Hearthstone Player's Dad Makes Him Pick College or Game Tournament

[Janaschi]

As a parent, I don't think it's a problem for a 21 year old child to go to a video game tournament in the middle of summer. However, let's imagine that you live at home and part of that environment includes getting a job to help pay for living expenses during school. Nobody can land a job with a week cut out of the middle of the summer. And that's just one possibility for the "other side" of the story. Maybe there is a family trip he has to disrupt (albeit a worse excuse, but this might be a very family-first culture). Who knows?

However, this thought that the parents are being selfish, I'm fighting the urge to say meaner things than just "shut up". If he wants to go, there's nothing stopping him. He can get a damn job and take a semester off. No one's forcing him to take his parents' money.

And if getting money from your parents is the only thing keeping someone from being a drug addled prostitute, it was an unhealthy codependent relationship to begin with and better off broken.

I am interesting in a response from you - what jobs, hire those that are in college? And in-case you are not aware, most legitimate businesses will check to see if you are either in college, or have taken time off before finishing a semester/year. I can certainly say, with absolute clarity, that most college-students, born in middle-class or lower, will not be able to get a job that pays more than 20-30k a year. And that is only if they worked full-time, instead of part-time.

I am also interested in your opinion as to how, in the current economy of America, at least, that you can expect some kid straight out of school, with little job experience, will find a reasonable solution, within a reasonable time-span, of getting back on their feet after being thrown out with little to nothing? I am very interested in your opinion on this, because I was forced into homelessness for around 2 years after I graduated from school, before I was able to get back on my feet. And that was only because I got a lucky break.

 

[NickBrahz]

Oh my heart bleeds for him, his parents are paying for his education with in America most people have to take loans out to go to college, and his parents pay for his living.
Until he starts paying his own way through life he doesn't call the shots so get over it don't ***** when you don't get to do what you wan't when your parents pay for everything.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Erm, good? At what point did it become acceptable to question whether or not computer games were a viable alternative to education?

Did you guys even read the article? This was not an either or thing until his parents made it so. It was a 1 week all expenses paid trip in the middle of the summer semester. And we know for sure this guy was not going to school during the summer because he is going to be moving back home for the summer to live with his parents.

This is not a case of his parents preventing him throwing away his education, this is a case of his parents preventing him doing something productive and fun with that week instead of sitting on his ass doing nothing. There is absolutely no threat to his education here, so that excuse is total bullshit. The trip is all expenses paid so neither the parents or the student have anything to lose. The only possible motivation here is an attempt to sabotage this guys prospects as a pro, either because they do not approve and are embarrassed of him (which is an extremely likely scenario) or from some misguided attempt to force him down the proper path in life, which never ends well.

Now, the guy made the right choice, finishing the degree is more important than going to one tournament. But the parents are morons, especially the dad.

PS. As for this guy compromising his studies to qualify for this tourney, I don't buy it. Even a full time student has a ton of free time if he doesn't have a job or any other responsibilities, and hearthstone is a relatively simple game compared to most esport titles. If this was LOL or Starcraft, then probably. But hearthstone is not like those.

Ok, how can I go about explaining this? If the kid is paying for his own education then he can spend his downtime how he likes. But if his folks are paying for his education then he owes it to his family to spend his downtime in such a way as to ensure that they get bang for their buck. If I fronted up hard-earned dollar to get my kid into college, I'd expect them to direct their energies toward study, not gaming. And I'd question your statement that students have a "ton of free time" as most students are run into the ground with coursework, to the point that two lasses I know would be hard-pushed to tell you what day of the week it is.

 

[Metadigital]

Is this the part where we all judge someone else's parenting without having all the facts? Bonus points if you still live with your own parents.

I don't see the newsworthiness of this article. Seems like a private affair to me.

I guess that's what news sites are reduced to these days, though. Updating you on what happened yesterday on Reddit.

 

[WNxSajuukCor]

It makes me wonder how the parents would've felt if this was a football tournament or some other physical sport. Sounds like the parents just hate video games on the whole and don't care what it's being used for, especially with the "immediate no" part. If he's placed this far it's fair to say he's pretty good at Hearthstone (or using Facehunter, cough cough...) and many people are making a decent life in the professional gaming world.

