Men in their mid 20s and 30s need to put down the Xbox controller and grow up, says writer Kay Hymowitz in an opinion piece published in the Dallas Morning News.
Thanks to the emergence of pop culture such as television and gaming today's mid-20-something male "lingers happily, in a new hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance," argues the article.
In fact compared to the last generation of young men today's 20 to 30-year-old blokes can't be considered adults, she says. "Adolescence appears to be the young man's default state," a phase which the writer with the funny name has chosen to call "child-man", encouraged, she says, by gaming.
As a 21st Century, 26-year-old bloke, reads the article, "you live in an apartment with a few single guy friends. In your spare time, you play basketball with your buddies, download the latest indie songs from iTunes, have some fun with the Xbox 360, take a leisurely shower, massage some product into your hair and face - and then it's off to bars and parties, where you meet, and often bed, girls of widely varied hues and sizes." So far, so good then.
Does this typical modern young man have a wife, kids or house though, she asks: "Are you kidding?"
Back in the 60s, says the opinion piece, the average man in his 20s had achieved most of life's milestones such as a good job, marriage, a house and even a few kids in the bank.
These days, argues the Dallas Morning News piece, the vast majority of 25 year old men have neither a house, wife nor children, says Hymowitz, which is definitely nothing to do with the invention of either the pill or Ayia Napa.
"With women, you could argue that adulthood is in fact emergent," Hymowitz writes. "Single young males, or SYMs, by contrast, often seem to hang out in a playground of drinking, hooking up, playing Halo 3 and, in many cases, underachieving. With them, adulthood looks as though it's receding."
"Underachieving"? We've got over 10 thousand achievement points, lady. The clue's in the title.
We're now living in a culture different from the one of 40 years ago, when you'd marry at school, get a factory job and live in the old family home? Education fees and houses aren't cheap in 2008...
Today's generation has far more time to develop a career, build a home and find a partner than before. When you consider that we're the first generation to grow up with control pads, it's obvious why it's become a target in this debate.
We bet their parents said the same thing about how 25-year-olds play too much sport on a Sunday instead of bringing up the kids...
"The problem with child-men," the article continues, "is that they're not very promising husbands and fathers. They suffer from a proverbial 'fear of commitment'".
What about the demographic of men who have a job, house and kids and still play games, then? Perhaps this writer should realise that some blokes are adult enough to decide what their hobby is. Sound off below!
Kerr-IST, what is it today??? First I read the 'games are kiddy crack' Times article, now this!?!
This 'journalist' needs to learn a few things. Firstly, women today are leaving it later to start a family, instead concentrating on careers. It stands to reason that men will leave such pursuits later in life too.
Second, we are all living longer. Why try and shoe horn our adolescent years/lifestyle into the time period between leaving school and hitting 21?
However, both of those two points aside, times change deary, face facts. And who has the sader lifestyle - me, as a 30 year old man, who spends several hours a week playing video games, but also going out with my girlfriend and seeing mates too, or you, who probably gets home every evening after work, has a couple of large glasses of wine and falls asleep in front of the TV whilst watching some god awful soap opera? If that's what 'growing up' entails, I'd like to remain a child man or whatever the term you used forever more.
i suppose playing monopoly and the likes pretending you're a tycoon is ok why are all these people on the backs of video games. nothing else to moan about is my guess.
Wasn't it being in a band that first got you ridicule? Then when you tell your parents your dreams of becoming a famous movie actor, wasn't that next? So now that we live in a highly entertainment orientated society we know mock the lesser popular gaming world? Wonder whats next...
i suppose playing monopoly and the likes pretending you're a tycoon is ok why are all these people on the backs of video games. nothing else to moan about is my guess.
Monopoly is one of the most mind numbing board games in existance. Roll a dice for 4 hours - no brain required.
Not meaning to rant at you dude, but I loathe Monopoly...
Got a house (although can't afford to buy it), a job and a fioncee - mid 20's (no kids) and also have a psp, ps3 and wii. In fact I just had to buy my girlfriend a psp and we went halves on the ps3.
Maybe the article is just being directed at Americans?
On the house front there are very few mid 20's who can actually afford to buy a house now so that's an answer to that one.
On the whole the article is a complete load of bull.
I dropped my pad last week but I'm still only 6 foot!
Seriously though, why pick on xbox owners? I feel more silly with a wii controller.
Thing is, it is a hobby. What should we do instead? Watch Corry with the missus? I manage to have a reasonable social life, go to the gym twice a week, tend to my girlfriends (many) needs without (much) complaint - and still manage to sneak in a hour on the ps3 most nights. Admittedly, I don't spend hours and hours on my ps3 and that is probably why I don't complain as much as some. Just quality time.
They need to get a new hobby instead of talking s**te all the time.
On the house front there are very few mid 20's who can actually afford to buy a house now so that's an answer to that one.
My girlfriend is a doctor (GP) and we've looked at mortgages and decided 'f**k that' - just because we can pay 12-1500 quid a month on a house, doesn't mean we want to. I'm happier renting and having disposable income currently.
Of course, if they kick all the bloody Eastern Europeans out the damn country, then there wouldn't be a house shortage and prices would decrease.....
its dykes like this that expect men to have a house and lots of money by the time they end puberty so they can live for free. they can then roam around the house, or go into town looking to pick up other like minded short fingernailed, short haired, but lots of pubic haired females so they can carpet munch back at the house whilst the husband earns their keep ffs.
As a happily married (8 years this year), home owning (for 13 years), 34 year old father of two who's enjoyed gaming for all of my adult, and most of my childhood, life I say...
On the house front there are very few mid 20's who can actually afford to buy a house now so that's an answer to that one.
My girlfriend is a doctor (GP) and we've looked at mortgages and decided 'f**k that' - just because we can pay 12-1500 quid a month on a house, doesn't mean we want to. I'm happier renting and having disposable income currently.
Of course, if they kick all the bloody Eastern Europeans out the damn country, then there wouldn't be a house shortage and prices would decrease.....
Oooooh, don't get all political on us now.
I believe that if you work and pay your way, you can spend your time and money on whatever you like - as long as your not hurting anyone. First it was ciggies indoors and next it will be fun. You heard it here first! Damn, that was slightly political.
ahhh another old tree hugging rug muncher who wants to make a name for herself on the internet. I'll do with my life, what i want to do with my life. end of.
i suppose playing monopoly and the likes pretending you're a tycoon is ok why are all these people on the backs of video games. nothing else to moan about is my guess.
Monopoly is one of the most mind numbing board games in existance. Roll a dice for 4 hours - no brain required.
Not meaning to rant at you dude, but I loathe Monopoly...
"With women, you could argue that adulthood is in fact emergent. Single women in their 20s and early 30s are joining an international New Girl Order, hyper-achieving in both school and an increasingly female-friendly workplace, while packing leisure hours with shopping, traveling and dining with friends. Single young males, or SYMs, by contrast, often seem to hang out in a playground of drinking, hooking up, playing Halo 3 and, in many cases, underachieving. With them, adulthood looks as though it's receding."
I'd suggest she is a man hating feminist, judging by her above comments. Women can do no wrong as they busily turn their homes into nests to rear their young (and shop) while men are drunken layabouts who play games and barely hold down jobs in convenience stores...
She also doesn't address another matter - perhaps woman don't WANT to get married today.
Or perhaps we men have realised that many MANY women (herself included) are just simply not worth the effort, and that spending some time with a few beers on Halo 3 is time far more enjoyable.
Remember, there's only so many wallpaper charts and carpet samples one can look at before you are driven to outbursts of psychopathic rage.
I am 26, married and own my own house. I hold down a good job that obviously pays me enough to buy my own house. In this house I have a DS, PSP, Wii, PC and a 360 (that is currently waiting to be repaired ). What is she trying to say that I am an exception to the rule? I know loads of my mates that are married and own their own property and play games, even some of them have children!
It is plain to see that she has no idea what she is talking about and is aiming to get a raise out of gamers. Damn it worked.
P.s just worked out she is talking about the USA, it all makes sense now
On the house front there are very few mid 20's who can actually afford to buy a house now so that's an answer to that one.
My girlfriend is a doctor (GP) and we've looked at mortgages and decided 'f**k that' - just because we can pay 12-1500 quid a month on a house, doesn't mean we want to. I'm happier renting and having disposable income currently.
