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.
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.
I mean I’m open to suggestions, I’d like to form more connections with people, but I never had relationships from games transition into anything else. Everyone I’ve met through gaming has always been hundreds of miles away or in other countries so it’s not like we could meet up to do shit on the weekends.
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.
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.
Those were just examples. There’s thousands of reasons why having friends locally is valuable. Especially if you’re in USA with the way things are going. I’m really not sure what you even think the downsides are… If it’s the drinking aspect, you’re not required to drink at a bar, nobody really cares if you have something non-alcoholic instead.
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 improve your chances of winning… More often then not it was just someone raging hard over minor mistakes.
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.
Deep Rock Galactic and especially Helldivers 2 gave me the most positive interactions with random strangers despite lack of dedicated social hubs or lobbies.
Dota is not casual at all, it’s quite competitive. It’s the reason the communication is so toxic.
Couch co-op games are very nice but in my personal experience friends don’t make a habit of gathering to play them. It’s a infrequent ocasion, online gaming is much much easier. Boardgames are a cooler experience if you’re gonna have people frequently at your place.
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.
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.
I know quite a few that counter that.
YMMV.
I mean I’m open to suggestions, I’d like to form more connections with people, but I never had relationships from games transition into anything else. Everyone I’ve met through gaming has always been hundreds of miles away or in other countries so it’s not like we could meet up to do shit on the weekends.
You do you. I know a couple from different countries who met playing WoW, they have a son now – it wasn’t mail-ordered.
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.
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.
Those were just examples. There’s thousands of reasons why having friends locally is valuable. Especially if you’re in USA with the way things are going. I’m really not sure what you even think the downsides are… If it’s the drinking aspect, you’re not required to drink at a bar, nobody really cares if you have something non-alcoholic instead.
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 improve your chances of winning… More often then not it was just someone raging hard over minor mistakes.
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.
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 genital jousting?
Deep Rock Galactic and especially Helldivers 2 gave me the most positive interactions with random strangers despite lack of dedicated social hubs or lobbies.
Yeah coop games are usually pretty good choices
Dota is not casual at all, it’s quite competitive. It’s the reason the communication is so toxic.
Couch co-op games are very nice but in my personal experience friends don’t make a habit of gathering to play them. It’s a infrequent ocasion, online gaming is much much easier. Boardgames are a cooler experience if you’re gonna have people frequently at your place.