Yeah parents might have the final say at the moment, but I bet he'll make more money as a pro gamer than his major.

 

[JSRevenge]

As a parent, I don't think it's a problem for a 21 year old child to go to a video game tournament in the middle of summer. However, let's imagine that you live at home and part of that environment includes getting a job to help pay for living expenses during school. Nobody can land a job with a week cut out of the middle of the summer. And that's just one possibility for the "other side" of the story. Maybe there is a family trip he has to disrupt (albeit a worse excuse, but this might be a very family-first culture). Who knows?

However, this thought that the parents are being selfish, I'm fighting the urge to say meaner things than just "shut up". If he wants to go, there's nothing stopping him. He can get a damn job and take a semester off. No one's forcing him to take his parents' money.

And if getting money from your parents is the only thing keeping someone from being a drug addled prostitute, it was an unhealthy codependent relationship to begin with and better off broken.

I am interesting in a response from you - what jobs, hire those that are in college? And in-case you are not aware, most legitimate businesses will check to see if you are either in college, or have taken time off before finishing a semester/year. I can certainly say, with absolute clarity, that most college-students, born in middle-class or lower, will not be able to get a job that pays more than 20-30k a year. And that is only if they worked full-time, instead of part-time.

I am also interested in your opinion as to how, in the current economy of America, at least, that you can expect some kid straight out of school, with little job experience, will find a reasonable solution, within a reasonable time-span, of getting back on their feet after being thrown out with little to nothing? I am very interested in your opinion on this, because I was forced into homelessness for around 2 years after I graduated from school, before I was able to get back on my feet. And that was only because I got a lucky break.

You obviously have a bone to pick because you were ungrateful for your parents' generosity.

I held a job every summer between school years, even took summer classes (summer school - another reason his parents might have said no). You can hold a job too if you cultivate a working relationship with an employer such that they want you back. You can even mow lawn, if you were so inclined. Besides, you're conflating "summer job" with "supporting yourself". Also, it's possible to work an entry level job (at a paltry 20-30k) while gaining experience. A lot of people in the comments seem to think college is a waste of time anyway.

 

[ecoho]

honestly these parents should be slapped for stupidity. Seriously if your willing to ruin your relationship with your son over a FREE TRIP to play in a video game tournament that he can win real money then you do not deserve to be a parent. trust me ive seen what happens in these instances at best they will get a Christmas phone call every year after doing something like this.

 

[Baresark]

Eh, I don't know if I would have done the same as them, but I also understand on some level. If they feel that his devotion to the game is hindering his education, they have every right to say something since they are footing the bill. I also see we are hearing from one side. They may have said, "we don't want you doing this, we would rather you devote yourself to something that is permanent such as trying to find a summer internship or something like that". Then it got heated because he really wanted to play, everyone got mad and said things they didn't mean ("I hate you dad!" or "You will either listen to us or you can pay for your own college and find your own place to live!"), and then he withdraws. We just don't know anything about the situation besides what one 21 year old guy said.

 

[OldNewNewOld]

Just one more parent that thinks that he owns a slave rather than a child. He should finish college and give a huge fuck you to his dad. Going to the tournament didn't mean he would lose a year. His father sounds like an asshole who wants his kid to spend his free time the wants rather than how the kid wants. Well "kid", since he goes to college.

 

[Kajin]

Ok, how can I go about explaining this? If the kid is paying for his own education then he can spend his downtime how he likes. But if his folks are paying for his education then he owes it to his family to spend his downtime in such a way as to ensure that they get bang for their buck. If I fronted up hard-earned dollar to get my kid into college, I'd expect them to direct their energies toward study, not gaming. And I'd question your statement that students have a "ton of free time" as most students are run into the ground with coursework, to the point that two lasses I know would be hard-pushed to tell you what day of the week it is.

Any parent that's so strict on making their kids study THAT damn much is not a parent that is doing their child any favors. This was a week long trip in the middle of summer when almost all college classes across the nation are out. Surely a college guy can take one single week of time to go do something fun and exciting while taking a break from their studies? It'd be different if all of his final tests were during that week and he'd flunk the semester if he went, but that is not the case here.