Of course, if they kick all the bloody Eastern Europeans out the damn country, then there wouldn't be a house shortage and prices would decrease.....
Oooooh, don't get all political on us now.
I believe that if you work and pay your way, you can spend your time and money on whatever you like - as long as your not hurting anyone. First it was ciggies indoors and next it will be fun. You heard it here first! Damn, that was slightly political.
Do you see the irony in your comment Mark?.... not hurting anyone & smoking indoors??....
Clearly what the writer of the article wants is a robot who works all day, fixes appliances round the house in the evening and sleeps exactly 8 hours per night, wearing sensible plaid pyjamas.
Obviously the partner of such a man (if we're living in this 50's cliche) should be at home all day, baking cakes and chatting to her neighbours, having dinner ready for the man coming home in the evening and fetch him his slippers when he calls for them.
I think this is a pretty extreme case of prejudice. Just because some cases of adult males have no sense of responsibility doesn't mean all of us are the same. Can we sue? I bet if they changed "man" with "woman" or "white man" or "black man" there'd be hate mail on it's way already.
But at the same time, the way that article reads it sounds like all we should expect from life is work and sleep. Everyone needs a way of letting out tension, relaxing or just taking their mind off the daily grind. We'd go nuts otherwise.
its dykes like this that expect men to have a house and lots of money by the time they end puberty so they can live for free. they can then roam around the house, or go into town looking to pick up other like minded short fingernailed, short haired, but lots of pubic haired females so they can carpet munch back at the house whilst the husband earns their keep ffs.
Leaving the rather uncouth (and unproven) pergoratives aside, this article rather does seem to boil down to the writer whining because 21st century man doesn't seem to be exactly what she particularly wants it to be. Complaining about what something is not, rather than either accepting what it is or working to change it does of itself seem rather.. childish. To be honest, she doesn't really match up to the intellectual and emotional standards she seems bent on holding the male half of the population to account for, which rather undermines her argument.
Aside from the point that there are plenty of youngish (say mid 20's to mid 30's) males in the world who are unmarried, don't have kids and don't really find video games all that interesting either..
I have a house, a lovely lady and a dog...and we just got ourselves a nice 52 inch samsung 1080p HD tv so we can kill together or she can play the ps3 while i use the other HD tv for the xbox.
Of course, if they kick all the bloody Eastern Europeans out the damn country, then there wouldn't be a house shortage and prices would decrease.....
We (the bloody Eastern Europeans) are not happy to be here either but no worries. As soon as our countries catch up with the rest of EU we'll leave and never look back at the great food, hospitality and stunning looking women we found here.
My experience of xboxlive especially is that s**tloads of people no matter what age spend all their life playing videogames. f**k society and peer pressure,roll on Grand Theft Auto 4 so i can smoke copious amounts of weed and lose myself in the pure escapism of videogames.
Obviously the partner of such a man (if we're living in this 50's cliche) should be at home all day, baking cakes and chatting to her neighbours, having dinner ready for the man coming home in the evening and fetch him his slippers when he calls for them.
Ah, those were the days. Not that I personally remember, granted.
But at the same time, the way that article reads it sounds like all we should expect from life is work and sleep.
Exactly. Work (and to some extent, sleep) is a necessary annoyance - NOTHING more. Our quality of life should be measured not by how great a job we may or may not have, but by how we spend our time out of it - with our friends, partners, children etc. (whether online or face to face... ).
its dykes like this that expect men to have a house and lots of money by the time they end puberty so they can live for free. they can then roam around the house, or go into town looking to pick up other like minded short fingernailed, short haired, but lots of pubic haired females so they can carpet munch back at the house whilst the husband earns their keep ffs.
Leaving the rather uncouth (and unproven) pergoratives aside, this article rather does seem to boil down to the writer whining because 21st century man doesn't seem to be exactly what she particularly wants it to be. Complaining about what something is not, rather than either accepting what it is or working to change it does of itself seem rather.. childish. To be honest, she doesn't really match up to the intellectual and emotional standards she seems bent on holding the male half of the population to account for, which rather undermines her argument.
Aside from the point that there are plenty of youngish (say mid 20's to mid 30's) males in the world who are unmarried, don't have kids and don't really find video games all that interesting either..
Jon
Yer that's all very nice Jon, but!,.... I'm sure she eats bearded clams.
she's targeting the minority of male gamers i reckon.
i am 34, been married for 5 years, got a kid coming in a week (gulp!), had my own house for 10 years and hold down an important job, and have played games since i was about 7 years old.
What an ill informed load of tripe. She'll be ranting about some other b******s next week. Gamers are just flavour of the month obviously. Journo's will get bored and pick on something else next, just sit tight and let it slip by...
Of course, if they kick all the bloody Eastern Europeans out the damn country, then there wouldn't be a house shortage and prices would decrease.....
We (the bloody Eastern Europeans) are not happy to be here either but no worries. As soon as our countries catch up with the rest of EU we'll leave and never look back at the great food, hospitality and stunning looking women we found here.
Perhaps I should have put a proviso in that - 'sponging bloody Eastern Europeans'. I have no problem with people living in whatever country they wish to, as long as they pay their way. But coming over here illegally and bleeding our welfare and NHS dry winds me up immensely.
Of course, what annoys me more is the fact our government doesn't seem to give a crap.
Times change lady, get over it (and yourself). I've only been 26 for a few months but have not wish to plan my life as far as marriage goes. I haven't met a girl or young woman so far that I even deem trustworthy but I'm not saying all women are sluts. She's obviously not getting it (in both terms) and is having a good old whinge. I like the idea of coming home from work, going training and then hanging out with friends. I also like to travel a lot and shackling down means I can't do that. Everyone's different but I don't want to marry at what I deem a young age. I know people who got married years ago from my year in school and have kids etc. But they also work in dead end jobs and have no ambition. Again, not everyone's like that either. But I want to see more of the world before tying myself down to anyone.
What a stupid cow. And yes CVG, that was a great joke
Times change lady, get over it (and yourself). I've only been 26 for a few months but have not wish to plan my life as far as marriage goes. I haven't met a girl or young woman so far that I even deem trustworthy but I'm not saying all women are sluts. She's obviously not getting it (in both terms) and is having a good old whinge. I like the idea of coming home from work, going training and then hanging out with friends. I also like to travel a lot and shackling down means I can't do that. Everyone's different but I don't want to marry at what I deem a young age. I know people who got married years ago from my year in school and have kids etc. But they also work in dead end jobs and have no ambition. Again, not everyone's like that either. But I want to see more of the world before tying myself down to anyone.
What a stupid cow. And yes CVG, that was a great joke
Oi, this is a games site, not a lonely hearts column!!! haha.....
On the house front there are very few mid 20's who can actually afford to buy a house now so that's an answer to that one.
My girlfriend is a doctor (GP) and we've looked at mortgages and decided 'f**k that' - just because we can pay 12-1500 quid a month on a house, doesn't mean we want to. I'm happier renting and having disposable income currently.
Of course, if they kick all the bloody Eastern Europeans out the damn country, then there wouldn't be a house shortage and prices would decrease.....
Oooooh, don't get all political on us now.
I believe that if you work and pay your way, you can spend your time and money on whatever you like - as long as your not hurting anyone. First it was ciggies indoors and next it will be fun. You heard it here first! Damn, that was slightly political.
Do you see the irony in your comment Mark?.... not hurting anyone & smoking indoors??....
Yes I do. Probably a bad example, that one. You know what I mean though...
Of course, if they kick all the bloody Eastern Europeans out the damn country, then there wouldn't be a house shortage and prices would decrease.....
We (the bloody Eastern Europeans) are not happy to be here either but no worries. As soon as our countries catch up with the rest of EU we'll leave and never look back at the great food, hospitality and stunning looking women we found here.
... i have to say that is f**king hilarious. you forgot to mention our wonderful weather though lol
As a 25 year old managing a trans-continental development team for a financial technology company, who also teaches martial arts thrice a week and lives with his girlfriend, I like to think Halo 3 hasn't held me back that much.
she's targeting the minority of male gamers i reckon.
i am 34, been married for 5 years, got a kid coming in a week (gulp!),
Blimey, good luck!
had my own house for 10 years and hold down an important job, and have played games since i was about 7 years old.
