Joe Rogan is among the internet’s hot topics today after he remarked on his podcast that video games are a “waste of time” for players and unlikely to help them achieve anything. His comments instantly earned the ire of many of his listeners - several of whom are gamers themselves - and have given rise to hundreds of responses throughout social media discussing the validity of his argument.
His comments are both surprising and unsurprising and the same time. Although Rogan himself has indeed been an avid gamer in the past, he has also described his experience with gaming as an addiction and likened himself to an “alcoholic,” playing games like NBA 2K and Quake Champions for up to 12 hours per day. Now that Rogan has cut ties with gaming, today’s comments make clear that his experiences have seriously impacted his views on the hobby.
In the controversial episode of The Joe Rogan Experience (thanks, Dexerto), Rogan compares gaming with Jujitsu, pointing out that someone practicing the martial art for three years could potentially open a gym and make money, while someone playing a video game for the same amount of time would have nothing to show for their efforts. He does concede that video games are “f--king fun” and “real exciting,” but ultimately expresses a contempt for the medium, referring to it as a “real problem.” Twitter users were quick to comment on his thoughts, with their responses ranging from agreement to bemusement, to anger. The popular streamer Ninja also weighed in on the conversation, commenting that Rogan may simply be coming from a place of misunderstanding.
Rogan’s comments have clearly touched a nerve in the gaming community. This is likely because the accusation of video games being an enjoyable yet unproductive (and, to some, possibly harmful) hobby is something that many gamers have heard ad nauseum throughout their lives. Whether it be from a parent, a significant other, a friend, or even a stranger, gamers are highly familiar with the feeling of having their favorite hobby invalidated by others. It is perhaps this experience that adds to the feeling of betrayal that some of Rogan’s listeners experienced upon hearing his remarks.
Of course, there is also the fact that he is wrong - or rather, not entirely correct. Rogan is clearly drawing on his own experiences with gaming addiction and conflating it with the standard gaming experience. The truth of the matter is that there are numerous career options today that center around gaming, and only a small handful of them actually require pro-level proficiency in the latest first-person shooter. Someone heavily interested in video games can pursue a career as a video game journalist, games artist, animator, designer, software developer, play tester, coach, or even create their own game, which can be seen more and more in today’s indie gaming scene. All of this is not even acknowledging the beneficial effects that video games can have on players' dexterity, problem-solving skills, and mental health overall.
Furthermore, even if Rogan is correct and video games truly only have value as enjoyable time-wasters, then the same logic could be applied to movies, TV shows, books, and even Rogan’s podcast itself. Relaxation and stress relief are vital parts of players' daily lives, and one person’s method of doing so should not be decried simply because it might not lead to job opportunities in three years. Unfortunately, Rogan’s struggles with gaming addiction obscure his view of that..
Source: Dexerto, Ninja, hellograndpa, jiyunaJP