Video game rage unnecessary

November 5, 2009 by David Bell 

E-rage is a rising problem among serious gamers

We all have friends that play video games a little too much.

Though playing video games excessively can be a problem, there is another problem that’s related to a segment of the aforementioned group: We all know someone that takes their games a little too seriously.

These people are victims of what is known as e-rage, a serious condition that takes your mild-mannered gamer and turns them into a foul-mouthed raging psychopath that screams at their TV.

This problem might seem funny to those who don’t regularly play video games, but trust me, there are way too many people out there who let a video game ruin and consume their days.

Honestly, playing video games can get aggravating at times. Sometimes you will be stuck on a level for a ridiculous amount of time or you might be playing against someone that is using some underhanded tactic.

But there are people who are legitimately (gasp) better than you at the game.
After a while, all of this can get very annoying, but e-rage is not the answer.

Turning into the e-rage monster will not solve anything.

The e-rage monsters among us seem like strange clones of their former mild-mannered selves but partake in some rather inappropriate actions.

Sadly, some of these people will go so far as to destroy objects – controllers, keyboards or just about anything else – or they might even lash out at their friends and family.

While these people sound scary, I have a different way to describe them: ridiculously hysterical.

That’s right, I consider these people funny. Why? The answer is simple: They are proving that they are worse at their game and worse at handling themselves as people.

They are, sometimes literally, screaming that they have no discipline or self-control.

What they want is for the targets of their rage to become just as disturbed as they are, so my favorite thing to do is to not give them their wish and to use them as a source of humor.

Not only does laughing at them make them even more insane, it helps improve your health. Essentially, as their minds slip into game-induced insanity, they can be used as a tool to improve your quality of life.

If you are one of those people, there are a few things you can do. One option is to settle down and think about the bigger picture before you start playing.

Video games are just that: games in a video format. Being a sore loser is never appreciated in anything, but when the rage is directed at a screen, you just look ridiculous.

Instead of throwing your controller through a window, you should appreciate the challenge and get on with your life. If you always won, you would get bored.

Losing a video game won’t kill you and neither will congratulating the winner. Also, if you are gracious in defeat, the person who bested you might be kind enough to leave you with some parting advice to help you improve.

Another option is to simply turn the game off. If you are not mature enough accept losing in a video game, you simply should not play the video game.

If you feel yourself starting to get angry, you should probably either do something to calm yourself down or stop yourself before you turn into the crazy e-rage monster.

If you can’t handle one game, maybe you should try another. A less competitive game might be better suited to a short-tempered person.

If playing Halo all day drives you insane, maybe you should try Roller Coaster Tycoon. No one is trying to beat you in the game and if one of those annoying patrons annoys you, you can simply get rid of them (or drop them off in the corner of the park where they get completely lost).

If you need to play against someone, try surrounding yourself with friends. That way, if you lose, you know it’s to someone you like and you can be happy for their accomplishment.

The best way to handle them is just to laugh it off. Don’t play their game.

If it’s you who is turning into an e-rage monster, take a deep breath and settle down. The world doesn’t implode when you lose a game. There are much better things to worry about.

Take a look at the world around you. If you can take an honest look at life as a whole and tell me that you believe losing your mind over a game is really worth it, please get some help.