What an ill informed load of tripe. She'll be ranting about some other b******s next week. Gamers are just flavour of the month obviously. Journo's will get bored and pick on something else next, just sit tight and let it slip by...
It appears the woman is in fact a total barmpot and seems violently opposed to anyone other than her having any fun.
JuiKuen, that attitude isn't exactly helping the whole "we're both gamers AND mature" argument.
But here's the thing. The article specifically mentions using skincare products, right? Weren't we (as men) told we should be taking care of our skin and stuff these days? I thought taking care over personal appearance was one of the key factors to being a 21st century male?
Can't have it both ways.
I accept that women like shopping and jewellery and clothes and shoes and cheesecake. I don't like any of those things, but I'm not trying to stop them buying, looking or eating them if they want to. My girlfriend (of 7 years) accepts that I like gaming and messing around online and playing guitar.
Additionally (started a rant, silly silly woman), she presumably has in the past gone out herself with the intention of finding a partner. She has presumably spent time getting to know them, understanding the kind of person he is and making plans for the future with him. If this is the person you love and want to stay with, why the hell are you trying to change the very things that make him who he is?! If he was different, you wouldn't have gone for him. If you change him, he stops being the person you wanted in the first place. If you don't want him, get rid of him and find someone who does suit your incredibly unrealistic ideal.
'Back in the olden days things were perfect. Men were men and woman were home makers.’ In fact by her logic she shouldn’t have a job she or have time to write articles she should be in the kitchen bare foot and pregnant like it was in the good old days. Rose coloured glasses syndrome about the past.
Either that or she just split up with her boyfriend and is a little bitter.
I for one as a mature 30 year old suggest we all call around and egg her house!!!! Only I dont want to fly to Dallas.
Once again ill informed comments from people who know nothing about gaming and makes massive generalisations as usual.
Firstly being 25, I dont have a house but it's through no choice of my own as me and my fiancee both cant afford it, I have a good job and work incredibly hard 6 days a week so if on my day off or at night I play CoD4 for an hour so what?
Get a life luv and try getting pumped once in a while. Should blow those man-hating cobwebs clean away!
That article is complete b******s. The mid 20s 30s blokes of today are the first to have grown up with computer gaming as mainstream entertainment. Get used to it you shriveled prune of a journalist! Let me show you to your penny farthing
I'm sorry but if you came out of University/started your career after 2003/4 and have bought a house you deserve a pat on the back because affording to buy somewhere decent is next to impossible! I've been a developer for 4 years now and am JUST (and i mean just) being able to entertain the idea of buying after slugging my way up the ladder.
And this doesn't have jack S*%t to do with immigrants from eastern europe or anywhere else. Try looking at the people you rented your last place off and the 40+ properties they own because they were lucky enough to get on the ladder before the prices started ramming up every year.
s**t I didn't realise I had wasted my life at 24 years old and I'm now destined to grow old lonely with no family. Maybe Kay's just jealous cos no guy ever wanted to give her family. I bet she can't have kids anymore cos she's got a dry old shrivelled uterus so she's venting her anger at men in their mid 20's. Oh why didn't wouldn't any guy give her kids when she was in her mid 20s when her fallopian tubes weren't clogged? Or maybe she's just a licker!!
And this doesn't have jack S*%t to do with immigrants from eastern europe or anywhere else. Try looking at the people you rented your last place off and the 40+ properties they own because they were lucky enough to get on the ladder before the prices started ramming up every year.
My landlords are a retired, married couple (English, and UK residents all their life), who sold their large house, bought a smaller one (the one I am currently renting) and had a boat built, and are now chugging around the British waterways somewhere.
The reason the UK is in such a state is cos their are too many people here.
s**t I didn't realise I had wasted my life at 24 years old and I'm now destined to grow old lonely with no family. Maybe Kay's just jealous cos no guy ever wanted to give her family. I bet she can't have kids anymore cos she's got a dry old shrivelled uterus so she's venting her anger at men in their mid 20's. Oh why didn't wouldn't any guy give her kids when she was in her mid 20s when her fallopian tubes weren't clogged? Or maybe she's just a licker!!
We no longer live in a world based on religion (in the UK anyway), with people marrying young and having several kids because otherwise you're not allowed to have sex and/or will go to hell.
We are no longer required to work long hours in a mindless factory job from a young age just to have enough money to live until we die, all the while having to try to abide by the rules of a religion just because we are told to.
Excuse me, Kay, but happiness is important. I don't want to marry the first girl I meet, who is in my sisters class at school. There are many things I don't want to do, things people HAD to do in the 60s because, you know, they didn't know any different or just didn't have a choice.
Pretty much all the things I don't want to do are listed in that first paragraph of hers. Because I simply don't have to. I would, if they made me happy, and one day, they will.
And what's this b******s about a New Girl Order? Packing leisure hours with shopping? You mean, being slaves to consumerism? Travelling? You mean, taking time off work to go somewhere the booze and drugs are cheaper? Dining with friends? How is that different to going out for a drink with friends? Are you trying to tell me that this generation of Sex and the City influenced girls aren't going to have a drink with their meal?
I don't mean to sound sexist, and those of you who do on this forum only give us a bad name - I do all the things she has listed that only girls do, I'm only trying to pick apart her argument.
Ok, so she's right about Maxim, but is it any better or worse than reading Heat magazine which MANY girls and NO guys do, a magazine all about humiliating celebrities' appearances and personal lives?
All I'm trying to say is her parameters for why a man-child is bad and why this New Girl Order is good, are jumbled at best.
Stop judging and pigeonholeing us. Just let us do what we want to do, which sometimes includes playing games.
Single Just bought an appartment 4-6 hours/week Taekwondo competition Enjoy playing on my PS3 and X360
One of the reasons why people like me suffer from 'fear of commitment' is because every one out of 3 couples divorce. Basically, her generation screwed the value of mariagge, not games.
I'd rather be called a man-child than marrying a nagging bitch who wants to divorce after 5 years, claims half of my possesions and may require monthly fees for children I will barely see.
World of Worldcraft fees are cheaper and I can spend time with it whenever I want.
But hey elections and all that, after the 'war on terror' America needs yet another enemy to fight instead of looking at the real problems like global warming.
33 year old gamer , male, married, one kid, one kid on way, just sold flat, just bought house, just realised this articles a load of old toss written by one bitter, bitter woman!
Surely this is some kind of discrimination or stereotype and shouldn't be allowed? I mean they are specifically targeting a group of males between a certain age and saying...this is what they are like because they do this.
Can't this stupid cow report on real news? She isn't that same bitch from Fox is she? (I didnt read the whole of this article because I kind of got the point from the first paragraph or so)
I am 26, married and own my own house. I hold down a good job that obviously pays me enough to buy my own house. In this house I have a DS, PSP, Wii, PC and a 360 (that is currently waiting to be repaired ). What is she trying to say that I am an exception to the rule? I know loads of my mates that are married and own their own property and play games, even some of them have children!
It is plain to see that she has no idea what she is talking about and is aiming to get a raise out of gamers. Damn it worked.
P.s just worked out she is talking about the USA, it all makes sense now
W...T...F?
Some idiot posts an article about something she obviously knows nothing about, and this provides the fodder for US-bashing? Slackers and losers aren't necessarily regional...betcha they're found in almost every corner of this small world. I realize the US is an easy target, but please refrain from displaying your Idiocy Membership Card.
I'm 39, college graduate, married with 2 kids, own my home, worked since I was 12, and in my career for the past 15 yrs. Oh, yeah, forgot to mention, been gaming since Pong. I currently own many consoles, but actively play my 360 and the PSP.
As for the original article in question, guess they'll post anything if it has the potential of inciting emotion...researched or not.
Just to get another point in (my full rant will no doubt appear on my blog shortly) - the average age of women in the US having their first child has gone up 4 years since 1970.
Using the same attitude as the article I can assume that means women are frigid old maids and only become parents when they realise they should really settle down.
And most US babies are born on a Tuesday. Presumably that also means that every woman in the country wants their child to be full of grace as opposed to fair of face or loving and giving and they are therefor holding off giving birth to make sure they deliver on a Tuesday.
