Are you an escapist?

[Ando85]

No, not a member of the site which you probably are if you are reading this. But, someone who uses entertainment (games in particular) as a means to escape the stress and rigors of daily life. I know I do. If I have something negative on my mind or a sense of dread of something coming up I completely forget my troubles for awhile while playing a good engaging game.

I have a second question that ties into this. Do you feel this sort of escapism is healthy? You might see it as a way to avoid problems or deny reality. But, you might see it was a great way to improve one's mental health.

 

[Scrustle]

It's the main reason I play games, as escapism from life. I find myself pretty dissatisfies with the world in general, and I play games to get away from that.

Is that healthy? Probably not. But at this point I don't really give a damn any more.

 

[Padwolf]

Yes I use video games to escape my life. They do more than that, they fuel my imagination and things. I doubt it is healthy, but I'm beyond the point where I care. It's kept me sane. I would like to stay sane. But sometimes the problem is too stressful that I just can't find it in me to play a game. That's when I go into pit of despair mode

 

[Fappy]

Yeah I do. I love the feeling of getting home after a long day of work and plopping down in a recliner and playing some video games to relieve some stress and forget about my responsibilities. I think it's healthy and only gets unhealthy once you start skirting on your responsibilities because of it.

 

[Phasmal]

Yeah, I think I do, but it's no less healthy than watching TV in my mind.
I don't really think it's a denial of reality, just a way to unwind from it for a while.
I'd argue that having no escapism is probably more unhealthy.

 

[RipRoaringWaterfowl]

Yup. That is the basic purpose for almost all games, entertainment value. I get that entertainment value, sometimes the games are artistic in some way, I get enjoyment and sometimes enrichment. Worth it.

 

[TehCookie]

Yup, that's also why I don't like realistic games. If I'm going to escape, I want to go to a completely different reality. I think it is healthy, everyone likes to escape reality from time to time but have different ways for doing so. Some read a book, others play games and some even turn to alcohol and drugs. I think videogames are a pretty healthy escapism compared to the latter.

 

[krazykidd]

Yes . My real life sucks . Playing video games in the only thing motivating me to get up in the morning .

 

[Judgement101]

I play games because I get bored really easily, I used to use them as an escape but recently my life has been going extremely well, so now they are more of a hobby.

 

[kickassfrog]

It's the main reason I play games, as escapism from life. I find myself pretty dissatisfies with the world in general, and I play games to get away from that.

Is that healthy? Probably not. But at this point I don't really give a damn any more.

I'm going to save myself some time typing out a wordy response and go with "Pretty much this".
I don't just play games to escape from reality. I have films and books for that too. Basically an hour I spend engaged in fiction is an hour I can pretend my life is much more interesting and enjoyable than it actually is.

 

[Dandark]

Yes. Escapisim is the main reason I like most of my hobbies such as gaming or reading. Whenever I play games I escape from reality and enjoy my time in a fantasy world, it's one of my favorite things to do.

 

[Aerosteam]

I seem to forget a lot of things when I'm playing a video game. Important things.

 

[Nietz]

I'd say that this question is rather hard, since the term "escapist" has a kind of negative ring to it.

As for my answer: Yes, I am an escapist in the way that I like to escape to another world and experience things I can't in real life. I don't have a problem with real life though. I have a job and a family and I'm a pretty happy camper most days. Sure, sometimes life sucks, but that is the exception, not the rule.

 

[ultrachicken]

Not really. If I have a problem, such as a looming deadline, it will manage to linger in the front of my mind while playing a video game. I can't really do escapism all that well. I just think games are a fun hobby.

 

[Palademon]

I'm not particularly an escapist. I play games because they're fun.
Rarely do I play them to escape something, and I wouldn't call it escapism so much as "cheering myself up".

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Oh yeah, I totally am and I will fully admit it to anyone that asks me that.

My escapisms tend to shift around a bit form reading, to listening to music, and video games. The latter being the most prevalent since I can be tired and whatnot and still forget stuff when I'm gaming.

 

[rokkolpo]

Some use Alcohol,
Some use drugs,
Some use women,
Some of us game.

I say gaming is the healthy one.

Me, I prefer to escape reality by being with my girlfriend and other friends.
I don't game as much as I used to.

 

[Charli]

Of course I do...

I don't do alot of OTHER bad things people do to 'escape realism'.
So I figure I'm not harming anyone but myself (sleep patterns, maybe could lay off the quick snacks)

 

[neoontime]

Yes, this site is some of. It may be considered somewhat unhealthy but really everyone has their escape and really its needed to somewhat stay sane. It's as healthy as taking a break now and then.

 

[Imp_Emissary]

Yes, I am an escapist. I don't see anything wrong at all with using games to "get away from it all" now and again.

As long as it doesn't get in the way of your real life, and doesn't hurt anyone else I think you can do whatever you want to relax.
For me, that means playing some video games.