How do you rationalise your gaming? If you are not a gamer (and if you are), what role does this type of rationalising play in understanding what is gained by online gaming?

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I don’t play games very often but when I do my game playing gets rationalized as “fitness” or “ socializing”. I like to play wii games because they get you up and moving around. I play wii sports by myself and its really the only game I like as it not only tests your abilities as gamer (mine are pretty poor) but physically challenges you too. I play other wii games when friends come around as they are more fun when there is someone to play against.

In the terms of Thornham this type of rationalization is just another example of adults “ perceived necessity . . . to justify gaming . . . as something other than pleasure, escapist or entertainment”

(Thornham 2009 p.142). By stating that I play games for fitness I am giving the games console secondary function. It is now a piece of fitness equipment, not a media device. I am deliberately ignoring the idea that its fun and entertaining and probably doesn't really get me that fit!

In reality what is gained from this type of game playing is a study break (is that rationalizing again? I can't tell), a time to unwind and clear my head and be absorbed in something else. 

Thornham, H. 2009. Claiming a Stake in the Videogame : What Grown-Ups Say to Rationalize and Normalize Gaming. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies: 445-462. http://con.sagepub.com/content/15/2/141 (accessed 19/10/11).