The Off Topic Topic

[Barrister]

But who cares if you're good or not.

Well it is more fun when you are good.

Well sure.

But it's like pizza or sex - when you're good it's amazing, and when you're bad it's still pretty good.

[Eddie Teach]

Not if it involves olives and anchovies.

[garbon]

But who cares if you're good or not.

Well it is more fun when you are good.

Well sure.

But it's like pizza or sex - when you're good it's amazing, and when you're bad it's still pretty good.

#straightculture

[Syt]

Example - a streamer I follow is just starting to play this game:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/976920/Dance_of_Death_Du_Lac__Fey/

I would never buy this, but this could be very amusing.

[derspiess]

However there is one thing I absolutely forbid: buying micro-transactions in games. You freaking play the game to get stuff, don't come crying to me you need 5 bucks for virtual currency, sir! That is where my grumpy old man triumphs.

Ditto.  Too bad my wife isn't on the same page

[Grey Fox]

I enjoy way more watching NHL hockey than playing hockey.

No way man.  I like watching hockey quite a bit.  But I'll take playing hockey over watching it any day.

That's ok but surely there are other sports that you enjoy watching more than playing. Baseball, maybe?

Let's see... I probably don't have the skills to play actual baseball.  But I've played slow-pitch softball in the past, and that's definitely more fun than watching a baseball game.  Curling or golf... I don't even like watching those on TV, but enjoy playing them.  Football... for safety reasons I'd never play contact football, and I haven't played touch or flag football since I was a kid, but again I bet that'd be more fun than watching on tv.

You are real sports person!

[Barrister]

You are real sports person!

First time anyone has ever said that to me!

I'm really not.  I'm pretty bad at all sports (well I think I'm half-decent at curling, but that's it).  I'm definitely not all that athletic.  I wish I could play a bit more, but the time pressures are real.

It's just that playing sports is, I think undeniably, lots of fun.

[The Larch]

Another possible comparison, cooking shows.

[Barrister]

Another possible comparison, cooking shows.

I may be alone on this, but I like to cook, and I do like to watch cooking shows from time to time.

But cooking yourself is much more fun than watching a cooking show.

[Malthus]

On the other hand - anyone can play computer games. They are designed so that the average person can play them and have fun.

Very much depends on the game, though. A lot of people give up on games like Dark Souls, Cuphead, or Sekiro. Some people like the *idea* of playing a game (say, Dwarf Fortress, or CK2), but don't want to spend the energy to learn them (or watch other players to learn). And even with games you can play and have fun, watching someone at the upper end of the skill curve play can be interesting in and of itself.

A different example: how many people watch Bob Ross with the intention to learn to paint, and how many watch to see him do his thing and spread positive vibes? I think streaming is VERY similar in that regard.

Sure, it all makes sense. The grumpy old dude in me finds the passivity of it all a bit disheartening, though.

It just seems one more step away from actually doing anything for oneself.

Not that playing a computer game is really all that "active", but watching someone else play it is even less! 

[The Brain]

Chicago style sex is the worst.

[derspiess]

Worst part of it is how it creates more Chicagoans

[dps]

That's ok but surely there are other sports that you enjoy watching more than playing. Baseball, maybe?

I can't think of a single sport that I'd rather watch than play myself.  Football I love watching, but if I could find a bunch of guys near my skill level who'd be willing to play tackle football, I rather do that than watch a game on TV (I have no interest in playing flag or touch football, which given my age, I probably should be willing to do if I'm ever going to get to play again).  Pretty much the same goes for soccer or baseball.  Basketball I enjoy playing, but have almost no interest in watching.  Other team sports I'm really not interested in much either way.  Outside of team sports, I enjoy tennis but if anything, I have even less interest in watching it than tennis.  I don't golf, though I do watch golf some, but I'd like to be able to play, and if I could, I'd certainly rather do it than watch (I don't golf because with my income, I can't justify the expense of clubs or green fees).  I enjoy bowling, but I have zero interest in watching it.

With video or computer games, I watch videos to find out if the game is one I'd be interested in playing, or to learn how to play a game better than I already do.  I can't see myself watching a video of someone playing a game I'm not interested in playing.

[celedhring]

If I'm a penniless college student in London, where will I end up living?

[Eddie Teach]

Do they have overpasses?