panic and massively multiplayer video games
I am still coming down from the horrible adrenaline rush I experienced when hosting someone in my town in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. I had a good reason to panic, I think: the visitor suddenly took off running across my town where there are many flowers and delicate grass. (Other players of ACNL or, worse, ACCF will completely understand why NO RUNNING, EVER is a good rule to automatically follow when visiting strangers' towns.)
Then he didn't respond at all to my chat messages in which I said, "please no running" and then, after a long silence and sudden shock of fear for my rare flowers, "oi, where are you?"
I caught sight of him still running, but appearing to at least keep to my paths, but he immediately slowed down and walked for the duration of his overlong stay. x_x All throughout, my heart thudded, and I sweated and shivered as though I had been sprinting.
The kid turned out to be a nice sort, but I could not get over the shock of his initially flighty behaviour, and now my body is weakened. Doesn't help that I haven't eaten today.
This painful rush, and the resulting mental and physical exhaustion, are the main reason I have always been very hesitant about the social aspects of the games I play. It takes me a fair while to work up the courage to face what can always end up being a negative encounter. Even without unexpected negativity, the shock I experience in lightheartedly tense or competitive moments is terrible and lasting.
Recently, I think I got my partner to understand a little better. I placed his hand on my chest so he could feel my thudding heartbeat--and this was merely a response to being bested by a tarantula in ACNL. I told him, "This is what happens any time things get even a little bit crazy in a game". He was rather surprised, and I think this new insight will help in the long run. Though I have improved a lot, I still experience the same symptoms in some face-to-face interactions.
And wow, it only just occurred to me that I have medicine to calm me. e.e I never think of it when I really NEED IT.
Sorry if this seems to read more like a personal entry; I tend to express myself that way during times such as I've just described.
1. If you are a gamer: do you have extreme reactions to social activities in video games?
2. Anyone here play ACNL? :D ;;;;;
Then he didn't respond at all to my chat messages in which I said, "please no running" and then, after a long silence and sudden shock of fear for my rare flowers, "oi, where are you?"
I caught sight of him still running, but appearing to at least keep to my paths, but he immediately slowed down and walked for the duration of his overlong stay. x_x All throughout, my heart thudded, and I sweated and shivered as though I had been sprinting.
The kid turned out to be a nice sort, but I could not get over the shock of his initially flighty behaviour, and now my body is weakened. Doesn't help that I haven't eaten today.
This painful rush, and the resulting mental and physical exhaustion, are the main reason I have always been very hesitant about the social aspects of the games I play. It takes me a fair while to work up the courage to face what can always end up being a negative encounter. Even without unexpected negativity, the shock I experience in lightheartedly tense or competitive moments is terrible and lasting.
Recently, I think I got my partner to understand a little better. I placed his hand on my chest so he could feel my thudding heartbeat--and this was merely a response to being bested by a tarantula in ACNL. I told him, "This is what happens any time things get even a little bit crazy in a game". He was rather surprised, and I think this new insight will help in the long run. Though I have improved a lot, I still experience the same symptoms in some face-to-face interactions.
And wow, it only just occurred to me that I have medicine to calm me. e.e I never think of it when I really NEED IT.
Sorry if this seems to read more like a personal entry; I tend to express myself that way during times such as I've just described.
1. If you are a gamer: do you have extreme reactions to social activities in video games?
2. Anyone here play ACNL? :D ;;;;;