Not true? Guess what? Statistics prove nothing. try getting out and talking to actual people instead.
Hi All, I'm late 30's married with 2 kids and have been playing games since I was in single figures, on my commodore vic-20. I lapsed a bit from 17-21 but have been playing on consoles since the snes. Me and my lad both have 360's and you can't beat a bit of Father & son time on Halo ("and the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon.." etc etc)besides ,is it now more acceptable for a couple of old fogeys waving a wiimote about, rather than a good blast on cod4!!
This is utter nonsense. I am 27, married, have my own house and own a 360, PS3 and Wii. As for commitment, she clearly doesn't know how long I spent collecting those green orbs in Crackdown? She can consider herself "pwned". Hmph.
I'm married, great job with prospects and I have gamed since 1984. Yet again a half bottomd piece attack on gaming by someone who fails to fully understand the media they are attacking. Perhaps someone was jilted in favour of their ex's favourite console, eh?
This woman needs to get with the times. With house prices so high in the UK and wages so low, its hard for people to get on the property ladder!
Lets compare house prices from the "60's" - £3,000. Now lets see a rough price in 2008 for the same house....
£350,000!
You could argue the wages would work out the same, however i cant see people on £18k a year getting a house. Hell me and my partner are on a joint £65K a year and we are finding it hard!!
Video games are an escape from reality, and i am not the only one to play them! My partner spends many hours playing her DS!!
It seems this article was written by a woman who has been snubbed by her partner for an xbox! Maybe she should sort out her own love life before condemning all men!
What a great article. I for one can't wait to welcome back the values and attitudes of 50 years ago! Beat your wife, it's once again socially acceptable! Exclude blacks, dogs and the Irish from pubs and boarding houses! Smoking (especially pipes) positively encouraged! Homosexuality illegal! Missionary position only during intercourse! Insightful documentaries on the drug problems of our youth such as Reefer Madness! I could go on, but I have to be fitted for my tweed suit and get some more pipe tobacco before the shops are shut, half day closing you know, I blame the war, and I swear if Marjory doesn't have my dinner on the table when I get home she'll be sorry. Pip pip!
On the house front there are very few mid 20's who can actually afford to buy a house now so that's an answer to that one.
My girlfriend is a doctor (GP) and we've looked at mortgages and decided 'f**k that' - just because we can pay 12-1500 quid a month on a house, doesn't mean we want to. I'm happier renting and having disposable income currently.
Of course, if they kick all the bloody Eastern Europeans out the damn country, then there wouldn't be a house shortage and prices would decrease.....
How much £1500!! My mortgage is only a third of that, talk about disposable income! At least I'll have a place to live when i get old and wrinkly!
It's not just the Eastern Europeans that's that problem, all immigrants should be cut down and then made to speak English before entering the country, after a 12 month wait, then a 6 month rabies tests...then maybe we'll send them back from where they came from.....war torn countries only, the rest can f**k off!
Sounds like a 'Man-Bear-Pig' or was it 'Pig-Man-Bear'?
But I find the whole article kinda perfect, nothing wrong with it... Who wants to grow up and have responsibilities? Man, if we all could have fun doing what we want, then what's the problem... kinda solves the war issues globaly... we'd be al fighting our wars online...
Over-reaction alert! It doesn't seem to be videogames only that the article's complaining about - just the general twentysomething male psyche.
Personally, very little of this bothers me, since I don't engage in most of the typical male hobbies - I don't go 'out on the pull', read lewd magazines or drink to access. Obviously I disagree about the videogames, which I think are no worse a hobby than listening to the radio or watching TV (and probably better due to interactivity).
I also disagree that girls are any better than boys. Shopping counts as achieving, does it? WDOn't make me laugh. I'd also dispute the fact that the average young woman objects to a night on the tiles, complete with heavy drinking, and the odd one-night-stand any more than her male counterpart. The suffragette view of 'women as defenders of purity' should have been abolished decades ago when it became wrong.
And since when does marriage age relate to immaturity? Perhaps men just want more time to consider. Granted, some of them may be immature fools, but marriage statistics can't be used to prove that the vast majority are. Desire for freedom doesn't always imply immaturity.
Personally, I disagree with the opinion, and I think that a male point of view is required to even things out. But at the end of the day, it's just an opinion, and doesn't concentrate on the debilitating effects of computer games half as much as C&VG would have us believe.
So much wrong with that article that I don't even know where to start! All I have to say is times have changed, to compare now to the 60s is just stupidity on the highest level.
Things are a lot different now, finding great jobs are harder (even if you have the qualifications now), house prices border on a joke, it's just not easy to start out any more.
Yeah playing vid games makes you a kid but somehow watching soaps and reality show is cultured.
I detect a bitter woman who hasn't had any penis in years behind this article
This guy is a ignorant wank. I am married with a 6 year old, good paying career, a house i am 37 and still play games when i can. for me it is a hobby. Do i neglect my family. Hell no. This guy is saying all people in that age group when it is probably a small margin. People like this really need to get a life. Any industry that makes a lot of cash they have to pounce all over it. I feel better now.
So, men are brash, immature, and never grow up? Well, that's fine, because women are stupid, weak-willed, and only suited to housework and the kitchen.
I don't give a flying sh*te what this woman has to say. I read the article just out of interest but this woman is stuck in the past along with her ideas.
Its a gross generalisation of todays culture, based on prehistoric logic.
Thankfully this is just some flash in the pan article in some back eddy town in America and we dont really have to stress to much about it.
My only comments are:
Im 28, recently bought a flat with my girlfriend, I am really happy with my life and its on course to eventually involve kids. I know that I am very lucky to be in the position i am in at 28, it is pretty early in todays standards, but why does that make it wrong. Where has this maturity at 20 got these people, divorce, alcoholism and botox thats where!
We are actually lucky that we know longer have the pressure of having to get married at 20, so we can leave the family home, making a rash decision at such a tender age that you marry the first person who offers you the option. These days you move into a flat share and enjoy socialising and dating as well as gaming with friends. It doesnt make you any less mature than the wet behind the ears 20 somethings from yesteryear.
On the flip side, i can see where there is a majority of child-men. My mate is also 28, spends his free time playing xbox, is not interested in getting a better job to eventually buy a house, is happy earning a pittence...but thats down to ambition and no fault of gaming.
As a happily married (8 years this year), home owning (for 13 years), 34 year old father of two who's enjoyed gaming for all of my adult, and most of my childhood, life I say...
F*ck off!
I whole heartedly second that motion, even though my missus is not into gaming she does not expect me to give up my hobby that I have enjoyed since I was about 7 years old just because I am older & we now have a baby & most likely a mortgage in the next couple of months.
Geez what a bitch, someone never got any the other night cos her man was too busy on Halo 3!
I'm 24 in full time work with a full time girlfriend (much harder work). Just renting now but looking to buy (a house not a girlfriend ).
I cant ever see me getting bored of Gaming! If I have kids i'm gonna raise a mutant gamer, as soon as that kid pops out i'm gonna put a joypad in its hands! It'll be beating me on Halo 4 by the time its out of nappies.
The Age of Gaming is coming folks, its gonna replace football on the TV's and the best of us will get paid a premiership salary! Or mabye that was a dream I had...
I think the time i put down my controller for good will be a very sad day indeed, i plan to be buried with a controller from all of my loved consoles
Seriously, gaming is fun for all ages, games are designed for different ages so why should we not play games when we are older, i just think this newspaper is running out of more controversial things to chat about and gaming now is getting more criticism than Britney Spears and her outings.
I don't give a flying sh*te what this woman has to say. I read the article just out of interest but this woman is stuck in the past along with her ideas.
A swift kick in the fadge is required me thinks.
out of all the comments on this thread... the "swift kick in the fadge" line had done it for me!!!!!
I'm 28 and exactly that person the writer describes, but not only am i not in debt (i would be if i had a house/kids/wife) but im loving my life of care-freeness, i'm happy ive always been a happy person, so all i got to say to that writer is:
Not so long ago, the average mid-twentysomething had achieved most of adulthood's milestones – high school degree, financial independence, marriage and children. These days, he lingers – happily – in a new hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance.
