Multitasking

[Rapscallion]

WoW is pointless. So is Eve, and so is just everything on TV.

Good for enjoyrably killing time. I've never played WoW and have no intention of starting, but I do enjoy working out how to deal with challenges.

Rapscallion

[Mytical]

Some tasks I can do at the same time. I can talk on the phone and chat with somebody online at the same time a bit easily. I can carry on multiple conversations online as well. However, technically these are very similar..so..

As for driving..no. I even hate turning the radio when I am driving. Did you know it is as dangerous/more dangerous to talk on the phone as it is to drive drunk. Texting is much much more dangerous. I've seen people with a sandwich in one hand, and a phone in the other. That is not dumb, that is stupid. We are talking beyond 'special' stupid.

[BlaqueKatt]

People wait for the commercial to get up and do something else for a minute. No different than me waiting for a break in wow time to do something else, but it's seen as an addictive and self destructive behavior rather than just being good with time management.

hmm considering i watch the discovery channel and the history channel and that's about it, if I get up during the program I would miss some important FACTS, or historical information, it would impact my learning. I dislike video games because I have had people blow me off when I was in serious emotional distress to play WOW(these people were my so called friends, I was borderline suicidal, they didn't want to let down total strangers, but it was ok to let down a friend), heck my husband is normally too busy playing games to pay any attention to me at all, which is one of the reasons we are on the verge of divorce. I'm horribly unwell and his games are more important than his wife....

[AdminAssistant]

As the future wife of a serious gamer and a semi-serious gamer myself, I've made a few observations about this.

There are, in essence, three types of gamers:

1) Occasional gamers. They focus on one game at a time, or one type of game, playing maybe 1-10 total hours a week.

2) Serious gamers. Play several different games at the same time, possibly focusing on one type, or playing a variety. (Fiance plays MMOs, RTS, and RPGs). 10-20 hours a week. May play for an hour every day or play for long stretches on the weekends.

3) Obsessive gamers. Play all kinds of games, or obsessively play only one game. (WoW, StarCraft, etc.) Plays 40-80 hours a week, cannot hold down a job or maintain relationships. Nothing is more important than the game.

You cannot and should not confuse the third group with the first two. Obsessive gamers have a problem...perhaps even an addiction, even though I'm hesitant to call it that. But they are the vast minority of gamers. I have no advice for how to deal with one, personally, but if Fiance ever began to play obsessively to the point where he was seriously neglecting our relationship, we would be going to a counselor to determine why he was doing that.

Now, if you are in a relationship with what I have classified a serious gamer, you need to come to terms with that fact. Fiance plays video games and watches football. I could sit and bitch about that, or I could play video games with him. I could learn about football and watch games with him. That's the option that I've chosen. As long as we get to spend adequate time together, he holds down a job, and we have enough money, he gets to play WoW, League of Legends, or whatever in his downtime. A while back, he was thinking about starting to raid again (a WoW thing). He told me the schedule and we, as a couple, decided that it was too much of a time commitment.

He understands that I need to talk to him sometimes, and if it's really important, he stops playing. I respect his hobby and try to wait for natural breaks (like flying, for instance) to ask him non-important things. Compromise. We have it.

[blas87]

My bf would be a #2 gamer on that list. Some rude people at work asked if he'd even be able to pay attention to me with all the games he plays. Guess what? He doesn't even have any on when we're together. I suppose since we spend more time at my place than his, there's no games here, and he doesn't really care. He's got Netflix on his console, so he doesn't watch TV "in real time" like I do, but he's gotten used to it.

[Gravekeeper]

Good for enjoyrably killing time. I've never played WoW and have no intention of starting, but I do enjoy working out how to deal with challenges.

WoW and EVE are two entirely different beasts. The challenge level and learning curve are vastly different. >.>

WoW takes a lot of time to be successful. EVE takes a lot of skill. There is very little overlap. I'm not trying to disparage WoW, mind you. But these two are completely different beasts at a fundemental level: WoW requires a lot of time to be successful and lends itself well to the obessive gamer who, by its nature, requires a constant supply of provided tasks.

EVE requires a lot of skill to be successful and doesn't lend itself well to obession. Mainly because A) It's a sandbox, there are no defined goals, tasks or achievements to strive for and B) You can lose months of work in a single mistake. Think of playing WoW, but if you die the game deletes all your gear and if you're particularly unlucky, your racial abilities. ;p

Hence EVE is its own little niche, but has a very loyal community and it will likely never expand that far beyond it. Whilst WoW is a commercial juggernaut. It's like McDonalds vs An Awesome Local Pizza Joint. The pizza joint is fucking awesome at making pizza. But you've gotta really love pizza otherwise you'll hate the place. Meanwhile, everyone has probably been to McDonalds at least once and it has a broad, cheap menu designed to appeal to the widest possible array of customers.

What were we talking about again? -.-

[Rapscallion]

What were we talking about again? -.-

Not sure, but for some reason I fancy eating some pizza.

Rapscallion

[blas87]

No pizza. Bedtime.

Dammit, Raps. I was about to be able to go the whole weekend without grabbing the phone and speed dialing Toppers.

[DrFaroohk]

hmm considering i watch the discovery channel and the history channel and that's about it, if I get up during the program I would miss some important FACTS, or historical information, it would impact my learning. I dislike video games because I have had people blow me off when I was in serious emotional distress to play WOW(these people were my so called friends, I was borderline suicidal, they didn't want to let down total strangers, but it was ok to let down a friend), heck my husband is normally too busy playing games to pay any attention to me at all, which is one of the reasons we are on the verge of divorce. I'm horribly unwell and his games are more important than his wife....

Well regarding what you watch, you are the exception, not the rule. Most people are watching Family Guy and House. And unless you are studying to be a cartoonist or an actor or a doctor, those shows are useless to you. Hell, unless that's your chosen field, the history channel isn't any more useful than the Cartoon Network. It's entertainment, and that's where they share a common ground.

Would you feel any different about your husband if he spent all day watching the history channel and ignoring you and almost causing a divorce?

Again this is where I get so frustrated with it, because most people wouldn't have a problem with it if it was some sort of other obsessive behavior. But as soon as its a video game, OMG IT'S THE DEVIL!

I play my games to relieve stress mostly. It's an escape. I probably play too much, but dammit, it makes me happy and I'm not really hurting anyone else. I always put other people first and only take game time when everyone else is occupied and does not need me. So back off! (aimed at people who pretend video games are the problem).

[lordlundar]

What were we talking about again? -.-

I'm not sure. I'm not even sure where the topic went on the tangent.

[HYHYBT]

Given the subject line is "multitasking," it's to be expected that the conversation will diverge

[bara]

Given the subject line is "multitasking," it's to be expected that the conversation will diverge

Yep... and since they forgot the original topic it proves my point!!

Victory!!!

[HYHYBT]

Oh, victoryyyyy in Fratching,
Debate nooow is over.
We've wandered all over,
And talked of many things...

Oh, I give up. And it doesn't work without the music anyway.