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khuffy
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So i was wondering how much videogames in a day is too much. also, i am not proud of this but is it a mortal sin if i played 7 hours of videogames?(absolutely ridiculous i know)
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wjp984
Guest
As long as it is not prohibting you from living a functioning life, then I do not believe it is sinful.
If you combine all the tv watching, chatting on the Internet, facebook, Catholic Forums, telephone calls, reading, all that stuff, it might very well equal seven hours a day for some people.
But the question should come up as to how you have so much time to play video games? Are you still completing your homework every day if you are a student? Are you getting sufficient exercise? Are you interacting with people enough?
I know that when the game Final Fantasy VII came out when I was 13, I sometimes spent 7 hours a day playing that game at the expense of other important needs. There were times when I had to decide whether to stay in and continue playing that game or go outside and play sports with friends. That was an example of being almost obsessed with a game in an unhealthy way, but who did not love that game? And of course I rarely did my homework and would just make up some junk, which would have been a problem if I did not otherwise do well in my classes. So just be careful.
If you combine all the tv watching, chatting on the Internet, facebook, Catholic Forums, telephone calls, reading, all that stuff, it might very well equal seven hours a day for some people.
But the question should come up as to how you have so much time to play video games? Are you still completing your homework every day if you are a student? Are you getting sufficient exercise? Are you interacting with people enough?
I know that when the game Final Fantasy VII came out when I was 13, I sometimes spent 7 hours a day playing that game at the expense of other important needs. There were times when I had to decide whether to stay in and continue playing that game or go outside and play sports with friends. That was an example of being almost obsessed with a game in an unhealthy way, but who did not love that game? And of course I rarely did my homework and would just make up some junk, which would have been a problem if I did not otherwise do well in my classes. So just be careful.
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1ke
Guest
Are you neglecting your household duties, prayer, and family to do so? Was it a one-time thing or is it a regular occurence?
Playing video games is not **inherently **sinful, but if it becomes an addiction, a way to avoid your duties, and contributes to a spiritual decline then yes it can become sinful.
Talk to your priest.
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
I’m a gamer and if you said you just played for seven hours straight, then yes I’d be worried. Gaming is fine but take a break in between. I personally rest one hour in every two hours I play whenever I have a whole free day. 
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BornAgain2010
Guest
Fellow Gamers, yes! Come out of your parents’ basements! Unite!I’m a gamer and if you said you just played for seven hours straight, then yes I’d be worried. Gaming is fine but take a break in between. I personally rest one hour in every two hours I play whenever I have a whole free day.
(we would but we’re too busy tryign to win the boss-fight)
I would say it is bad as gaming can sometimes create an alternate scenario in which you can indulge your fantasies. (sort of like when you dream in your sleep)
however if this becomes overused to an extent of interferance or something in your daily life, or to the point that it becomes habitual (addictive) then yes, it is bad.
also most people tend to frown on it, so you may want to gradually try stopping altogether. besides, they’re right, gaming doesnt really accomplish much in the grand scheme of things.
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kbwall
Guest
Nobody can answer this question online. Only you, or somebody close to you can answer this. If it’s interfering with anything in real life, then yes, it is too much. Or if it’s hurting your health (try to get at least some excercise, and it will damage your eyes if you play it too much in one go). Otherwise, have at it.
It can be considered a waste of time, but so is pretty much all recreation. Especially posting on forums, so take that as you will.
It can be considered a waste of time, but so is pretty much all recreation. Especially posting on forums, so take that as you will.
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
Tell that to people who design video games for a living.also most people tend to frown on it, so you may want to gradually try stopping altogether. besides, they’re right, gaming doesnt really accomplish much in the grand scheme of things.
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Shin
Guest
Speaking entirely generally, adults should not be spending much if any of their time playing video games, and if a person can’t do without it, there’s a spiritual problem that needs to be addressed. 
Boys spend their time playing games. And too should not more than a minimal amount, but be learning fortitude and virtuous work, it’s a problem that starts among the young. Men spend their times in virtue.
Many games of course have moral problems. But speaking for the general habit, regarding the minority of games that do not… it’s clear it’s generally overindulged.
One of the key problems today amongst men today is the vice of effeminacy. That being, technically, the vice of attachment to pleasure, luxury, or softness, and an unwillingness to give it up and pursue more arduous things (manly things).
It’s a vice that normally accompanies attachment to impurity, and is caused by this attachment. Which is why it is so prevalent and so many men are perpetual boys in a bad way, playing games rather than working hard. It’s also prevalent because children no longer tend to work from a young age, but are raised without training in the virtues and character.
Unfit to take on the responsibilities of adult men, fatherhood, heads of the household, etc. They know they should do better, but they are stuck in the vice. Soft, unable to give up pleasures, delicate, etc.
This can be cured.
Lent is the perfect time to test if you are improperly attached to games. Give them up entirely for a month. If it’s at all painful or difficult, that’s what demonstrates that you have a spiritual problem and are improperly attached, and so need to give it up all the more.
Replace the habit with a virtuous one, that involves work that is pleasing because it is good, but involves some strain or effort.
Boys spend their time playing games. And too should not more than a minimal amount, but be learning fortitude and virtuous work, it’s a problem that starts among the young. Men spend their times in virtue.
Many games of course have moral problems. But speaking for the general habit, regarding the minority of games that do not… it’s clear it’s generally overindulged.
