What made you smile today?

[Buffalobiian]

I need to learn to step away from games when I'm tired

You need to learn to stop breaking your own property.

[Animeniax]

You need to learn to stop breaking your own property.

Simpler said than done, and it is a good outlet because I feel immediate shame and disappointment in myself that lasts a while and keeps me grounded. It's like a psychiatrist visit for $45. Which kinda sucks, PS3 controllers now cost $45. Last year they cost $40.

[Buffalobiian]

Do you do this when you play on other people's consoles?

[shinta|hikari]

I've thrown a friend's controller down before. I didn't break it though.

I once punched my CRT TV after losing to Akuma's cheapshot in SF too many times. It flew back and hit the wall. But it was undamaged.

I once broke my car's windshield when I jabbed it because I disliked a haircut I got.

I've stopped hitting things as much in recent years. I've learned to control, or rather, detach myself from such emotions and impulses. That made me smile (in a sinister, psychopathic way).

[Animeniax]

Do you do this when you play on other people's consoles?

Of course not. I don't get in the same super-focused mindset when playing games with others. When I'm hunkered down to play solo, I get very competitive and into it, and hence very outraged when the computer cheats or the controller doesn't do what I asked it to.

I've thrown a friend's controller down before. I didn't break it though.

I once punched my CRT TV after losing to Akuma's cheapshot in SF too many times. It flew back and hit the wall. But it was undamaged.

I once broke my car's windshield when I jabbed it because I disliked a haircut I got.

I've stopped hitting things as much in recent years. I've learned to control, or rather, detach myself from such emotions and impulses. That made me smile (in a sinister, psychopathic way).

Each time I break something in a fit of rage (it's relatively rare, only seems to happen when I'm playing video games) I feel that shame and remorse and it keeps me from doing it again for a while. It's not an issue of control for me, just means I'm alive and well.

[Buffalobiian]

I see. Well that's good at least. I enjoy my possessions more than my games, so your willingly breaking them is unfathomable to me.

[shinta|hikari]

Rather than willingly, it seems he has no choice. It was in a fit of rage, after all. He's just saying that he's fine even if he does end up breaking it because it prevents him from doing so for a while.

[Animeniax]

Yeah it's not willing at all. I catch myself all the time just before I throw the controller at the TV. But my nice coffee table has some paint taken off where controllers felt my anger.

[Buffalobiian]

I say "willingly" because Animeniax allows it to happen but does not take adequate steps to prevent it from happening. If it's not leading him to financial or social ruin then there's no pressing reason for him to change though.

[Animeniax]

Well the frustration of trying to repair a controller might be enough to force me to change (probably not). Just spent the last 2 hours taking apart the two busted controllers hoping to mix and match parts to get one working. Apparently Sony changed the components inside the controller within the last year, as the PCB is different, the plastic channels and supports inside the controller are different, and the internals from the newer controller won't fit in the chassis of the older one. So for now I'm back to one sorta working controller which I'l have to take apart again because the trigger buttons aren't properly seated.

[darkshadow]

Hilarious how people want to break things because of a fucking videogame; stop playing, you fucking masochists.

[Xelbair]

Hilarious how people want to break things because of a fucking videogame; stop playing, you fucking masochists.

^ this


If you get so mad at virtual experience that you have to break something - please do not play video games, or any other games for that matter.
It is virtual, learn to distance yourself from this - you get mad? stop playing or pick other game. being mad is fun? go visit the doctor.

[Buffalobiian]

I do get mad when people stuff around in a competitive counterstrike match though. I'm more easy these days and just accept it, but prior I did get pretty pissed. I couldn't take it and teamkilled him during the final round.

I think it's okay to get mad. Breaking things can be okay. Recognising that breaking things is damaging your finances or relationships, yet unable to stop oneself from doing so is NOT okay.

[Kraco]

being mad is fun? go visit the doctor.

I don't know about Poland but over here we have no end of people who must enjoy being mad. I don't know why they would otherwise be so quick to take everything personally and consequently get angry.

[Animeniax]

It's not the game I'm mad at so much as my own lack of skill, mistakes I make, lag, poor game coding, etc. Taking out my frustration on my own equipment means I pay the price, which is a punishment in ways for previous said lack of skill, mistakes, etc.

[Ryllharu]

Getting all my errands done within 2 hours and managing to pack all the purchases into my sub-compact car, including a 6 foot iron shepard's crook.

Now I can enjoy the rest of my three day weekend without having to leave the house.

[Edort4]

I have never been one to break things when mad but I remember in the old days of quake3 and CS when I started multiplaying that I could swear like a sailor for hours. To the point my parents told me I was stressing them. Looking back I think that it was the way I had to vent frustation that I had in my daily life with studies, relationships and so. With time you learn both self control and to "not give a fuck".

Nowadays I mostly laugh in desperation when something "cheesy" happens while playing. For example lately I play a lot to EU4 and when you are playing in ironman or multiplayer, really focused and trying hard, some of the most "strange" things happen and cant help but laugh out loud. Something that caused me anger years ago now its funny and even livens me up.

[Xelbair]

Thing is - games are supposed to be FUN. if they make you rage so hard that you are breaking stuff - stop playing.

[Edort4]

That statement its true but I also feel that its an oversimplification. If we understand fun as playful pleasure I believe that it fells short. There are many kind of games. Games that make you think, others that make you feel "fear" or tension, games that give you adrenaline rushes, games that make you laugh, and even games that become a "work" ( profesional sports, e-sports) etc.

You dont watch/play dramas or horror movies/games cause they are "fun". Nor because they give you a nice fun pleasure (usually) but because they give you some kind of meaning, sense of fullfilment, a learning experience or a sense of being alive after all that tension and scares.

But honestly I dont think rage should be a feeling you should get from games or entertainment in general. In that I agree. But actually sometimes feeling hate or indignation/anger can make your "engine" move. I feel that those kind of feelings are a good fuel, they can become a creative/action force and the limit between those and rage is kind of blur. So I wouldnt criminalize it unless it affects other ppl in a harmful way.

[Animeniax]

Competitive multiplayer games can be both fun and very rage-inducing. I'm more of a PC gamer for FPS games, so playing on console adds to the frustration because it is a very different experience. When you're used to pwning at these games, it's hard to take it when you routinely score 6-14 and 0.4 KDR. But gameplay can also make you upset, which is why I never played Dark Souls.

Getting all my errands done within 2 hours and managing to pack all the purchases into my sub-compact car, including a 6 foot iron shepard's crook.

Now I can enjoy the rest of my three day weekend without having to leave the house.

You get Columbus day off? Must be nice.

I fit 3 8-ft 2x4s into my compact car, and was happy until I noticed I had damaged the tint on the rear window. Silly thing is that I also have a pickup truck.