Oh man, I'm getting really sick of hearing S yell into the Xbox live headset. He gets so into it, and actually starts yelling things like, "Help help help" or "Back me up!" or "Hi bitch" (which is what he just said. He wasn't really yelling.) It just gets old, fast. It's not that I'd rather he spend time with me, because we've done that today and I'm blogging anyway. It's just that he gets so heated and angry, and in turn, I get stressed out because he is. And it's a video game.
Sometimes I can't believe that I'm dating (and love madly) a boy who plays video games at the age of 25. Is it a sign of immaturity? I really always thought that men left behind video games when they, you know, grew up. And honestly, I thought I would go straight for the (that's a really, really bad pun if you think about it) the intellectual man; the guy who knew when I quoted Voltaire and who I would joyfully discuss books with over a bottle of red wine. I thought that we could argue, intellectually, about philosophy and the meaning of life, and instead, I'm sitting here watching video game men kill other video game men, and having this discussion:
M: Oh, they're going to South Africa. [the wannabe-models of ANTM]
S: I'm coming in through the bottom. NO, THROUGH THE BOTTOM. I need some help. I NEED HELP. shit shit shit shit.
M:
S: Did you say something? Shit no, shit NO.
M: Never mind. *sigh*
It's okay that S doesn't read; it doesn't bother me except when he won't let me read to him, which is always. I know that my passion for books is met by his passion for photography, and I think that we work because of that equality. He may not be an intellectual about books, but damn if he isn't about photography. Of course, I'm a snivelling idiot when it comes to photos, so we're even, in a way.
Do I want to discuss literary things over bottles of wine? Maybe, yes. But not with S, and that's 100% okay with me. He's an amazing man, and he's taught me so much. (Blech, right?) But the damn video game thing scares me. Is he going to be doing this when he's 40? That's a really, really scary thought. I don't understand video games much, and the idea of gaming--that your entire community might be online--scares the everloving beejeezus out of me. I don't want video games to be a substitute for friendships and going out. I don't mind when he plays sporadically. It's these two and three hour sessions that get to me.
I always ask him if he thinks that the other guys playing Halo 2 have girlfriends sitting next to them on the couch. If they have girlfriends at all. I wonder how many of these guys play all day--just sit in front of their TV and live their life through a video game. He jokes around that these guys might be losers who live for the game, but how serious is it? I'm not suggesting that I'm losing him to a video game, but could I? Is that a reality? I'm really doubt it, as far as S is concerned. But I'm sure that there are people who take it too far. I'm sure of it.
I'm operating under the assumption that he loves it, and as his lover, I have to accept it and sort of ignore it. Maybe I do things that he finds uncomprehensibly idiotic. Maybe. What's the line, though? When does it stop being something I accept, and a problem?
I suppose, that like pornography, I'll know it when I see it.
(The title to this post is from the new Ben Folds album.)
I just want you to know you're not alone in the feeling of video games and guys in their 20's. However I know mine is a little younger than yours, he is still obsessed with video games. He tries to tell me he doesn't really play them that much, but when I go down to see him on the weekends and walk in to find him playing the video game and instead of turning it off and paying all his attention to me who he hasn't seen in a week or two, he pauses the game gives me a kiss and has me sit down next to him so he can finish the game. However my boy is a sports video gamer, not so much a Halo kinda guy, I dont think. But truthfully maybe in their 30's they'll stop!?!? Who knows, but I'm with ya!
Posted by: KtLa | April 24, 2005 at 10:06 AM
My sister's husband whio is 27, plays his xbox a lot too......i don't get it...except I do really want the DDR game.
Posted by: C | April 24, 2005 at 10:34 AM
My boyfriend just turned 35 & is still obsessed w/video games... it never ends. :P
Posted by: comebacknikki | April 25, 2005 at 09:22 AM