Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Gamers Are Fitter (and Sadder) Than You Think

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the crying-on-a-treadmill dept.

missb writes "According to NewScientist.com, online gamers are no 'couch potatoes'. US researchers quizzed players of the role-playing game EverQuest II, and found adult gamers to be in better physical condition than the average American. The downside, however, was the gamers reported more cases of depression and substance abuse than their compatriots."

14 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. Erm... by clang_jangle · · Score: 5, Funny
    FTA:

    Researchers at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, the Palo Alto Research Center, also in California, and the University of Delaware in Newark, quizzed 7000 players of the role-playing game EverQuest II about their physical and mental health. Participants were offered a specially created virtual weapon as an incentive - the "Greatstaff of the Sun Serpent". The researchers then combined the survey responses with statistics about players' online activities and playing habits.

    And we know the results are accurate, because they're working with a demographic famous for honest and forthright self-disclosure.

    IOW: DUH!

    --
    Caveat Utilitor
    1. Re:Erm... by i_liek_turtles · · Score: 5, Funny

      If anything, most of the players' right arms are in better physical condition than the average American's.

    2. Re:Erm... by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Hey, answer this questionnaire and get mad 3p1c wepp0nz!"

      "Sure. Multiple choice, excellent. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Now give me my sodding purple."

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    3. Re:Erm... by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Well, if by 'better shape' they mean less obese that the avg. American, it is probably due to them being too engrossed by the game to go buy junk food. They're not in better shape, they've just starving a bit more than the average US citizen.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    4. Re:Erm... by gad_zuki! · · Score: 5, Informative

      Its not "foolish" its a fact. Perhaps you should google before calling people foolish, eh?

      http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040105071229.htm

      http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5576/obesity_and_poverty_the_poorest_of.html

      http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/correlation-between-obesity-and-poverty-health-people-2010-should-increase-attention-those-poverty-14046.html

      http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/469027

      http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/0/2/0/6/1/p20614_index.html

    5. Re:Erm... by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Funny
      "I also rarely drink (a beer or two maybe every 2 or 3 months)"

      I feel sorry for those people that don't drink.

      When they get up in the morning, that is the best they're gonna feel ALL DAY.

      :)

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  2. Depression by MrSmith0011000100110 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd be depressed too if my level 9 elf lost the holy mantle of protection in a battle against a level 15 ranger. I mean come on now....In real life I'd destroy him with my +20 sword.

  3. Hey, there's a difference between use and abuse by Nursie · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Not that I do either, but the fact of illegal substance use is not evidence of a problem itself, more an indicator that the person has little regard for this area of law, and may be disconnected from society/not buy into its values. This links up with depression and dissatisfaction.

    1. Re:Hey, there's a difference between use and abuse by Nursie · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's a shame, because it affects the conclusion. IMHO it should be -

      Gamers disaffected with society, resulting in depression, supporting evidence consisting of substance use...

      When what we'll get is

      "Gamers depressed! Turn to drugs!" or "Games depress people and are a gateway to drug use!" or "Drug use causes depression and can lead to gaming!"

    2. Re:Hey, there's a difference between use and abuse by flonker · · Score: 5, Insightful

      or "Depressed people more likely to self medicate with drugs and computer games!"

      Correlation is not causation.

  4. New exercise regimen by NoisySplatter · · Score: 5, Funny
    From the article:

    The average gamer also engages in vigorous exercise once or twice a week, which the researchers say is more than most Americans.

    This just in! Both chair throwing and jumping around like a monkey count as vigorous exercise.

    --
    In Soviet Russia meme tires of you!
  5. Fitter than your average American by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Alegory:

    - Faster than your average snail
    - Larger than your average sand grain
    - Truthier than your average Scientology book
    - Funnier than your average /. post

    --
    Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
  6. on sadness and substance abuse by rgviza · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'd agree with this. I just cancelled all of my accounts.

    I started mmo gaming to hide from a failing marriage, after marriage counseling failed. My wife started getting meaner and meaner, so I started gaming to bury myself in my office and hide from it.

    We recently decided to get a divorce. I dropped all of my accounts, started working out again and I've never been more happy in my life. "Hardcore" gamers are usually either escaping from something, or addicted to gaming. Neither situation is conducive to happiness. I'd guess that the ones who are escaping from something are more often also abusing(caffiene, pot, beer, whatever).

    I don't think gaming directly causes the unhappiness, it's caused by the circumstances surrounding the gaming. I started gaming *because* I was unhappy. Obsessive compulsive gamers tend to lose their jobs and families because of the gaming. My marriage was already on life support so it was sort of reversed.

    Casual gaming is also pretty prevalent and that's perfectly healthy. I'd bet that they'd get much different results interviewing casual gamers.

    I quit because now I have better stuff to do and the source of my pain is gone. I'm also looking better because I cook my own food out of fresh ingredients ;). I feel really bad for addicted people. They have to hit rock bottom to quit. I never had to do that. Well actually, it's probably more accurate to say I hit rock bottom before I started gaming.

    -Viz

    --
    Don't kid yourself. It's the size of the regexp AND how you use it that counts.
  7. "correlation is not causation" by circletimessquare · · Score: 5, Insightful

    has become a self-reflexive meme, especially on slashdot, used without thought

    well guess what: finding a correlation is the first step in establishing causation, and it is entirely logical to conjecture a causative arrangement once a correlative conneciton has been established

    so in the future, i would suggest that you, and anyone else reading this comment who loves vomiting "correlation is not causation" as a substitute for actual thought, to spell out exactly why you think there is no causative arrangement here, or in any other discussion

    because i, and many others i think here on slashdot and elsewhere are pretty sick of the smarmy "correlation is not causation" kneejerk response

    its nothing more than intellectual laziness at best, but most usually intellectual dishonesty

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it