Videogames? Chatrooms? Are they helpful?

[EscapeArtist]

Does it help your SA or strengthen your SA when you escape into a videogame (ones that involves other people)?
When I was a little kid-ling, I played Maplestory. I had SA then too, and I remember developing an ego from my status in games, like Maplestory. It actually boosted my ego in real life, because I made a lot of friends on it, and learned what topics to speak of to get a conversation started.

Not into videogames anymore sadly... but If I could possibly get back into them I think it would actually help my SA.

This forum also seems to be helping my SA =]

howboutyou?

 

[TheManWhoUpholdsHonour]

This forum is more or less helping but yes I'm actually somewhat of a hardcore gamer.It didn't really do anything but give me ideals to beleive in and make me moar nostalgic.

 

[lunarla]

I love MapleStory! I still play it from time to time. I think it helps to display out there what my actual personality is like apart from being all insecure and uncomfortable around people like I am in real life when I newly meet someone. It's obviously a lot easier to connect and just be how I'd be if I were comfortable with someone.

 

[Masychefx2]

well i once got obssessed with a video game called battlefield 2 id get home from school and jsut play i was obssessed with being in the top 3 every single match if i didnt get in top 3 id get so down and quit instantly and feel sorry for myself. i could play all through the night in silence and get so angry if i lost.

i was pretty addicted but i quit that a while back now i just roam forums

 

[Newtype]

When I was in high school I played FPSs online. It helped me without realizing it. I would come back from skool and hurry up to do my homework without procrastinating because I wanted to have some time to play with my friends online that I talked to through a headset. Not only did that help with my grades in school, but it also made me more comfortable talking with other people. When you're playing, you're too concentrated to be nervous about other things, but you feel relaxed at the same time. When I stopped playing, that's when I realized that it did help me because then I started having troubles in school. So if you ever hear that games are not good for kids and teens because it gets in the way of their education, know that it's not true! On top of that, I learned English thanks to games.

 

[Tangent]

I found chat rooms to be invaluable. I used to use yahoo all the time. It was a place where I could practice talking (or should I say typing) on the fly and if I made a mistake or I said something that I regretted, I could just delete one profile, create a new one, and start all over again. It was in chat rooms that I learned how flirting is actually done XD I was homeschooled and isolated practically all my life so chatrooms were a great place for me to get a feel for social interaction.

Another thing I found really helpful were dating sites. I wouldn't talk to anyone, but I perused hundreds of profiles. I was basically reading lots of little biographies and it has helped me to figure out to some extent what people are like, what kinds of people are out there, what kinds of people I am attracted to, and what kinds of people I would chose for friends if I was out in the big wide world.

 

[Remus]

I play online games but am not social ingame.

 

[ryan3]

It does help me a lot actually, sometimes it's only way to interact with anyone else.

 

[Ignace]

Yeah, I think they help a little bit.

 

[da_illest101]

Well video games help me more because I can actually have memories from it. For example i saw Newtype avatar and boom it trigger my memories about the epicness that was final fantasy 8 which i played about 10 years ago.

chatroom, no matter how good a conversation was I won't remember it a few days after or i'll will remember lil bits of it. Though making friends online is very helpful

 

[dooby-duck]

I've never used chatrooms at all, but found videogames great for a bit of escapism. I haven't played any games for over a year but when I did I really had to push myself to play online with other people. I never spoke on the mic or messaged anyone. So it did help a bit while I was doing it but I chickened out eventually.

 

[DarthMessias]

Well, honestly I think they are pretty limited as a true "social-tool". Videogames are like drugs or alcohol. You easily get addicted to it if you don't have anything else...

Chatrooms are, from my experience, neither that great. Unless you meet people. But that rarely occurs...from what I know of...

 

[spect01]

I'm trying to limit my internet usage and I talked to my mom about disconnecting the service even because I have to start improving my life and going out more. I haven't played video games in years. Just lost interest I guess. I haven't been on chat rooms in years either. I figure it's just a waste of time because I'll never meet any of the people.

 

[Luna1740]

ABSOLUTELY! whenever I'm playing a high intensity video game that actually invokes my fight or flight are the only time that i feel normal, I love them to death, as well as x-box live for socializing, it is a great tool and has helped me a lot throughout my life, I pretty much was locked in my room for 3 years hooked up to live playing halo and i can honestly say that it saved my life

 

[Septor]

Wow I must be crazy here then because this has never help me any.I guess you could say I'm a hard core gamer too.Playing games online though,I think just made me worth then I was before I started playing,in a way.Playing games online with other people,never seems to work out because everyone wants to act like a jerk.If anything it make my anxiety a lot worse.I know its silly but its still interaction with other people.A small amount people are nice and the other half are all pricks and griefers.Part of my problem I guests is I want to be like be everyone and that doesn't work very well thereThat being said,I'm sure that it will help other people,just depending on there problem.


As for chatrooms goes,I'm not sure if I have even been in one ever,as far as I can remember

 

[Masychefx2]

i barely talk on games i just play, but if i get really into it i will maybe say some stuff in a squad but i dont chat really...

 

[da_illest101]

An online game is the reason I have SA

Stay away

;s

yea they'll do that to you, final fantasy is one of the main reason i have SA

 

[spider04]

I only play call of duty 4 online with some old school mates, we used to play cod4 in class and had lots of fun, when playing with strangers online I dont talk that much, i only 'yell' at someone when they do stupid things.

 

[Newtype]

I wouldn't say any game that you can play online is bad, but if you have SA and you don't have any sense of discipline, then definitely stay away from MMORPGs! People become addicted to those things like people get addicted to gambling. They play hours and hours thinking they'll eventually get that rare item that not a lot of people have but in reality they have a 0.1% chance of getting it and next thing you know you don't even have a life anymore. Your life is the game. It's like a second world and people use that as a substitute to their real life because real life is stressful. My friend's sister is 28 years old and she has a daughter and sometimes the game is more important than her daughter.

 

[Eam]

MMORPGs are dangerous, I've played quite a few and have become addicted to different levels at different points. It's escapism at its best (worst?). But I've also seen people end up with real life relationships from them - and end up a lot happier than I am, someone who quit the addiction to try and help myself.