dude653

Senior Member
Mar 19, 2011
12,647
1,091
113
#23
My friends and I used to play Neverwinter nights, and online D&D based game
Other things that the server crashed and stayed down for like a week and when it finally came back up, it was a complete whipe.
Everyone lost everything. Weapons armor gear, everything we had accumulated for years all gone.
So that kind of busted my bubble a little bit
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,679
29,018
113
#24
My friends and I used to play Neverwinter nights, and online D&D based game
Other things that the server crashed and stayed down for like a week and when it finally came back up, it was a complete whipe.
Everyone lost everything. Weapons armor gear, everything we had accumulated for years all gone.
So that kind of busted my bubble a little bit
Things like that often bring this verse to mind: "Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."
 

Mii

Well-known member
Mar 23, 2019
2,081
1,329
113
#25
Hmm...I've got a rather long post I typed on this topic because I've definitely played games for the last 25 years off and on (started in 1996 or 1997) and it really isn't so terribly easy for some people to give up what amounts to free dopamine (like smoking tobacco) but it really isn't "free" per se.

I won't post it yet because maybe you will indeed quit and won't need help fighting the addiction.

I'll echo what other people have said. Outside time is a great alternative but you have to learn to "relax" some other way and that is the real challenge.

It's summer now so take advantage of it...in the winter or when it's raining or if it's well after sunset I have different counters to the addiction but when the weather is nice? I don't feel like I ever do anything "wrong" or wasteful (except slightly) with blowing a day by going hiking or spending some time at the lake. Sun bathing can be pretty relaxing as can hot showers.

Exercise is a pretty good way to naturally get the dopamine hit. Runners "high" is a thing and while it happens somewhat with working out at a gym sometimes, running is pretty unique.


Some people relax at the beach, some in the mountains, some on their porch, and some just by listening to some music. It's not as "easy" as gaming but I also don't feel guilty about it.

Reading is an option as well. Movies/TV are in a similar category to gaming as far as being wasteful though...

Volunteer work is an option but I'll agree that it is "work" at some point if you don't enjoy it and can become chafing. Consider fellowship opportunities that would suit you and just help pass the time at least "some" of the extra time.

What types of games did you play? There's a big difference in approaches to quitting (entirely) an MMO that's taken up months-years of your life than a fruit ninja addiction ha.
 

James94

New member
May 4, 2022
22
13
3
29
Reno NV
#26
Hmm...I've got a rather long post I typed on this topic because I've definitely played games for the last 25 years off and on (started in 1996 or 1997) and it really isn't so terribly easy for some people to give up what amounts to free dopamine (like smoking tobacco) but it really isn't "free" per se.

I won't post it yet because maybe you will indeed quit and won't need help fighting the addiction.

I'll echo what other people have said. Outside time is a great alternative but you have to learn to "relax" some other way and that is the real challenge.

It's summer now so take advantage of it...in the winter or when it's raining or if it's well after sunset I have different counters to the addiction but when the weather is nice? I don't feel like I ever do anything "wrong" or wasteful (except slightly) with blowing a day by going hiking or spending some time at the lake. Sun bathing can be pretty relaxing as can hot showers.

Exercise is a pretty good way to naturally get the dopamine hit. Runners "high" is a thing and while it happens somewhat with working out at a gym sometimes, running is pretty unique.


Some people relax at the beach, some in the mountains, some on their porch, and some just by listening to some music. It's not as "easy" as gaming but I also don't feel guilty about it.

Reading is an option as well. Movies/TV are in a similar category to gaming as far as being wasteful though...

Volunteer work is an option but I'll agree that it is "work" at some point if you don't enjoy it and can become chafing. Consider fellowship opportunities that would suit you and just help pass the time at least "some" of the extra time.

What types of games did you play? There's a big difference in approaches to quitting (entirely) an MMO that's taken up months-years of your life than a fruit ninja addiction ha.
I appreciate the concern for my well being, thank you. But I'm not struggling with addiction here. Pornography was an addiction (one I have hopefully overcome.) Video games are a time waster. I wake up early so I can workout, I do a little school, I do a little drawing, and then I have an hour or two to kill before work, I have been trying to fill this time with extra piano practice, but usually I just end up surfing YouTube. And the types of video games I like were also a factor in my decision to give them up, first person shooters like "Farcry" and "Borderlands". I don't think games like these promote a Godly spirit
 

Amanuensis

Well-known member
Jun 12, 2021
1,457
460
83
#27
I appreciate the concern for my well being, thank you. But I'm not struggling with addiction here. Pornography was an addiction (one I have hopefully overcome.) Video games are a time waster. I wake up early so I can workout, I do a little school, I do a little drawing, and then I have an hour or two to kill before work, I have been trying to fill this time with extra piano practice, but usually I just end up surfing YouTube. And the types of video games I like were also a factor in my decision to give them up, first person shooters like "Farcry" and "Borderlands". I don't think games like these promote a Godly spirit
An hour of prayer? That would be huge. I am working on that one. I need to do it first thing and not just so I can say I did it. I want to really be focused on doing it right.
 

Mii

Well-known member
Mar 23, 2019
2,081
1,329
113
#28
And the types of video games I like were also a factor in my decision to give them up, first person shooters like "Farcry" and "Borderlands". I don't think games like these promote a Godly spirit
I suppose if you don't have an addiction that's awesome. I have very loose definitions to an addiction that most people would consider just a habit.

Still yeah, FPS definitely don't promote a Godly spirit, I agree. I'm not sure how killing other human avatars would.

I've definitely played them and know something about how they work for me but I feel different conviction for different games and it just doesn't feel right...even something like Halo. Granted it did take me a lot longer with Halo because it's less than most of the games I've played as far as the "vibes" go. It was something my brother and I did together but I just can't do it anymore.

"The Lord trains my hands for war".
 

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
Aug 2, 2009
24,643
4,304
113
#29
I don't know if you've fixed your laptop, but mine did the same thing. I bought it back in 2013 and a few months ago the wifi got real weak then just stopped working. I simply hooked up an old cheap usb wifi adapter I had laying around and was back in business immediately. It sticks out from the usb port but that's the only down side. I don't play video games, but I still use my laptop for facebook and email.

 

NilsForChrist

Active member
Jan 31, 2023
180
86
28
#30
Maybe it was God doing that... I now regret having spent my life on video games. I do miss it sometimes, but I hate wasting time when I can do so much better things!