The value, and purpose, of video games is a controversial topic. Growing up, I have heard lots of different opinions on this topic. Especially in a negative light. But you never hear much about neutrality. I was talking to my mother the other day about enjoying video games. My house, largely, is very game centric, with all of us owning our own personal consoles to some extent, and even sharing games. My mother however falls outside of this circle. She looks at games through possibly the most positive light I have ever seen. You never hear her telling us we are wasting our time, or money. She encourages it even, marking down game drops on her calendar for my little brother. She herself though seldomly partakes.
I have been playing one game in particular lately, a little farming simulator called Stardew Valley, and I have been adamant that my mother would enjoy it, as tedious things are usually of interest to her. Despite this she told me she just didn’t enjoy it after playing probably half an hour or so. Not with any anger in her voice, just an absolutely neutral take. She explained that she would rather do the real thing, tend to her own garden rather than a simulated one. This isn’t something you see a lot, with most adults either being fully fledged video game addicts, or blaming all their children's misbehavior on them.
For me, video games have been a crucial part of my upbringing. Even now, a large amount of my friends are those who I have met through online communities centered around video games. Despite common misconceptions about video games, and a general online presence, these avenues have allowed me to flourish socially. Even if you can’t recognize that, or think it doesn’t apply to you, I encourage you to look at things, how I often do, through the eyes of my mother. Completely and utterly objectively.