One of the key problems today amongst men today is the vice of effeminacy. That being, technically, the vice of attachment to pleasure, luxury, or softness, and an unwillingness to give it up and pursue more arduous things (manly things).
It’s a vice that normally accompanies attachment to impurity, and is caused by this attachment. Which is why it is so prevalent and so many men are perpetual boys in a bad way, playing games rather than working hard. It’s also prevalent because children no longer tend to work from a young age, but are raised without training in the virtues and character.
Unfit to take on the responsibilities of adult men, fatherhood, heads of the household, etc. They know they should do better, but they are stuck in the vice. Soft, unable to give up pleasures, delicate, etc.
This can be cured.
Lent is the perfect time to test if you are improperly attached to games.
Give them up entirely for a month. If it’s at all painful or difficult, that’s what demonstrates that you have a spiritual problem and are improperly attached, and so need to give it up all the more.Replace the habit with a virtuous one, that involves work that is pleasing because it is good, but involves some strain or effort.
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
Like what? Doing bench presses and playing football?
I’ve been a gamer for over ten years of my life now. My younger brother, five. The both of us are already well into college and can boast grades that would test your assumption that all gamers are somehow addicted, “effeminate” slackers. I’m looking to apply for work as a part-time teacher as soon as I graduate as well as try out earning some money via writing.Replace the habit with a virtuous one, that involves work that is pleasing because it is good, but involves some strain or effort.
But guess what, do you know where we learned the value of hard work? Video games.
Experience points, in-game currency, achievements… these are all symbolic of the real rewards one gains in real work. In RPGs, job-classes can actually be a reflection of the type of work the player wants.
And seeing as how this message plays itself out to us during leisure, you can bet it sticks with us when we work. It’s come to the point that we don’t really differentiate the two. The only difference is the difference between fantasy and reality.
In real life, we are hard working students, soon-to-be hard working citizens. In our life in the game, we are hard working adventurers-for-hire ready to overcome any obstacle in our progression to absolute aweshumness.
Either way, the code of diligence remains in our hearts in both work and play. Gamers aren’t the only good examples of this. Professional sports players are too.
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kbwall
Guest
People need some form of recreation though. You can’t operate 24/7 doing nothing but work.
As for giving it up, well if someone wants to give up video games for lent, then that’s their perogative. However, just because it is difficult does not mean there is a problem. I mean, anybody giving up their favorite hobby, no matter what it is, is a difficult thing to do.
It may be more manly/productive to do sports instead of video games, but that’s not really an issue of sin.
As for giving it up, well if someone wants to give up video games for lent, then that’s their perogative. However, just because it is difficult does not mean there is a problem. I mean, anybody giving up their favorite hobby, no matter what it is, is a difficult thing to do.
It may be more manly/productive to do sports instead of video games, but that’s not really an issue of sin.
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Lost_Wanderer
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Actually sports can be just as unhealthy as video games. If you’re worried about a failing eyesight and a fried brain from playing too many video games, compare that to the risk of broken bones, brain damage, not to mention wearing out the body till its limp that is found in people obsessed with physical perfection. Either way, you’re damaging your body regardless of what your obsession is.
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Shin
Guest
That’s true, however recreation is properly indulged in that improves your mental and spiritual health. Clean living, in its proper place.
A more minute place than most have I fear.
Normally nowadays instead, there is an excessive attachment to it, and instead of benefiting, it is a vice.
I tend to think too, that if people actually considered what they were entertainment-wise and the extent of pleasure they actually got out of it, paying new attention before, during, and after, they would find that in fact their attachment was to something that wasn’t quite as enjoyable or fun as they thought it was in actual practice, they simply were ‘tuning out’ and had fallen into the habit of thinking something was fun that actually, in comparison to truly good things, was nothing much at all.
An occasion for regret rather than long term benefit.
If it’s not benefiting your eternity… what use is it?
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
You’d be surprised with the neat ideas I have gotten from video games.
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khuffy
Guest
Ok thanks guys, no i didnt play 7 hours in a row no it doesn’t interfere with my schoolwork, I always get it done in classes or at times when I am not at home. And i play plenty of sports, i lift weights do footall and am proabably going to do shotput
Oh and also shin when you said if you give video games up for a month, which i sort of have, ( i am only playing on sundays) would you consider it difficult for me if i just want to play them or is that normal
no it doesn’t interfere with my schoolwork, I always get it done in classes or at times when I am not at home. And i play plenty of sports, i lift weights do footall and am proabably going to do shotput Oh and also shin when you said if you give video games up for a month, which i sort of have, ( i am only playing on sundays) would you consider it difficult for me if i just want to play them or is that normal
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kbwall
Guest
I would consider it normal. I mean, the whole point of giving up something for lent is to deny yourself that extra something. Wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice if you didn’t have any desire to do it.
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m134e5
Guest
Video games are fine, if you don’t let them preoccupy you at the expense of more important responsibilities. If you don’t have enough sense to not do it when you should be giving something else your undivided attention, you shouldn’t play video games. If you stay up all night playing video games, then sleep through school/work, you shouldn’t play them. If you’re so antisocial that it’s becoming problematic, you should leave your video game world and join the real one for awhile. If it’s just something you like to do every once in awhile to unwind, it’s fine.
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