IDK but I would always rather watch a TV show or movie if I’m going to sit down for some passive entertainment like that. I haven’t even watched half the seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm yet, for example, so that’s going to be far more entertaining than hearing a nerd blab about what he’s doing on a game.
Beyond that I would much rather play my own games than passively watch someone else play them. Why else would I have spent so much damn money on games?
so that’s going to be far more entertaining than hearing a nerd blab about what he’s doing on a game.
I don’t really like watching twitch streams either, but it’s lines like this that make it really hard to have these discussions. Because people always default to “nerds in their basement“ rhetoric. Twitch is worth a ton of money because millions of people enjoy watching people play games and it is full of all kinds of personalities. Yeah, there are other things people do on twitch, but that is the core of the business model: People watching people play video games. And for them it’s a blast!
Just because we don’t appreciate it doesn’t mean we should be dicks about it. It’s not like they’re hurting anybody. It’s just another form of entertainment. I don’t watch the NFL either, but I don’t spend my days bashing people who enjoy it. Life’s too short to spend it yucking someone else’s yum.
Well said. In a more deep sense, this is exactly what is wrong with our society right now. Our inability to see others doing different things and respecting it instead of criticizing it or making fun. If we all just allow others to do their thing (as long as it does not hurt anyone other than themselves) then we would all be a lot happier. Even the critizizing folk.
Welcome to Lemmy. I agree with ya in that I don’t get it either. But you made the mistake of asking the kids why they like a specific toy. Not knowing makes you uncool. Think of it like being on Reddit:
It’s like this on Reddit.
Is there any chance that belittling them by calling what they do not “adult enough” could have contributed to the down voting?
Why do “adults” care how other people spend their free time? Seems like busy bodies with nothing going on in their own lives so they have to judge the bit of free time people have.
No one is shitting on you for asking a question. Let’s take a look at how you could have asked the same question without coming across as judgemental:
“I don’t understand streaming. Why do people watch others play games, instead of playing themselves?” - note, no loaded language implying that it’s not a thing “adults” do. Note, you’re clearly communicating that this is something you don’t understand. I promise you, no one would be upset over that question. Phrasing matters.
Why do adults watch other adults kicking a ball?
Because it is or was their hobby and it is fun to see other people do stuff that you like. Some streamers are very skilled so it’s similiar to sports, others are entertaining like podcaster or comedians.
Yup, I watch one strategy gamer because they’re way better than me at the game and I learn stuff about the game almost every time. I don’t have the time to really dig into such a complex game (I still play, but I have kids and a FT job), so I guess I kind of live vicariously through the streamer.
I don’t see as much point in other games though, because I’d rather play than watch. But strategy games have a steep learning curve so I get more out of watching.
So for the sake of clarity… what do you do to occupy your time that you find fulfilling?
I wondered the same for years but the answer is obvious : same people who enjoy watching other people play sports, or other people have sex, I guess. Personally I’d rather do the thing than watch somebody else, but yeah, you do you. And sometimes it’s nice to watch the pros being good at it.
Why does it matter how people spend their time? That being said i didnt downvote you. Different strokes for different folks
Ahh there it is. The actual beliefs. I knew there was a reason you chose the specific words you did!
Real answer, did you never enjoy watching a friend or sibling play something growing up? More so than actually playing it? Or sports? It’s the same thing, sometime you wanna just chill and watch, not do.
It isn’t just a question, it’s straight up loaded with implications, most blatant one being to specifically stress ‘adults’ twice, as if it wasn’t a question to you if it were children.
People watch people playing sports, telling jokes or funny stories, acting drama, dancing… playing games fits that list so seamlessly that I can’t help but wonder wtf is wrong with someone asking why people would do it. It’s blatantly obvious loads of people like watching something they find cool and isn’t too mentally engaging, to wind down.
We aren’t policing your speech, we’re saying your speech is making you come off as a douche. Context and the specific words you choose matter. If you’re concerned about the downvotes, as you appear to be, that’s why.
you are getting down votes because the use of the word “adult” instead of “people” can imply that watching other people play games is for children.
Yeah that’s the insecurity I spoke of in action. The scenario of the OP was adults speaking of adults. If people want to infer from my words that I’m teasing them because I think they are acting like children, then that’s on them.
The implication of your original message was that it’s not something adults should partake in. You can say whatever you want, but if you can’t see why people are downvoting you for asking your question in that way, I don’t know that you can be helped.
I like watching some roguelikes or roguelites but I dont enjoy PLAYING those genres. I like to play a lot of games that involve thinking, problem solving, and creativity but sometimes I just want to turn off my brain and also see how other people approach games.
You also received downvotes because your question comes off as a bit crappy. If it were just a question you would have asked “why do people watch people play games?” But instead by singling out adults it comes off as an attack like playing or watching games is and immature activity which it is not. Whether or not that was your intention it will be viewed as such
I’m gonna guess the defensive downvotes are about insecurities. I wasn’t putting you down.
The duality of man.
Blaming criticism on personal issues is blatantly putting people down. It’s the fallacy of projection.
I love how people on the internet love to inject their own meaning into words.
I don’t think you know what the word irony means.
TBH I do it for the community of the thing. If I’m watching someone doing something I enjoy, and someone else is watching at the same time, I tend to feel a little more fulfilled about the whole situation.
Some games can be very complex and you can save a lot of time by learning from mistakes or discoveries of others.
But streams tend to make the most mistakes as they get too distracted by chat or whatever while playing and forget they also can read in-game prompts
Theres more to it than that of course, sometimes you just want to have a fresh viewpoint at a game or may not like the genre but like the story or some mechanics. I typically do like more “competent” creators but thats more reserved for videos, on streams you can interact with the streamer in real time on their thoughts about the game. Also sometimes i just want to watch someone else drive because my brain too tired
my gf has tiktok so i hear the same few annoying soundtracks about 374 times a day, mostly before bed.
No clue. My GF cheated on me and i kicked her out last spring and my life has been blissfully TikTok-free ever since
I’m not sure where it came from. Audio memes are a bit harder to track down.
My wife is Chinese, so I get three different audio layers mixed together to, I assume, fool the detection algorithms. One of them is the dialogue but it’s sped up 200% because nobody ain’t got time for that.
It’s a fucking audio nightmare.
I’m getting her Airpods.
Ironically it’s the opposite here, my wife finds new twitch streamers to watch at night :p
My wife has been watching twitch streamers for about a year and a half now. I just sent this screenshot to her because I know I’ve heard her mention Cleatus Cornwood while telling me about the nonsense they get up to
Headphones?
Does anyone know which game this is?
Grand Theft Auto. It’s actually really good twitch content, I’d say some of the best if not the best content on twitch. Cornwood is a pretty funny character
It’s like soap operas of twitch. It’s fun to watch, but dont go full psycho invested in it though.
It’s basically improv comedy with a heavily modded GTA V game as the driver and visualization for it. Especially funny when they have to roleplay away glitches or misclicks