 

[Charli]

And hey if he wins that's free money.

That's the deal breaking. If he had lost then quiting college was all for nothing well he got next year but it would be a struggle college wise.

OT- Hard to say, while I don't like Esport myself but I know what it like being screwed over from higher education (granted I never regret choosing it since otherwise I wouldn't had made fantastic friends from that course).

Still why do I get a feeling he could had gotten some kind of a support from a crowdfunding (or maybe not). I have a sinking feeling we may seen a future open letter from some loser to stop parent to stopping their children dream of competing in Esport!

The reason I said that was because earlier I said, why would he have to choose, why is a collage aged adult not able to do both, surely the tournament is not more than a weekend? You do it, you either win or lose, and you go home, what's the big fucking deal?

Or do these people not realise that?

So asking him to 'choose your path!' is ultimately ...well pointless. It's a game tournament, some of the people who play in them are some of the most studious people I know. Very few abandon their studies to game full time, you'd have to be sponsored majorly for that.

If we had more context, perhaps he was doing badly in college earlier in his education, then they might be more justified, but the way this is presented is just... sad.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Ok, how can I go about explaining this? If the kid is paying for his own education then he can spend his downtime how he likes. But if his folks are paying for his education then he owes it to his family to spend his downtime in such a way as to ensure that they get bang for their buck. If I fronted up hard-earned dollar to get my kid into college, I'd expect them to direct their energies toward study, not gaming. And I'd question your statement that students have a "ton of free time" as most students are run into the ground with coursework, to the point that two lasses I know would be hard-pushed to tell you what day of the week it is.

Any parent that's so strict on making their kids study THAT damn much is not a parent that is doing their child any favors. This was a week long trip in the middle of summer when almost all college classes across the nation are out. Surely a college guy can take one single week of time to go do something fun and exciting while taking a break from their studies? It'd be different if all of his final tests were during that week and he'd flunk the semester if he went, but that is not the case here.

If this was one week out of a summer break I'd agree with you, 100%. But this kid qualified for a national tournament. You don't get to that level by idly picking up a game for 10 mins of downtime, you've got to put some serious hours into a hobby to get shortlisted for nationals. I'm not saying this kid should be denied a week's break, I'm saying that the kid must have spent months previous to this playing match after match after match in order to become eligible for the nationals, time which his parents clearly feel that he should have been spending studying.

 

[Kajin]

Ok, how can I go about explaining this? If the kid is paying for his own education then he can spend his downtime how he likes. But if his folks are paying for his education then he owes it to his family to spend his downtime in such a way as to ensure that they get bang for their buck. If I fronted up hard-earned dollar to get my kid into college, I'd expect them to direct their energies toward study, not gaming. And I'd question your statement that students have a "ton of free time" as most students are run into the ground with coursework, to the point that two lasses I know would be hard-pushed to tell you what day of the week it is.

Any parent that's so strict on making their kids study THAT damn much is not a parent that is doing their child any favors. This was a week long trip in the middle of summer when almost all college classes across the nation are out. Surely a college guy can take one single week of time to go do something fun and exciting while taking a break from their studies? It'd be different if all of his final tests were during that week and he'd flunk the semester if he went, but that is not the case here.

If this was one week out of a summer break I'd agree with you, 100%. But this kid qualified for a national tournament. You don't get to that level by idly picking up a game for 10 mins of downtime, you've got to put some serious hours into a hobby to get shortlisted for nationals. I'm not saying this kid should be denied a week's break, I'm saying that the kid must have spent months previous to this playing match after match after match in order to become eligible for the nationals, time which his parents clearly feel that he should have been spending studying.

Can't you do both? I certainly did. I have six years of college under my belt and I gamed an average of two to six hours every day after class depending on the levels of homework and how much studying I felt I needed to do. I certainly didn't focus all my efforts into becoming a pro at one game, but I was definitely still able to fit in a lot of game time and still fucking managed to pass my classes. This isn't an all-or-nothing one-or-the-other situation. He could have certainly done both and, from all reports I've seen, was definitely making do with both just fine.