Yup, that's right everyone. Its official, you can no longer be classed as an adult if you;
a) are gay b) are homeless c) are renting d) are mentally challenged e) don't want children f) don't care for religion
In your spare time, you play basketball with your buddies, download the latest indie songs from iTunes, have some fun with the Xbox 360
I find it very funny that this reporter has released a podcast on this article, after criticising the "man-child" for downloading music from iTunes. Not only that, to garner extra publicity, then the article is released onto the internet, the favourite playground of the "man-child"
Also funny is that the writer uses the year 1965 and the age 26 as an example. That would imply you were born during the war with a whole generation of people who arguably had to "grow up" too quickly.
In a world which has changed considerably since 1965, including giving a woman a job allowing her the right to mouth off about a whole generation of males through a worldwide medium, this kind of stereotyping is akin to Adolf Hitler's regime. I certainly won't be pigeon holed by someone who seems to be stuck in the past; the article is a very dim witted view.
That's certainly a hope driving the sharpest of recent child-man entertainments, Judd Apatow's hit movie Knocked Up. What sets Knocked Up apart from, say, Old School, is that it invites the audience to enjoy the SYM's immaturity even while insisting on its feebleness. The potheaded 23-year-old Ben Stone accidentally impregnates Alison, a gorgeous stranger he was lucky enough to score at a bar. He is clueless about what to do when she decides to have the baby, not because he's a "badass" – actually, he has a big heart – but because he dwells among social retards. In the end, though, Ben understands that he needs to grow up. He gets a job and an apartment and learns to love Alison and the baby. This is a comedy, after all.
Oh dear. Yes, we all need to see the error of our ways and grow up! Actually if I remember correctly in that movie the female wanted to have an abortion and the "man child" wanted the baby. Not that this is a p**sing contest, after all it was a movie.
I'm not saying there aren't differences. Driven by all sorts of factors; economics and prosperity, world politics, taxation, education and technology to name but a few.
They have all moved on considerably in a half-century, why can't you?
One big Factor we have forgot to include in this, she is talking about AMERICANS in DALLAS what do you expect?
Nah - that article was an extract. Re-read the quote below. It's aimed worldwide.
Now meet the twenty-first-century you, also 26. You’ve finished college and work in a cubicle in a large Chicago financial-services firm. You live in an apartment with a few single guy friends. In your spare time, you play basketball with your buddies, download the latest indie songs from iTunes, have some fun with the Xbox 360, take a leisurely shower, massage some product into your hair and face—and then it’s off to bars and parties, where you meet, and often bed, girls of widely varied hues and sizes. They come from everywhere: California, Tokyo, Alaska, Australia. Wife? Kids? House? Are you kidding?
Very sexist comments considering many WOMEN also don't do these things nowadays until their 30s.
It has nothing to do with games, society has changed and this women needs to realise having a well paid job. house, car and mortgage isn't everyone's idea of a "good" life.
I had 3 kids by the time I was 27, I havea good job, house, car etc. and I still play games (now 29) so do I fall into one of these categories?
stupid t**t we gamers/geeks/nerds we just have a hobby for gamin n if it wasnt for us all these hi tec computers that governments use wouldnt exist so therefor the safty of millions wud be f**ked so wey shut up u stupid t**ts who dissin gamin
I see no reason why many feel they have to prove themselves whether you are married or single why should it matter?
I am in my early 20's and although videogames is one of the few activities I enjoy I cannot wait for Grand Theft Auto IV on April 29th personally and I will happily spend many hours that day playing it
We have been brainwashed enough "getting married" and "having kids" is not a milestone. Many years ago it had to be done for the sake of the human race surviving. However times have changed so much now I don't want to marry and have kids thanks I knew this would be the case from a young age. I respect those who do though but I am a solitary person I like my own space and my own company so why should I feel ashamed?
I am like the person described in the article but in the end it is just trying to sham men period. I don't enjoy socializing very much and honestly getting p**sed every weekend and trying to "Score" isn't my thing. To each their own.
For those who are around my age and have their own home and lots of pets well done to you seriously getting work is hard more people want more qualifications and experience for the most crappy jobs these days.
I will be playing videogames until I die most probably and if gaming is what you like to do in you're spare time what else matters? F*** everyone else I do what I enjoy and that is what life is supposed to be about doing what you enjoy.
I haven't had such a hearty laugh in a long time. Japan will do that..so thank you Mrs. Hymen.. for reminding me why I hated Texas.
Before I give you my thoughts, id like to point out one of several inconsistencies.. contradictions if you will, in your article.
"Not so long ago, the average mid-twentysomething had achieved most of adulthood's milestones – high school degree, financial independence, marriage and children."
In your opening example.. you described a college grad, living in an apartment, and working in a cubicle at a Financial Firm.
Seems to me that the 21st Century Man is not only accomplishing most of the milestones of your "Golden 60's".. but in fact outpacing your aged and withered ass. I bet if you stopped to trim that muff of yours.. maybe with less wind resistance.. oh well i digress.. Hell.. a highschool edumacation!!! Sheeeeet.. we are a going to dad gum UNIVERSITY!! We even move out of the Ol log Cabin and get ourselves our own Apartment. To hell with working for the steel mill.. by golly we even got ourselves one o'dem white collar jobs. Oh and look Pa!! negros can vote and women can wear pants instead of aprons!!
It seems like the only thing BAD about the 21st century uber-man is that we are smart enough to use condoms even though the Catholic Church says we will waste away our days in Purgatory. Yea... big deal we aren't getting married. Its probably b/c women like you drove our fathers away and we grew up knowing that divorce was the one thing we DIDN'T want to do. If women were so f**king crazy about getting married.. hell id welcome a girl on her knees shoving a large rock in my face. You know.. a rock that "society" demands cost 2-3 months take home salary..yada yada yada. Women sure dont exude maturity when gossipping about cut and clarity, not once pondering the 7 year old boy working in a diamond mine in Zimbabwe, who could sell your f**king left shoe for 3 months worth of food. Now Im not saying that SYM's are on the forefront.. but hell.. we ain't the ones kicking up dust with our huge f**king mouths.
Oh yeah.. and if you want to get p**sed about how men live promiscous lives and just flirt around f**king everything that moves.. maybe you should stop to realize, that is as much of an insult to women if not more. We cant F**k the air you c**t.. it takes two to tango.. and if we are that STUPID.. what does that say about the ones spreading their legs?? Now i know this doesnt include you, and for this reason you feel free to sling insults from behind your armor of short hair and stack of divorce papers.. but please dont hate us b/c we are happy.
Focus your negative energy into your didlo hand and maybe youll smile a little.
Does she also refer to my 60 yr old mother constantly playing ZUMA on my bloody 360 when I'm out at work??? Should she also put the pad down??? And get back in the kitchen???? I don't think my mom would take kindly being told she can't do what she wants at her age.... for a matter of fact, NEITHER DO I.
Get a life and find some Diana Inquest to report on NEWS PAPER LADY, Biatch
OMG!!, this kind of article gets my goat. I am 34, have a wife, 2 children, good job and a house. I have been playing games since i was about 12. I enjoy the challenge and escapism that games provide me and look at them as a form of entertainment just like watching movies or good TV. (Not these crappy soaps!! My opinion but maybe not someone elses) I will be playing games till the day i die which will hopefully a long time. It is people like this that are preventing videogames being accepted as a viable form of entertainment by the masses.
what is it with people today saying how poeple should live and blame it on games? the fact is its harder to start these things knowadays , with prices of houses and even flats so high it takes longer to get a half decent career to afford such things, families are also expencive, where as in those 60s she mentions how things were cheaper (points at fuel prices especially) , she says for them to grow up, why doesnt she and accept whats happening in the times, its not like its affecting her is it? stupid B**** and im 19, i done my college, some of my friends still in UNI, dont have time to start relationships and ofcourse thousands of pounds in dept and i dont think they play games, and yet after uni most probubly wont get the job, but again most people who go too uni still dont know what they want too do with there lives? these news people and media really need to grow up and stop blameing one factor, when in this world there are many for everything, sometimes games may be a factor but its minimun. ive got a pretty bad job and only just manageing to pay for my car, petrol and keep and insurance, i wouldnt be able to get a home to save my life even if i got a better paid job which would be eisier and im 19 and not doing too bad then eh?
hehe, it is cool 2 c my fellow 30 odd yr old gamers out in force but theres no need 2 get so p**sed off about this im 32 been playing games since.... so long i cant remember and it doesnt matter what anyone says i will still continue to do so.
