Do video games ruin awareness?

[MatrixMaster92]

About 4 months ago, I sort of had an epiphany about video games. Before I played them way too much (xbox live). I realized how much time I was wasting getting angry playing online all the time. After that I have started doing lots of different things, which is why I now have an interest in lucid dreaming. But anyway, I have been keeping a dream journal and RCing regularly for over a month now (so far 2 short DILDs). I want to start playing xbox again in moderation, with a different mindset. Before, I was just wanting to win and if I didn't I would get angry. My question is if I start playing xbox live again will it degrade the (waking) awareness I have learned/ am learning?

[Requiem]

My question is if I start playing xbox live again will it degrade the (waking) awareness I have learned/ am learning? No, just remain mindful while playing. Keep up with the journal and reality checks.

[Clyde Machine]

Agreed, stay mindful of your awareness. That doesn't mean don't let yourself get immersed in whatever games you're playing - that's the only way I can enjoy them! But don't let them bring down the awareness you've learned to hold. Keep reality checking and never cease to check your awareness at various times during the day.

[ExoByte]

Quite the opposite, actually. The joy about video games is they can cram a lot of things into one screen that you constantly need to keep an eye on, or else you're virtual shell goes ker-splat. You may be less aware of your physical surroundings while you're immersed in the game, but its a short term loss for a long term gain, as you'd actually be training your awareness.

[DreamingDragon]

Quite the opposite, actually. The joy about video games is they can cram a lot of things into one screen that you constantly need to keep an eye on, or else you're virtual shell goes ker-splat. You may be less aware of your physical surroundings while you're immersed in the game, but its a short term loss for a long term gain, as you'd actually be training your awareness. Yep, you're 100% correct, playing games can actually increase awareness, cause it games, Awareness is the key to winning and surivial. Call of duty Modern warefare, Really puts awareness to the test, you have to listen for the enemy conesntly, you have to be quick, you must pay attention to all detials around you. Even the smallest.

[starzandstripes]

Well if they do ruin the experience I would be screwed. From reading your post, it sounds like maybe your anger had more to do with it than anything else.

[goodkat]

For as long as I've played games I can certainly and sadly say that it does indeed mess with your awareness in a dream, I cant even count how many times I've missed the opportunity of becoming lucid because some relevance to a game I know happened to be in the dream, that single relevance alone can mess with your awareness of it being a dream or not. Infact last night I had a dream where a friend and I were playing some new coop game that looked like a mix between doom 3, and starwars. OBVIOUSLY no such game exsist but hey I play lots of games, and lots of mods for games, I could easily have past that up as reality, not questioning a single thing as I went along light sabering demons from hell. I'm not trying to convince you to stop playing games or anything, infact I encourage it. Games are incredibly fun and you shouldnt be worrying about whether or not they're going to become a problem in achieving a lucid dream, I happen to have quite a few lucid dreams a month but I do have some set backs once in awhile because some sort of relevance to a game influenced a dream. This could all be said for movies aswell, as a frequent movie watcher I can certainly say that they've had nearly the exact same impact video games have had on my dreams. Hope this helps Call of duty Modern warefare, Really puts awareness to the test, you have to listen for the enemy conesntly, you have to be quick, you must pay attention to all detials around you. Even the smallest. It's not the same thing, awareness of reality, and being aware for survival sake are completely different.

[Ethereal]

I'm undecided. I've found that games give an alternative - if you're falling in a dream, you no longer think 'Either I'm dying, or this is a dream." Being an avid gamer, I sometimes think "or this is a game" and continue on with it.

[Ethereal]

Exactly. It gives another explanation for oddities. Much like Goodcat, I've all too often explained away odd phenomenas as being occurances in games. And awareness of your surroundings doesn't equate to awareness of your existence.

[J.D.]

I've never had any awareness problems from the amount of games I play. In fact, some of my most fun lucids have been game-based. A few of each of the following: Halo, MW2, Aliens vs Predator, WoW and Assassin's Creed. They only give me imaginative fuel.

[XeL]

I've never had any awareness problems from the amount of games I play. In fact, some of my most fun lucids have been game-based. A few of each of the following: Halo, MW2, Aliens vs Predator, WoW and Assassin's Creed. They only give me imaginative fuel. This.

[ClearView]

^^ agreed. I've had many dreams like that as well. -CV

[Supernova]

I think you're fine as long as you keep it in the front of your mind that it's just a game, that is don't get sucked in. You can be immersed in the game experience, just not sucked in. There is a difference, I suppose dreams would make a good analogy; being sucked in is to a non-lucid as being immersed is to a lucid. This attitude will also help keep you from getting too worried about winning or losing.