It's all too easy for certain corners of society to point at video games and blame them for all the violence and bad things that happen in the world.
To be fair to these people, what other connection are they supposed to make? They hear about a violent shooting, then they see mainstream news outlets hysterically screaming about the latest video game that lets players pick up massive guns and shoot each other. It's a lack of understanding that is routinely exploited to distract from bigger issues.
Of course if you're reading this, I'm assuming you know video games aren't just a gateway to murdering and stealing cars. They can also be restorative, healing escapes.
No doubt we all have the games we like to turn to when things get a little overwhelming. I tend to head back to Pokémon Gold, or The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
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Over on Reddit, user Snoo_86964 has explained how Skyrim is their game of choice for the darkest of times. The gamer shared that Bethesda's open-world RPG is the only thing that makes them feel normal anymore, revealing they're currently in the middle of a particularly nasty depression.
“If it wasn’t for the ability to escape into [Skyrim], I don’t really know if I could handle life right now," they wrote.
The user admitted: "I can't think of a more pathetic thing to say, but I really appreciate this game so much. It's always been there for me."
It's worth noting that there's nothing pathetic about finding comfort in a video game, a sentiment echoed by hundreds of fellow Reddit users who responded to the original post with messages of love and support.
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"Not pathetic at all, I’m right there with ya buddy," one user wrote. "Recently got back into Skyrim to take my mind off of how bad my life got, it really does help. Anything that helps, helps. Doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it works for you that’s all that matters."
Another added: "When my mom first passed away, the only thing I got out of bed for was Skyrim. I would play from when I got up to when I went to sleep. So you are not alone."