 

[DrOswald]

Erm, good? At what point did it become acceptable to question whether or not computer games were a viable alternative to education?

Did you guys even read the article? This was not an either or thing until his parents made it so. It was a 1 week all expenses paid trip in the middle of the summer semester. And we know for sure this guy was not going to school during the summer because he is going to be moving back home for the summer to live with his parents.

This is not a case of his parents preventing him throwing away his education, this is a case of his parents preventing him doing something productive and fun with that week instead of sitting on his ass doing nothing. There is absolutely no threat to his education here, so that excuse is total bullshit. The trip is all expenses paid so neither the parents or the student have anything to lose. The only possible motivation here is an attempt to sabotage this guys prospects as a pro, either because they do not approve and are embarrassed of him (which is an extremely likely scenario) or from some misguided attempt to force him down the proper path in life, which never ends well.

Now, the guy made the right choice, finishing the degree is more important than going to one tournament. But the parents are morons, especially the dad.

PS. As for this guy compromising his studies to qualify for this tourney, I don't buy it. Even a full time student has a ton of free time if he doesn't have a job or any other responsibilities, and hearthstone is a relatively simple game compared to most esport titles. If this was LOL or Starcraft, then probably. But hearthstone is not like those.

Ok, how can I go about explaining this? If the kid is paying for his own education then he can spend his downtime how he likes. But if his folks are paying for his education then he owes it to his family to spend his downtime in such a way as to ensure that they get bang for their buck. If I fronted up hard-earned dollar to get my kid into college, I'd expect them to direct their energies toward study, not gaming. And I'd question your statement that students have a "ton of free time" as most students are run into the ground with coursework, to the point that two lasses I know would be hard-pushed to tell you what day of the week it is.

I am working full time, I am raising a child, I take 12 credit hours a semester (full time at my university) and I still manage to get a fair bit of gaming in.

A full time student should be spending around 48 hours a week on average on their studies, max 60 (if they are the over achieving type.) There are 168 hours in a week. Say 10 hours a day on surviving (meals, sleep, etc.) and we have at least 38 hours left over.

Going to school is hard as hell, but pretending it takes all your time is ridiculous. Every single full time student I know who doesn't work and isn't providing for a family has a highly active social life, with the sole exception of the crazy people trying to do nearly double full time credit hours.

And lets be frank here, if you think "down time" should be spent doing nothing but study you are setting up your children for academic failure. 99% of people will burn out if they do nothing but study and it will, no matter what, cause their grades to suffer. This is because excessive stress interferes with mental processes. After a certain point you need to relax.

Lets consider these two students you know. Do you really think their academic achievements are improved for being so overloaded with coursework they can't think strait enough to keep track of the day of the week? Maybe these girls should pull back a bit and get a hobby so they don't drive themselves into a mental breakdown.

 

[Abomination]

I am curious as to why his dad would respond that harshly over something like this. Was he struggling with his classes? Is he a slacker? Or is his dad really that closed-minded?

I think this is the most important contextual piece of information we are missing.

If he is already performing well in studies then his gaming obviously isn't affecting it negatively and thus he should be free to compete. If, however, his studies are going poorly then the amount of time/money he has been spending on Hearthstone is highly likely to be a cause of this.

Verdict? Needs more data.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

>snipsnip<

If this was one week out of a summer break I'd agree with you, 100%. But this kid qualified for a national tournament. You don't get to that level by idly picking up a game for 10 mins of downtime, you've got to put some serious hours into a hobby to get shortlisted for nationals. I'm not saying this kid should be denied a week's break, I'm saying that the kid must have spent months previous to this playing match after match after match in order to become eligible for the nationals, time which his parents clearly feel that he should have been spending studying.

Can't you do both? I certainly did. I have six years of college under my belt and I gamed an average of two to six hours every day after class depending on the levels of homework and how much studying I felt I needed to do. I certainly didn't focus all my efforts into becoming a pro at one game, but I was definitely still able to fit in a lot of game time and still fucking managed to pass my classes. This isn't an all-or-nothing one-or-the-other situation. He could have certainly done both and, from all reports I've seen, was definitely making do with both just fine.

