It is likely that competitive gaming is one of the most hated activities that people continue to pursue.
In various online platforms, it isn’t uncommon to see the same people return day by day to make the same complaints about the game they are playing. These posts are usually devoid of any form of enjoyment or positivity. They are usually focused on complaining about teammates or the meta of the game.
We should recognize reality instead of mindlessly doing the same things. There is no point of spending hours on something when it just brings anger and stress.
Competitive games place people in an endless ladder where there is very little reward or satisfaction, yet a significant loss of time and mental well-being. A large issue facing today’s society is that there is a large amount of people who spend the majority of their time outside of school and work on competitive gaming, yet they are not gaining any satisfaction, knowledge, or monetary reward from it.
Many believe that competitive gaming is a way to relax from school and work. However, it is oftentimes a toxic environment that just adds new issues without solving other ones. It’s quite likely that if people really analyzed and tracked how they felt, they would realize they were actually having more fun in school and work. There are rarely situations in the career and educational setting where constant stress and toxicity is abound, but in the competitive gaming environment almost every round is guaranteed to have some form of toxicity present.
Most people would be better off quitting than to play these games at all. They would quickly gain a better sense of purpose and mental clarity. Players may be attracted to the highlights or the ideals of competitive gaming, but they need to recognize the reality that it entails. There are so many that play that are in constant frustration with the game, their teammates, and the developers. They are exposed to and participate in toxicity daily in game, and then outside of the game complain about it on various platforms and message boards. Constantly living in this quandary day in and day out is not productive and contributes to the isolation and depression that already drives many to seek these games so much.
It is important for us to put an end to activities that we truly don’t enjoy. Looking deeply into competitive gaming, many play simply because they are addicted or because they are used to playing. Developers have devised ways for people to continue playing even when they no longer enjoy the game, through the illusory pursuits of high ranks or carefully crafted senses of identity and culture.
I remember when I used to visit the LAN Center. It was supposed to be one of the highest quality places for gaming, with high end equipment, availability of food and drinks, and the broadcasting of various Twitch streams on screens around the room. Yet, despite being in this setting, most of the players looked constantly agitated or tired, and I would be one of them at times. Rage was common, and oftentimes players could be heard yelling in frustration or slamming their equipment. At times I questioned how conducive competitive gaming could actually be, when even in the best settings the toxicity could never be distanced from.
Far too many people continue to pursue competitive gaming without considering the real impacts it has on them. We should recognize when things no longer serve us, and leave them behind. It’s important that we put ourselves first, and pursue things that are truly enjoyable and meaningful.