Firstly she has a hilarious name, secondly what does she know about being a man, thirdly why should anyone listen to what she says, and finally who gives a f**k!
This does sound like one of those typical 'It was better in the good old days' rants.
Our Fathers think we play games too much, their Fathers think they had it easy working indoor in a nice warm building. In turn their Fathers think they had it easy because the did have to start work until they were 16 and so on.
I'm 26 and I live with my Daughter, it's just the two of us, so if I can run a house hold, take care of a child and hold down a job where are all these immature women who could be helping?
Oh, I also have another Daughter who lives with her Mum. So don't worry about the population because some of are picking up the slack (I'm sure there's a better way too put that).
As Jack Nicholson put it in the wonderful film "As Good as it Gets"; women are men minus reason and accountability. FACT.
This article clearly demostrates a severe lack of reasoning in her argument, and accountability as no doubt if pressed and had her argument shot to pieces (which wouldn't be an effort at all), she'd find no way of reconciling the flaws in her argument with her own actions. The latter is a guess of course, but I'd bet on it.
She's just a typical narcacistic nut-job who thinks that the only right way for life and the world in general is that which serves her ideals, views and perspective.
No sign of balance.
No sign of qualified reasoning and conclusions.
Only a sign of a jaded, sexually prejudiced woman, probably bitter with the fact that SHE couldn't find success in getting committment from her partners.
The problem isnt with men, videogames, beer, or anything of that nature.
The problem is women.
The author mentions that the guy goes to bars, hooks up with women, sleeps with them, and goes on his way. What she fails to mention is that at least 1/4th of those women are in relationships or are married and are cheating. Women these days have no respect for the men they're with, and think they can do whatever they want.
In turn, what's happening is - men are becoming smarter. Men are realizing that friends, gaming and partying are making them happy, not a lasting relationship. Why get involved in a relationship where your girl might be out gettin laid by some single dude who's been partying and gaming all day?
Sure, we might need women, but really only for the primary functions, not for anything else. We have our games for that.
As a 30 yr old, separated male gamer, I tell you all this - marriage is an archaic institution. Don't let anyone, especially any woman, tell you that you need/should get married.
As Jack Nicholson put it in the wonderful film "As Good as it Gets"; women are men minus reason and accountability. FACT.
This article clearly demostrates a severe lack of reasoning in her argument, and accountability as no doubt if pressed and had her argument shot to pieces (which wouldn't be an effort at all), she'd find no way of reconciling the flaws in her argument with her own actions. The latter is a guess of course, but I'd bet on it.
She's just a typical narcacistic nut-job who thinks that the only right way for life and the world in general is that which serves her ideals, views and perspective.
No sign of balance.
No sign of qualified reasoning and conclusions.
Only a sign of a jaded, sexually prejudiced woman, probably bitter with the fact that SHE couldn't find success in getting committment from her partners.
LAUGHABLE!!
You have my respect Jack Nicholson is a legend. Sorry Heath but I think Jack was the perfect Joker and cannot be beaten.
Sorry for going off topic there.
distant2nt I respect your statement also because marriage and long-term relationships are not essential but most people are brainwashed into thinking they are. I think most women desire them though they many of them dream of marriage kids and everything else.
I wish columnists would grow up, put down the feminism and anti-gaming views and do something useful for once instead of annoying gamers. Or at some point they'll see what 10,00 achievement points do for a man's anger.
thanks GTAfan. Its a shame that so many people are pressured into a marriage or relationship. the older people in families push it on the younger guys, so they can be just as miserable.
its funny, if you dont get into a relationship the elders always think you're odd or gay or something. shame how their ignorance tries to inhibit on one's freedom.
men grow up to become independent and free, only to lose their independence and freedom to a woman. Ironic, aint it?
Link to original article which gives her email address! http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/points/stories/DN-hymowitz_27edi.ART0.State.Edition1.378ca5b.html
I think we should all contact her, and in the typical American way advise we are filing a lawsuit for the hurt caused by this article and for defamation of character !
Growing up is overrated, f**k that for a game of soldiers, i'm not buying a house with todays current market, i'm renting a sweet city centre pad (shame its birmingham haha) live with my gf of 4 years, my career is coming along nicely, go the gym 4 times a week (because i need to, not because i like it) and i go out and see my mates every weekend whilst sneaking a few hours here and there on my 360 or DS whilst on the bog.
Could she even BE anymore ignorant, narrow-minded and bigotted.
Marriage? - F**k THAT! ... shafted by a bitch once, twice shy.
House? - F**k THAT! ... a mortgage that makes you a slave to your ...
Job? - F**k THAT! ... making employers rich just never gets fun
Growing up? F**k that too ... single gamer till the day I drop dead, which will either be in front of a game or pron ... and if this wizened old t**t doesn't like it, I don't even care. F**k her and the society she rode in on.
Be-atch!! No doubt single, old and man-hating!! I'm 24, got a wife, house and good job, but NO KIDS and a 360, tsk!... Shame on me!!
Oh no! Ring the SAS! <they have a number, don't they? >
She obviously doesn't realise the advantage of games over kids then. I'm presuming the 360 doesn't throw up on your favourite chair, s**t on your floor, p**s in public, or ask obese women in front of everyone: "What have you been eating? You've been eating everything!"
Note: All true experiences. Particularly the last one.
She obviously doesn't realise the advantage of games over kids then. I'm presuming the 360 doesn't throw up on your favourite chair, s**t on your floor, p**s in public, or ask obese women in front of everyone: "What have you been eating? You've been eating everything!"
Note: All true experiences. Particularly the last one.
You kid has a great sense of humour, you should be proud.
Ok how many more articles, rants, and general slander is there going to be of games as evil? Admittedly Im only 16 so I cant be part of this so called 'child-man' group. Thankfully though Ive got this great job lined up In the next few months, but no matter what I know Im still going to be gaming In years to come. Anyway this person obviously has no idea about gaming. So its another example of how an Imbecile has made another attempt to condemn games and gamers.
Good lord, doesn't that life she explains sound grand. I'd like to meet all these playboys and steal their money before smashing their faces in with the amazing violence skills I picked up on the old Xbizzle. Curse my apparently acceptable life! "Rub some product in their hair and face" is the nail in the coffin on this one. VIVA LA CONTROLPAD
I think what this case is basically is sexism. So what does a 30 year old man have to do when he's older?
I am a 30 year old gamer and what is this lady saying? That I should just start wearing grey trousers, red cardigans, read the daily telegraph and take an interest in politics on tv?
This uptight probably spurned by men, man hating hack is failing to realise that half of the gamer population is in fact women too.
If I said that women dont like gaming and those that do only play things like barbies playhouse or mario or would rather plait eahc others hair and talk about boys and marriage all day I would be branded a sexist but I would never dream of it.
It seems to me that since equal opportunities came out that that its not exactly equal anymore as women seem to take digs at men like oh men they are all the same or he needs to grow up because they are playing video games or men only think about one thing and dont understand commitment.
This uninformed journalist is a amateur who hasnt done her research and needs to change her profession. It's just another sad case of another wannabe president/prime minister/politician of some sort trying to jump start her career on the misery of others.
Sorry if this seems a tad too long and a bit too much of a rant but I think I make some valid points.
I saw a news snippet not too long ago that compared studies of happiness between men and women of today versus their respective happiness twenty-five years ago. Previously, women responded that they were happier than men, but according to the current survey, men tended to be happier than women. The speculation was that women today are more career-driven than their forebears while men have learned to let go of the career and relax more. Not surprisingly for men of our generation, letting go sometimes means relaxing by gaming. As the CVG writer states, our culture has changed substantially since whatever golden age the Dallas writer remembers.
Not only is her depiction of gaming men somehow a mix of 30-year-old losers who also--inexplicably--live in a frat house, it's also a depiction of men addicted to something that has somehow sucked out all of their drive to be a home-owning, married father before 30. I'm 25, getting married in September (having lived with my girlfriend for the past two years) and I'm a twenty year gaming veteran. I also like to drink beer and play video games with my buddies. Am I the exception to the rule? Do I, too, fall into her jurisdiction of child-man because I don't plan on owning a home our siring children right after marriage? Hard to say. There's no real gray area in the article.