I managed to fit my social life and studies around each other too, but I wasn't relying on my folks to pay me through my education. Look, we're not talking about whether the social/academic juggling act is possible here, we're talking about whether or not it should be done if someone is paying your way. The dad isn't saying 'don't do this', he's just saying 'don't expect me to pay for this'.

>snip<

>snip<

I am working full time, I am raising a child, I take 12 credit hours a semester (full time at my university) and I still manage to get a fair bit of gaming in.

A full time student should be spending around 48 hours a week on average on their studies, max 60 (if they are the over achieving type.) There are 168 hours in a week. Say 10 hours a day on surviving (meals, sleep, etc.) and we have at least 38 hours left over. If there is

Going to school is hard as hell, but pretending it takes all your time is ridiculous. Every single full time student I know who doesn't work and isn't providing for a family has a highly active social life, with the sole exception of the crazy people trying to do nearly double full time credit hours.

And lets be frank here, if you think "down time" should be spent doing nothing but study you are setting up your children for academic failure. 99% of people will burn out if they do nothing but study and it will, no matter what, cause their grades to suffer. This is because excessive stress interferes with mental processes. After a certain point you need to relax.

Lets consider these two students you know. Do you really think their academic achievements are improved for being so overloaded with coursework they can't think strait enough to keep track of the day of the week? Maybe these girls should pull back a bit and get a hobby so they don't drive themselves into a mental breakdown.

Look, as I said above I don't think the kid should be denied downtime, I just think that someone who is gaming to the extent that they're good enough to enter the nationals is an indication that too much of their downtime is devoted to a recreational activity. If this kid wants to enter the nationals after they've left uni, let them. But while they're there, being paid for by their folks, don't they owe a little back?

 

[Redryhno]

I am working full time, I am raising a child, I take 12 credit hours a semester (full time at my university) and I still manage to get a fair bit of gaming in.

A full time student should be spending around 48 hours a week on average on their studies, max 60 (if they are the over achieving type.) There are 168 hours in a week. Say 10 hours a day on surviving (meals, sleep, etc.) and we have at least 38 hours left over.

Going to school is hard as hell, but pretending it takes all your time is ridiculous. Every single full time student I know who doesn't work and isn't providing for a family has a highly active social life, with the sole exception of the crazy people trying to do nearly double full time credit hours.

And lets be frank here, if you think "down time" should be spent doing nothing but study you are setting up your children for academic failure. 99% of people will burn out if they do nothing but study and it will, no matter what, cause their grades to suffer. This is because excessive stress interferes with mental processes. After a certain point you need to relax.

Lets consider these two students you know. Do you really think their academic achievements are improved for being so overloaded with coursework they can't think strait enough to keep track of the day of the week? Maybe these girls should pull back a bit and get a hobby so they don't drive themselves into a mental breakdown.

Ok...and are you paying for the majority of it? Because that's what it comes down to ultimately. There comes a point where parents need to stop fully supporting their kids in all of their stuff. Especially if you're supporting and depending on tax laws they may not be able to fully support him next year.

I certainly think his dad went too far, but we've only got a handful of posts telling us only his side of the story, so there's not a huge amount of information to go on. So can we maybe stop having the effigy's made of the guy's dad maybe first?

 

[BoogieManFL]

Erm, good? At what point did it become acceptable to question whether or not computer games were a viable alternative to education?

Seems that the only chance for loss of said education was because his parents threatened to cut him off.

Sounds like he could have done both, and had the chance to win a sizable amount of money if they were more open minded.


Wonder what would have happened if his hobby was basketball or football and he had a chance to play that game and win that kind of money....

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Erm, good? At what point did it become acceptable to question whether or not computer games were a viable alternative to education?

Seems that the only chance for loss of said education was because his parents threatened to cut him off.

Sounds like he could have done both, and had the chance to win a sizable amount of money if they were more open minded.

As I've said, this tournament position didn't just fall from the lap of the gods. He must have put in substantial downtime to become skilled enough to qualify, and while that is in and of itself no bad thing it's not what his folks are paying for him to do.