Do you ever feel like you’re in a relationship with someone who has a side-chick named PlayStation, or maybe an Xbox? Honey, if you’re nodding your head, you just stumbled upon a gem. I found this tale on Reddit, featuring a gal who’s starting to feel like the third wheel in her romance – with the other ‘person’ being a controller-hugging, World of Warcraft-loving wizard. Yes, the story is as juicy as it sounds!
The Setup: All Day, All Night Gaming Extravaganza
Our unnamed heroine is just trying to live a normal life with her boyfriend, who has decided to devote himself to the holy rite of gaming. This isn’t a casual fling with a few levels of Mario Kart; this is a full-on, wake-up-and-game-until-3-AM commitment. The girl needs help, and apparently, so do we because navigating the land of compromise with a hardcore gamer is like asking a cat to take a bath.
Compromise: Definition by Oxford, Not Boyfriend
Let me set the scene: She’s graciously offered to let him game until 5 PM. Seems fair, right? Wrong. Because Prince Charming’s best gaming pal only logs on at 8 PM, and that’s when the ‘real fun’ begins. So, she counters with a suggestion to hang out before then. Umm, still no. Boyfriend’s idea of compromise is sacrificing some of her precious alone time to contend with his relentless gaming schedule. So endearing, right?
The Bed, The Back Pain, and Beyond
Charming Boyfriend has even invested in top-notch speakers, so she can be serenaded by the dulcet tones of virtual gunfire and orc grunts from the comfort of his bed. Sign me up! Oh wait, I’d rather do almost anything else. Yes, our dear narrator does enjoy sitting in sometimes and watching him play, but who’s thrilled about being a bed potato for twelve hours? Honey, anyone who says they want that is lying or doing some very lucrative sleep studies.
The Art of Negotiation: Winning the Battle, Losing the War
Sweetie, you’ve done more than enough to compromise. Your concessions are like a fruit basket to a carnivore – delightful but ultimately unused. It’s time to bring out the big guns. This is a relationship, not a hostage situation. Being empathetic to someone’s hobbies is wonderful, but when it’s taking over all your shared time together, it’s slightly less romantic and infinitely more exasperating.
The Hidden Level: Communication is Key
Communication is critical. You’ve dropped hints, you’ve offered alternatives, but now it’s time to sit him down and have a real talk. No distractions, no live streams, just an honest conversation about how the imbalance is wearing on you. Tell him you do support his hobby, but there has to be a line drawn somewhere. Relationships are built on mutual interests and time, not relentless marathon gaming sessions.
The Boss Fight: Setting Boundaries
Establish some non-negotiable ‘us’ time. Implement a schedule that leaves room for both his gaming and your couple activities. You might even consider setting date nights or scheduling times where the console is off-limits.
Joan’s Final Take: The Ultimatum
Listen, darling. Gaming is great, but if your boyfriend isn’t willing to meet you halfway, he’s got another thing coming. You deserve someone who values your time together as much as you do. If a guy can’t see past his headset to appreciate the fabulous person beside him, maybe it’s time to unplug – from the relationship. Remember, you’re not just a choice; you’re the choice.
Until next time, keep your standards high and your Wi-Fi strong!
Original story
My boyfriend likes to play video games a lot. I usually have no problem with this.
Until he wants to play ALL DAY. Like from the moment he wakes up until like 3 am.
Then he sleeps until 2 pm. I am trying to compromise but it’s still not good enough.
I said can’t you play until like 5 and we could just grab dinner and he said no because his friend can’t play until 8 and then they’ll play until 3 am. So I said okay then can we hang out until then or at least for a little while tomorrow but he won’t.
It’s like all or nothing but somehow I’m the one who isn’t compromising because I don’t want to waste a day and a half? And he said how he bought speakers so I can hear and I do enjoy sitting in sometimes and watching but not for that long.
I can’t sit on his bed for 12 hours straight. I don’t know how to solve this.
I am not trying to stop him of enjoying his hobbies or of hanging out with his friends because i understand that is how they hang out. Help.