The tone of the Dallas article is one of a woman frustrated with her love life. Instead of blaming the individuals she's had the misfortune of dating, she instead blames video games for...what? Somehow destroying men's ambitions? Somehow this one medium is LITERALLY causing of the downfall of man?
Because women don't game, apparently. Except that the game shop I go to employs an equal number of men and women that are ALL enthusiastic about gaming. An aberration, surely.
I have little doubt that the woman who wrote the article has never herself played a video game. Those that rally against them rarely have. Because why would she risk getting infected by the very thing that brought low so many men of our generation? What if she played one and DIDN'T cut all her ties to responsibilities and ambition?
i'm a 30 year old gamer. thankfully what was said in that article doesn't apply to me because i'm female. apparently women can game and still maintain a modicum of maturity. or something.
i'm a 30 year old gamer. thankfully what was said in that article doesn't apply to me because i'm female. apparently women can game and still maintain a modicum of maturity. or something.
Yes, this doesn't apply to you. Even if you don't have a husband, house or kids. Women are exempt!
Stupid middle aged old woman, who is doing all the house cleaning, cooking and looking after the kids in your house while you are writing?
Personally I am 30 years old, I own a DS, PSP, Xbox 360 and a Wii... I live with my wife and 3 children. The woman who wrote this article has dumb ill informed and outdated views of gender issues combined with a complete lack of understanding of modern video gaming.
The default belief by anyone in main stream media that video games are for children is starting to p**s me off. If a game gets an 18 rating obviously it is not a child toy, the same as a video with an 18 rating is not a Disney cartoon for children.
Would it be wrong to call for her to be burned at the stake?
Could she even BE anymore ignorant, narrow-minded and bigotted.
Marriage? - F**k THAT! ... shafted by a bitch once, twice shy.
House? - F**k THAT! ... a mortgage that makes you a slave to your ...
Job? - F**k THAT! ... making employers rich just never gets fun
Growing up? F**k that too ... single gamer till the day I drop dead, which will either be in front of a game or pron ... and if this wizened old t**t doesn't like it, I don't even care. F**k her and the society she rode in on.
I agree with what you have wrote also but not as explicitly as you put it. Unfortunately as much as it sucks most people have to work and kiss up to people to get even the most crappy jobs. It's sad but true more men are unemployed more than ever because getting work is harder period. As proof even those with the most impressive grades still find they can only get average jobs.
This is the woman apparently who wrote this garbage article:
Not only is her depiction of gaming men somehow a mix of 30-year-old losers who also--inexplicably--live in a frat house, it's also a depiction of men addicted to something that has somehow sucked out all of their drive to be a home-owning, married father before 30. I'm 25, getting married in September
Yeah but not everyone wants to "settle down" get married and have kids. I don't see why it is some sort of achievement to do these things they are purely optional. I for one am fed up of us guys who are single being portrayed as losers in movies like The 40 Year Old Virgin.
I play games, and I like to go skateboarding (which is often considered to be a childish activity... for some stupid reason) and I'm 22 years old. According to the reporter featured in this article, I'm a single, underachieving, childish idiot who is scared of commitment. I have a girlfriend, who I intend to marry (scared of commitment, eh?), I'm at uni doing graphic design, and before that I took A Levels and did a foundation year in Art and Design. Not to mention I didn't do too bad in my GCSE's, all of my grades were a C or above. I'm achieving just as much as the "ideal man", perhaps even more so - something that doesn't exist anyway.
What this unsexed spinster doesn't understand is that 15 years ago the only people who played video games seemed to be those who actually achieved at school and in their careers - people who usually got called geeks at school? It's just become fashionable for those who know NOTHING about video games to blame video games for societies problems. A kid gets killed - oh that's because of Manhunt. Someone gets ran over - oh right, the driver liked to play Burnout. I'm tired of finding out that things I enjoy are apparently all turning me into a delinquent "child-man". Stupid people need to stop making pointless, made up assumptions about the trends of today. It's 2008, for god's sake, if men aren't repeatedly telling women to stand at the kitchen sink, and letting them do whatever they want, surely men should have the same privilege. It's not like we shun women from playing games with us.
Maybe that reporter should just buy an Xbox360, Wii or PS3 herself, see what the fuss is about and shut the hell up.
It's completely refreshing to see the sort of response this woman has garnered from her article. Previously, you could look in any post and see a 'my consoles better than your console' arguement raging. But now gaming has been attacked directly, we all band together and berate the self righteous fool as she so justly deserve.
After rereading the article, i caught some really nasty things i had missed the first time around. This racist ass c**t is , imo, a goddamn waste of oxygen. At first I was like.. oh well f**k her uninformed and horribly thought-out opinion. Then I noticed the words "white guy" in the first paragraph. Then I noticed the not-so-sly comment about white guys "bedding women of various hues". OK .. WHAT THE FCUK?? It seems that not only does this bitch want men to regress back to the 60's, she also wants to abolish any sort of forward social porgress that was made in the past 50 years. I get the disgusting feeling that shes p**sed off that white guys are actually attracted to black/latino/asian women. What this c**t really wants is not for men to become more mature and marry and raise children; but for her to be able to tell minorites to sit at the back of the bus or drink from a different drinking fountain.
I have no f**king patience for red-neck racist dykes, and while i respect the freedom of speech immensly, there are times when words can be both hurtful and dangerous. This big mouthed c**t should be shut up permanently.
I am 20 years old. I am a software developer, have a wife, and 1 child. I have a very well graded HND(half a degree), 3 well graded A levels and 10 High grade GCSE's. I own a good pc (crysis on med/high),a Wii, and loads of old consoles. I game everyday, and love playing as much as I love my family. This woman can f*uck off and die. Too harsh? F*ck her.
I remember my elder brother bringing home a Binatone (a Pong type video game that plugged into the TV see http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=3&c=1034) when I was six. Then we graduated on to the Atari console which started a long journey through many different systems to my PS3.
I am 35, have a job paying 6 figures, lovely wife, 3 kids and a 1.5m house which we virtually own outright.
Regular gaming for just under 20 years doesn't seem to have done me (or, indeed, any of you) any harm, does it?
Um... why on earth would any guy wanna settle down with a woman and kids before 30? I mean, kids don't leave school and go work down the pits nowadays do they?
Technology is forever advancing and continuing to provide varied platforms of enjoyment. Living up to 30yrs old is the time of a guys life where it's his life. After 30, you've settled into a job, you find someone you wanna commit to then pop out some kids.
Jesus basically this f**kingut is saying leave school, get a job, marry, have kids invest in house...
Basically, she seems cross with men for enjoying themselves by doing things they want to do when they want to do them, rather than conforming to a rigid impersonal life plan that she has arbitrarily decided they should follow to make them 'happy'.
Perhaps if women like her weren't so far up their own bottoms and career-orientated men of her age would show an interest.
Besides, I have a wife and kids, still play computer games, and I'm 40!
She is right about one thing though, but women are equally at fault. This nonsense about not having kids until you are in your thirties has got to stop. Marriage and kids are actually the best thing that ever happened to me. Don't wait until you are in your thirties before having a child. If you do, and they follow suite, you will be a pensioner before they get hitched.
Back in the 60s, says the opinion piece, the average man in his 20s had achieved most of life's milestones such as a good job, marriage, a house and even a few kids in the bank.
I have heard some crap in my day this is the most utter bull i have ever read, reason why guys are not getting married younger is women are 2 busy with careers and all the girl power s**te. If i didnt have games id prob be an alco lol, i would be out every night, lets be honest most tele is crap.
Just like to add that this is the type of woman who sits at home watching TV EVERY night and then talks to her 'gal pals' about whats going on with Mavis's chipshop and Coronation Street or whatever the bulls**t american equivalent is.
Hag, i'd rather f**k a sock and 'play xbox' than go anywhere near her crusty quim.
im 18 years old, i dont have a long-time serious girlfriend, i go to college i hang with friends and i love gaming. this old witch can get off our backs. ill get a wife whenever, im not really bothered atm. im sick of these bastards trying to rush us and moan at us all the time. i love my life and im living it how i want to.
