Can Video Games Ruin a Relationship?

by SodaHead Gaming Posted 2012/02/16 14:00:00

Related Topics: Games, Video Games, Relationship, Brigham Young, Facebook, Online Games, Couples, Divorce, Marriage, Online, News, Video, Game, Video Game

Read More

770 votes
Read all 299 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Yes	545 votes	71%
	No	225 votes	29%

Last year, a study found that Facebook has becoming a "primary cause" of divorce -- or, more precisely, it has played an increasingly major part in relationship problems that lead to divorce. Now a Brigham Young University study is claiming the same thing about video games, claiming the hobby can lead to fighting, neglect, and ultimately, divorce.

According to U.S. News, the study found that 65 percent of spouses who do not share their partner's gaming interest fight about video games, and 75 percent claim the habit has negatively affected their marriage. However, games seem to have the opposite effect when both partners share the hobby: 74 percent of couples who play multiplayer online games together say it has had a positive effect on their relationship.

+20

Add a comment above

SunshineSprinkles 2012/02/16 17:51:12

No

+13
I love video games just as much as my bf and we both play them, they can't ruin a relationship...Lack of understanding, effort and respect can...but games, no!

And to all the girls that nag about how your bf plays games all day..stop whining for gods sake! While he's playing you have the time for yourself, and why don't you try playing and see how fun it is instead of complaining...takes two to make a relationship work
>> See Replies

More polls by SodaHead Gaming

Alice 2012/02/17 00:22:32

Yes

Of course.

reply
The Night Owl 2012/02/16 23:44:30

No

It's the people. They can get too caught up with them, so the women get upset or whatever. In some occasions it's the men.
I for one wouldn't. I would join him and play.
But that would mean that I'd need to have a boyfriend first.

reply
beckylee 2012/02/16 23:35:41

No

My Fiance and I are both gamers. He's PS3, and I'm XBOX360, so we don't play games together, but our relationship is fine. I think that if your partner is playing games heaps, then read a book or something. You don't need their attention 24/7.

reply
Thomas Bryant 2012/02/16 23:33:08

No

Depends really.

reply
hari 2012/02/16 22:58:48

Yes

Addiction may hamper the terms

reply
Princess Cadance 2012/02/16 22:22:55

No

+1
My husband and I are both gamers and there are plenty of games we play together!

reply
brittneylalaa 2012/02/16 22:14:14

Yes

+1
My husband's a gamer and I hate it. I TRY to leave him alone most of the time but after a while I get tired of looking at them. But I figure its better for him to play his games than to be in the casino.

reply
Glee_ky 2012/02/16 22:00:52

No

+1
I sure hope not xD

reply
Patreco 2012/02/16 21:57:09

Yes

Well, of course it can.
If the person spend the "couple-time" playing (even if they are interesting) games, and forget about what it means "relationship", it will become a real problem

reply
mark mecca 2012/02/16 21:39:11

No

+1
just like any thing else if you let it take over your life than ya it could but than if that's all you do is sit and play video games all day you may still live in your moms basement sso the likey hood that you are have a BF/GF are slim

reply
lionheart 2012/02/16 21:13:56

No

+1
Only if you let them.

reply
mm61675 2012/02/16 21:09:38

Yes

happened to me with one of my ex's. he would rather play W0W than go on a date with me or even spending time with me. he actually said he preferred playing video games to going out with me and some of our friends. douche.

reply
bibi 2012/02/16 20:57:42

Yes

Unless you're PLAYING together, they take up time you could be spending with your significant other.

reply
RawrRawrNinjaCupCake<3 2012/02/16 20:48:38

No

+2
People are what ruin relationships;
My relationship is absolutely amazing,
and ours is videogame based, mostly because we met on xbox live XD
but we haven't met in person yet or anything, but we play together all the time and when we're on skype sometimes he or I play, doesn't bug me (: <3

reply
BlackPoison 2012/02/16 20:33:43

Yes

+1
they ruined mine loool

reply
Aspect of B 2012/02/16 20:32:51

Yes

+2
Based on a true story.

