On dating a gamer.

Right at this moment, my beloved boyfriend is playing a video game on his xbox and communicating with his brother in Los Angeles, who is also playing the same game. There is laughter, swearing, odd conversation that I don't understand. Me? I'm blogging (duh), listening to some new tunes, and thinking about putting some pictures in a frame.

This used to be my nightmare. This, once upon a time ruined my entire being. It destroyed my confidence and an entire 5+ year relationship. It pushed me in the direction of another person to find emotional solace and companionship. It kept me up late. Gave me headaches. Made me cry more than a person ever should. I. Fucking. Hated. Gaming. And also gamers. And the assholes who invented video games. And puppies. (I was in a very dark place, okay?)

This is not Justin.

You see, gaming is more than a hobby for my boyfriend. It is his career. His entire livelihood. His reason for moving to California thank you baby jesus for that. And yes, I thought myself crazy for even thinking about entering a relationship with a gamer after the utter hell I went through before. But as THEY say, you can't help who you love and I indeed did fall for a gamer.

Also not Justin.

Girlfriends of gamers, there is a right and a wrong way to do this. And luckily for me, and him, he does it the right way. If you find yourself answering YES to any of the following questions it is time to abandon ship because that type of gaming behavior is not normal.

Has your gamer boyfriend ever chosen playing video games over any of the following:

• Going out in public to be social with friends?

•  Boobs?

•  Food?

•  Intimate adult activities?

Does your gamer boyfriend violently scream obscenities at the television and scream at teenagers via headset?

Has your gamer boyfriend refused to stop playing a game well into the wee hours of the morning? 

I hope that none of these questions had a YES answer for you, but if they did please pack your bags immediately and if you need a place to stay call me. I'm good a post-traumatic gaming-disorder stress-disorder counseling. We all get through it.

He games, I write. Or read, shop online, drink beer, or watch TV in the other room. If I ask him to stop, he does. If I express discontent at the thought of him gaming, he won't. If I'm being a complete asshole-whiny bitchface about it, maybe I need alone time anyways.

Dating a mature, respectable gamer has taught me that there is much more to video games than sawing zombie heads off and humping the remaining corpse. And that you can have a fulfilling relationship with video games in your home. And sometimes you can download freaking sweet games of your own to the xbox, like Peggle and become a Peggle Master. Which is probably my proudest accomplishment so far.