People who play videogames aren't escaping reality, they're simulating having meaningful participation in a society. If anything, gamers crave reality. An example of escaping reality is wearing noise cancelling headphones on the train so no one talks to you. Gamers are trying to simulate a reality where the work they do has tangible meaning. You do this dungeon and you get a new item, which you can use to do new dungeons. In reality, you do a job, and you get a paycheck, which you can only use to continue doing that same job. There are obviously meaningful jobs out there, but many, many people are being denied them, relegated to alienated labor. They are being denied access to community, relegating them to lonliness. The labor in videogames isn't alienating since it's meant to achieve a purpose and meant to advance you and grow your character. Jobs and a lot of what "society" these days has to offer just.... don't do that. It's all about PARTICIPATION.
Yeah. I didn't know this tske was hot, but escapism despite being what people claim to want from fiction isn't what people want. People don't want escapism they want to escape. The idea that fiction can serve as an escape into a better world instead of inspiration towards a better one is a whole thing.
it's that whole tolkien quote about how if someone wants to escape a place, the only people angry about it are jailors and the guards.
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