Video games are the new Rock and Roll it would seem. Time passes but as a race we learn nothing. We just rail at a new enemy each decade. I have a life, I have a gaming life. My wife is happy with both. sensationalist journalisim the blight of the 00's.
I am 26, married and own my own house. I hold down a good job that obviously pays me enough to buy my own house. In this house I have a DS, PSP, Wii, PC and a 360 (that is currently waiting to be repaired ). What is she trying to say that I am an exception to the rule? I know loads of my mates that are married and own their own property and play games, even some of them have children!
It is plain to see that she has no idea what she is talking about and is aiming to get a raise out of gamers. Damn it worked.
P.s just worked out she is talking about the USA, it all makes sense now
W...T...F?
Some idiot posts an article about something she obviously knows nothing about, and this provides the fodder for US-bashing? Slackers and losers aren't necessarily regional...betcha they're found in almost every corner of this small world. I realize the US is an easy target, but please refrain from displaying your Idiocy Membership Card.
I'm 39, college graduate, married with 2 kids, own my home, worked since I was 12, and in my career for the past 15 yrs. Oh, yeah, forgot to mention, been gaming since Pong. I currently own many consoles, but actively play my 360 and the PSP.
As for the original article in question, guess they'll post anything if it has the potential of inciting emotion...researched or not.
Chill out mate I was only joking about the USA bit (hence the: D at the end), my brother was born in North Carolina, in Raleigh. I have nothing against any nationality at all. So don't take it so seriously. Although since you lot voted George Bush in for a second term you deserved to be slagged off.
Has she even considered that men nowadays dont want to get hitched and its a conscious rather than unconscious decision to stay single - afterall why lose all your disposable income too early in life and when women are happy to have kids at 40yrs or so why shouldnt us blokes be allowed the same??
what a load of bull,im 36 a father of 4 and married happily i might add,this sad bitch wants to reasearch her demographic b4 writing such drivel.i grew up at the advent of computers and made my foray into the world of computer games on my vic 20.why after the age of 30 should i put my pad down when it has kept me of the streets growing up so i didnt end up mugging grannies and spend my nights getting p**sed on street corners in my teens.besides gaming has also helped me to find a common conection with my children so that we can relate to each other and spend quality time together(thank god for the wii)obvoiusly she has come across a few men who dont want to get commited to her(She probably grew up in the sixties with all that free love and cant keep her knickers on , who wants a woman who probably slept with half her home town)any how give up my game pad and 360 NO WAY BITCH ill play till i die. besides she probably had a couple of guys that when she said gaming or me said gaming,she maybe wants to pic up a pad and play her selfas my wife has started to get into casual gaming and is starting to enjoy it
I have to agree on the house front. I am currently single and live at home currently and am 33!!!. But I did move out to a different county and rent a flat for 6 months! Then had to move back home as I lost the job, have a god job now though so I can TRY to save up £20K so I can afford a tiny 1 bed flat on my own and that's IF I can find an illegal way to get a 8 times my wages mortgage if I can find a bank that will lend me any money now (Thanks America). So end of the year early next year I FULLY expect to have to rent my way out of home, I can't afford £1000 a month especially being single.
But I still enjoy playing my 360, hold down a good job even if I could be paid better it is a good job. IMO I actually spend more time on the internet reading useless articles like this journalists then playing Xbox.
This article is no way near as biased, ill-informed and badly written as those Times articles however it still makes some mistakes. Here is my reply to the journalist:
Your article makes some good points about the delay of adulthood. I would say that s multitude of factors have contributed eg. a decline in respect for authority and the family. The 1960s and 1970s may have produced some great creative forces but the consequence of a laissez faire philosophy in the hands of less focussed people and their children has arguably been detrimental.
'Give young men a choice between serious drama on the one hand, and Victoria's Secret models, battling cyborgs, exploding toilets and the NFL on the other, and it's the models, cyborgs, toilets and football by a mile.'
This paragraph sums up a key problem with your article. Presumably you feel that videogames are as emblematic of 'superficiality, indolence and passionlessness' as the other things you describe. Have you actually played many videogames? If you regard them as these things you may as well say that about all books, all films or all paintings, There are BAFTA awards given to videogames. Some videogames are relatively linear with little or no dialogue like the ones you would see in a videogame arcade. This does not necessarily make them less crafted, less worthy, than those videogames that have a long and branching story or serious moral message. In fact, even the most linear videogame allows the player more choices than any film or TV programme. Such games work like moving abstract paintings in a way, albeit usualy with more representation. Those types of games (Sega are well known masters for instance) eg Sonic the hedgehog, Crazy Taxi, Outrun, are not meant to be deep in character relationships. That is not their point.
Some games are also very violent but even, amongst those, there are some that do not so just for it to be the videogame equivalent of a 'video nasty' (just as it would be wrong to regard Hamlet as just the story of a serial killer). However you did not dwell on violence in videogames so I assume that you are aware that there are many inventive, innocent, games that offer a sensibility that was traditionally often only found in film animation. Surely you would regard that as better than the moral ambiguity found in many of the 'serious' dramas, whatever 'serious' means. Depressing? Gritty? Worthy? Well, there are also many games that have that if that is what you want. Shigeru Miyamoto's Zelda series or Ico on the Playstation 2 are often regarded as traditionally 'worthy' but there are many, many more games that promote moral values in subtler ways. Some videogames have produced the kinds of entertainment that cinema has rarely managed. The Monkey Island series, for instance, features dry, razor sharp wit little seen outside of Monty Python.
In conclusion, I would say that the most adult person you could wish to meet these days may quite probably be a fan of videogames.
The female type doesn't know enough about gaming to have their own opinion, plus she doesn't play computer games so she does have no idea what she is talking about. I dont have anything agenst females, its just that they should critizie about stuff they dont know enough off.. Untill otherwise, nothing more is needed to be said!
Of course, if they kick all the bloody Eastern Europeans out the damn country, then there wouldn't be a house shortage and prices would decrease.....
We (the bloody Eastern Europeans) are not happy to be here either but no worries. As soon as our countries catch up with the rest of EU we'll leave and never look back at the great food, hospitality and stunning looking women we found here.
Perhaps I should have put a proviso in that - 'sponging bloody Eastern Europeans'. I have no problem with people living in whatever country they wish to, as long as they pay their way. But coming over here illegally and bleeding our welfare and NHS dry winds me up immensely.
Of course, what annoys me more is the fact our government doesn't seem to give a crap.
Nice to see ignorance isn't dead.
1) The vast ammount of benefit fraud and sponging is committed not by refugees and asylum seekers but by f**king lazy english bastards.
2)Refugees an Asylum seekers do not receive benefits or a house anywhere near to the standards of the above mentioned english bastards.
3)In order to get a council house people have to apply for the council house that they want to live in. Refugee's (asylumn seekers generally live in a great big prison) get the houses noone has applied to live in for a number of months/years.
So lets get this straight....people who pay their way are welcome here and tho who don are not? Okay...lets get rid of 25% of brits then.
sorry,havnt been catching up on my 'man-child' gaming news, as im currently in egypt with my girlfriend,going out socialsing/shopping i'm enjoying myself...and im sure when i get back home next week,i'll be enjoying fragging my friends on COD4 (theres only so much time i can remain in female company without going mad) so just to comment to this uninformed, so called journalist in one nice and easy soundbite... c**t my, how very immature
I think this culture, both male and female; have a lot of growing up to do, and respecting themselves as individuals, and you don’t have to marry and have children to get to that place in your life? That would be a horrible notion to contemplate, that males must get married and have children in order to mature? I think most men that don’t want to marry yet, and who are self involved, have every right to be? I think a man will truly evolve when he trusts that the woman will do the same! Women are just as self involved, as well as arrogant and possessive. Women years ago were humble souls, caregivers, and respected themselves far more! Thus, men respected them, and were willing to take it to a higher level of trust and adoration. So women cannot blame immaturity on men, when a woman's insecurities exceed far more! Some may say men avoid commitment because they are afraid to grow up, I say most men avoid commitment, not because they are afraid of marriage, but because they are afraid of who they would be marrying! Today's market of excellence, for both male and female, sadly to say, are slim!
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why are all these people on the backs of video games. nothing else to moan about is my guess.
). What is she trying to say that I am an exception to the rule? I know loads of my mates that are married and own their own property and play games, even some of them have children!
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