Comment on Did it really used to be common for guys to go to a bar every night like in Cheers or The Simpsons?
daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 days agoI walk by some neighborhood bars, that are cheap and still some people go everyday like the Simpsons.
Videogames are better. I’ve come to recognize some of the “local drunks” that are there every day, they do be like Barney from the Simpsons. It seems a little depressing looking at them destroying themselves with booze.
lightnsfw@reddthat.com 2 days ago
Not if your goal is to socialize they’re not.
Nemoder@lemmy.ml 2 days ago
They certainly can be. Plenty of online games center around socializing. It might not be enough for those who need daily physical contact but it is far from an anti-social hobby.
lightnsfw@reddthat.com 2 days ago
The scope of the socialization is extremely limited though. It’s centered around the game and unlikely to grow beyond that into a real relationship. It’s not like you can ask your internet friends who live hundreds of miles away to come help you move a couch or come to a barbecue or whatever. You don’t develop typically connections with your local community.
Admittedly playing WOW back in the day helped me a lot with getting over the social anxiety issues I have and learn to be a more functional adult. I’m not sure that would have happened had I not met the people I did in that game. But none of those friendships went beyond playing the game.
0x0@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
I know quite a few that counter that.
YMMV.
Nemoder@lemmy.ml 1 day ago
I’ve had online friends I met in games who I’ve remained in contact with for many years well outside of the original game. Some of them I’ve met in real life as well. I’ve also run into many other ‘friend groups’ who hang out in their favorite chat app and jump around between games or other hobbies for whatever fits their mood. It seems common enough to me that it shouldn’t be that rare or difficult for anyone willing to put some effort and trust towards it.
balance8873@lemmy.myserv.one 2 days ago
You aren’t wrong but you’re making this sound like a universal good. I don’t particularly want to go bond with the local bbq guy who seems nice enough other than the little blue lives matter bumper sticker on his raised pickup truck. Sure he has truck nuts but it’s human contact.
The moving a couch example is kinda cringe so Im skipping.
pathief@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Sure but the social aspect in games is often pretty toxic.
I played quite a lot of Dota 2 and while communication and cooperation greatly jmprove your chances of winning, most often then not it was just someone raging hard over minor mistakes.
Nemoder@lemmy.ml 2 days ago
Absolutely, just as you can wander into the wrong bar and end up in a fight.
Competitive games will definitely bring out the worst in some people though, but there’s plenty of co-operative and role-play games that can lead to good lasting friendships.
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 2 days ago
Don’t know if I would have thought of Dota as a social game tbh. Maybe a more casual MMO?
But what about keep talking and nobody explodes, overcooked or penis jousting?