reply
DesiBoo to Aspect ... 2012/02/20 02:20:25

+1
Lmfao

reply
Nikki 2012/02/16 20:25:36

No

+1
People ruin relationships. Give and take. Play the game sometimes but also spend time with your partner.

reply
meg 2012/02/16 20:20:35

Yes

You have no idea how many guys I've come across that prefer games to girls.

reply
Thomas ... to meg 2012/02/16 23:38:15

That's becase they are girls that play video games too.How about telling them that your not into stuff like that.

reply
meg to Thomas ... 2012/02/16 23:46:33

Telling them I'm not a hardcore gamer would be like saying this isn't going to work out to those kind of guys games come first and I'm a gamer myself but for me people and guys come first along with a lot of other things.

reply
Thomas ... to meg 2012/02/16 23:48:23 (edited)

Oh I see ok.

reply
JoeKnows to meg 2012/02/17 01:24:33

+1
You don't know how many girls I've come across that prefer playing games with guys.

reply
meg to JoeKnows 2012/02/17 01:27:31

-2?

reply
Anna E 2012/02/16 20:13:30

Yes

+1
Same for anything that detracts attention from a relationship.

reply
Louis Contreras 2012/02/16 20:05:38

Yes

Any distraction can cause problems. But is the distraction the problem or just a symptom.

reply
dogfose... to Louis C... 2012/02/19 12:37:11

In the case of computers, the media itself is rather addictive and like any drug can cause its own set of problems.

reply
✞Knight of Honor 2012/02/16 19:57:37

No

+2
No more than anything else done in excess.

reply
JoeKnows 2012/02/16 19:42:59 (edited)

Yes

+1
Yes. But, to be fair, in many cases it's the relationship that ruins the video game.

reply
Linkums 2012/02/16 19:25:29

Yes

+2
But so can anything. If your significant other hates your favorite hobbies, you probably shouldn't marry them. And putting anything before your spouse tends to be a bad thing.

reply
Garciataria 2012/02/16 19:23:45

Yes

... that's part of the reason why I don't play.

reply
scarlett 2012/02/16 19:05:42 (edited)

Yes

+2
yes yes yes... but at the same time we have such amazing technology in gaming and phones! so you have to learn to play in moderation, or times convinient w both... i guess..

reply
Daedalus to scarlett 2012/02/16 22:55:44 (edited)

I like that cartoon. Just today I witnessed two drivers texting at a stoplight, and a few oblivious people texting in the coffee shop. ;)

reply
scarlett to Daedalus 2012/02/16 23:04:38

i know.. i just got an iphone in november.. i only had 1 cellphone b4 that, which the best it could do was txt, so i try not to be one of "those" people.. its hard though! lol.. i know when my cousin that we had not seen in years come down for the week and just constantly had her face in her phone, while my moms talking, telling stories, i think thats just rude..

reply
Daedalus to scarlett 2012/02/16 23:12:06

+1
Some people loose face to face social skills over time.

reply
mz.djqueen 2012/02/16 18:53:37

Yes

+1
especially when you pick CALL OF DUTY over her
i hate that damn game

reply
Garciat... to mz.djqueen 2012/02/16 19:27:10

THANK YOU!!!! I'm a guy and I can't stand when guys are more obsessed over Call of Duty than their girlfriends. The stereotype is that a guy is supposed to love Call of Duty more than his girlfriend, and I'm sick of it. Let me give you an idea as to how annoyed I am at it --- check out this question:

http://www.sodahead.com/livin...

reply
SODAHEADSHEAD 2012/02/16 18:51:05

No

+3
Uhhh...no. But it's a good excuse for an already underlying problem.

reply
Greatkibble 2012/02/16 18:40:12

Yes

Especially when the other spouse isn't into the hobby.
It's ok to play but don't let playing time sap away the moments meant to be shared for your other.

reply
Sherlock Dog BL - a Gazillion 2012/02/16 18:20:38