Ben-DutkaSo there's this study that "proved" the majority of men prefer playing video games over having sex. I put "proved" in quotations because they used adrenaline as the determining factor (and I'm fairly certain there's a lot more involved with both activities, especially sex), and also because there were only 100 participants.
Believe what you will, but I believe it raises an important question: as gaming becomes more mainstream and as more and more individuals are becoming involved with the hobby, other forms of entertainment can – and often do – take a back seat to the interactive video goodness. Furthermore, given the vast increases in realism and authenticity, we've never felt more immersed or absorbed; the experiences are becoming more intense with every passing year. Now, let's tack on a few more elements as they relate to our current society: I think it's obvious that we are, as a country, in a critical state of health and there have never been more people who aren't physically capable of sex. Then there's the increased sedentary lifestyle, which far too many embrace, and such people tend to gravitate towards gaming…perhaps even more than sex. Lastly, I'm of the firm belief that an enhanced emphasis on the pseudo-communication via electronics has caused the entire society to become developmentally and emotionally stunted. Traits like charm and charisma seem to have all but died.
You may not agree with me on this last point (and many will not), but the bottom line is that we may be less acquainted with intimacy and closeness than ever before, which, in and of itself, has a direct impact on a sex life. And if we conclude that gaming is a hobby that tends to promote more sitting and less activity, along with its spiking popularity and the declining health of the populace, perhaps gaming does indeed affect sex and relationships, either directly or indirectly. Now, this may be using more of that nigh-on useless psychology degree of mine (and less of any gaming knowledge I may have), but perhaps it's worth talking about. As a topic of conversation, it's bound to be…interesting.
Oh, agreed, it's not gaming itself that causes the isolation that is occurring. But I do believe that more recent aspects of gaming – specifically online play and chat – facilitate the isolation of people. Of course it's not gaming alone, it's all the newer 'super efficient' kinds of communication. Internet, email, cell phones, fax, etc… All these technologies that reduce or remove the need for face to face human contact.
One of the key elements of developmental disorders such as autisum is the inability to understand social cues and read the emotions & facial expressions of people. With the increased isolation and accompanying decrease in face to face human contact I wonder whether we are breeding a generation that's so stunted in their emotional growth that they could – in this way – be considered developmentally delayed.
I am not sure what the answer is, I suspect some will say that more technology, or perhaps more mature technology is the answer. I don't think so. I think the answer is more human contact. However in this hyper efficient world where we are all tiny cogs in the great machine that continues to accelerate it's pace whether we like it or not, I don't know how we can increase the amount of human contact.
Agreed. I liked your earlier post about effectiveness of different types of communication.
Personally, I like email the best because a) spell check is slowly teaching me how to spell; and b) when I forget everything that I was just told, I can refer back to the email to remember.
However, I must agree that email cannot come close to the nuances of communication contained in a face to face conversation.
Well, I'd just like to say I'm wearing one of my favorite t-shirts right now; plain white and in simple black lettering:
"Some people have a way with words. Others not have way."
"All your smart shirts are belong to Ben"
I'm both of those people sometimes 🙂
There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't. Which are you?
I'll give you $15 for your shirt.
No way. I wear it proudly.
That is actually a very good saying… you should take a picture of that shirt Ben and put it up!
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Nogoat23,
Certainly agree with your "internet" comment.
What about my video game sex life?
Honorable mentions go to:
-Madison, Heavy Rain
-The massage scene in FFX-2, Yuna & LeBlanc
-Aphrodite and her handmaidens, GOWIII
-Tifa, FFVII (Yup, after you spend that first night in the bar a lady outside says she "saw you two together" the night before.)
And I wouldn't have minded the view Sazh got of Vanille when following her up (The fool turned his head) but it was worth a giggle 🙂
For some reason, I want to add that tavern barmaid from Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance…she never did anything but still…
Shion, white shirt, Xenosaga 3. 'nuff said.
Um…can I take KOS-MOS instead? Shion always felt…illegal.
"handmaidens" indeed.
@Ben,
LOL! Bad man. Shion's supposed to be in her 20's.
As for KOS-MOS, not sure she had any scenes in the games, but I know she's had some scenes in the minds of gamers. If we're simply listing babes in games that we're quite partial to then I have to list Shion, KOS-MOS, Sophitia, Cassandra, Ivy, Xinghua and many, many more
Well done, Alienange. I approve.
Ben, every female character in every JRPG ever made feels illegal. (And for the record, maybe "feels" is the wrong word? 😉 )
@TheHighlander: Jiggle physics make me blush.
Jiggle and bounce physics in anything DOA= premium content.
@ World – you also scrump Tifa after Cloud's coma when everyone goes off on their own, and Cloud and Tifa stay at the airship and sleep together, and Tifa gets mad that the other members "were watching" and gets all embarrassed. At least that's what I got out of it. 😉
You're right Tao, almost forgot about that scene.
As far as Shion goes, I dunno why but I dig chicks with glasses.
@pic….nice shoes…very sexy!
im a advid gamer and i will be d@mned if I dont get me some…if i could have sex all day I would never play video games like I do….
all I know is I have been gaming my whole life and not bit of it has affected my sex life. I've put in my time with too many crazy chics, so now I just use them for sex…I've never had trouble getting any action just because I play games. But maybe that's jus me…
In your avatar, are those the beer goggles you used?
lol, good one.
lol… u use chicks? Isn't that like… manipulative solicitation?
I dont have much of a sex life as it is but I can say that it has affected the common alternative to it, if you know what I mean. I have had many days where Id rather play until Im too tired to do anything and just go to sleep.
hello …
sorry for being late, been a bit off everything.
i believe in giving priority to what's really important in life.
After reading all the comments here, i can say that i have hope for humanity, it's easier to fight an enemy we know & works best when we are motivated.
a particular hat off to comments :
TheHighlander
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 11:28:51 PM
&
Underdog015
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 @ 2:39:39 PM
I consider myself lucky that my wify doesn't see gaming for kids (she plays on the PC while i'm on the PS3 LOL!) .. we do find time for each other.
as for the impact of technology on social life, well like a few mentioned already, nothing is good when in excess.
it's our task as parents of today or tomorrow to make sure our kids don't fall into that trap.
cheers!
Of course video games can affect my sex life. With all hot women: Bayonetta (i dont like the games too much though), Lightning, Vanille .. it's really hard not to be affected by their presence on your flat screens
While you look at them .. wow, they're hot, sexy, wear tight pants and most importantly .. they are badass who kicks villain's face out of their butt
So, yes .. video games female characters are fabulous, we can do a lot of fantasy about them .. and please be sure of this: your girls will never be as good looking and badass as bayonetta
Last edited by iSayuSay on 5/28/2010 7:46:23 AM