Video games are classified as eSports (electronic sports), yet they’re not the same as traditional sports like football, basketball, or baseball.
Sure, video games involve teamwork, communication, skills, and competitiveness like real sports, but they’re not considered as a real sports for three main reasons: they’re primarily a hobby as a pastime, they require less physical activity, and long time gaming can be bad for health.
1. Video Games is A Pleasurable Pastime
Video games are a pleasurable pastime, a hobby, but they’re not a sport. They are often seen as a form of entertainment or relaxation. Many people play video games to unwind, have fun, and enjoy themselves, similar to other leisure activities like reading or watching movies.
2. The Less Physical Activity in Video Gaming
When we think about sports, we often picture athletes running on a track, swimmers slicing through water, or basketball players leaping for a slam dunk. These activities involve physical exertion, discipline, and training.
They’re not just about winning or losing, they’re about pushing the human body to its limits, about physical prowess and endurance.
Now, let’s consider video games. They’re engaging, entertaining, and can even be competitive. But do they push our physical limits? Do they require us to train our bodies, to build strength and stamina? The answer is no.
Video games are primarily a form of entertainment, a digital diversion from the real world. They’re something we do for fun and relaxation, but they don’t demand the physical exertion that characterizes sports.
In a video game, you might be a football player, a race car driver, or a soldier on a battlefield. But in reality, you’re sitting comfortably, controller in hand, eyes on the screen. The physical activity is happening in the virtual world, not in the real one.
In sports, the physical activity is real. The sweat, the fatigue, the adrenaline rush – these are tangible experiences, not just pixels on a screen. Sports involve the whole body, not just the thumbs and fingers. They’re about physical prowess, not just mental agility.
So, while video games can be enjoyable and even competitive, they lack the physical element that is integral to sports.
3. Long Time Gaming Can Be Bad for Health
Also, the health implications of long time video gaming can’t be ignored. While traditional sports promote physical fitness and well-being, video games can have the opposite effect.
Picture this: a gamer, hunched over their console, bag of chips in one hand, controller in the other, eyes glued to the screen for hours on end. This image is far removed from the sweaty, exhilarated faces of athletes after a hard-fought match.
Competitive or recreational sports leave you feeling physically tired but mentally refreshed. They help build muscle, burn fat, and boost mood. Video games, on the other hand, can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, and unhealthy eating habits. They may offer a mental challenge, but they don’t provide the physical benefits that traditional sports do.
Conclusion
While video games have their merits and can be intensely competitive like traditional sports, they should not be considered a sport. They are a hobby, a form of entertainment that requires little physical activity and can have negative health implications when indulged in excessively.
So, next time you pick up that controller, remember: it’s game time, not sport time.
