Not leading a meaningful life inevitably leads to depression.

That's not to say that a very small few people may somehow find meaning exclusively playing video games. However most people will eventually suffer from lack of self-esteam, low status and shame.

Exactly what is a meaningful life anymore, especially in America?

If you are looking for self-esteem through your job--for most of us those days are gone.

(I know way to many former Programers who aged out of the industry way to early, and gave up. Way to many are homeless. My point is don't expect too much psychological satisfaction from a job that barely covers the rent, has no real pension, and lousy medical. My father lived for work. He loved being an electrician. He didn't develop friendships, or hobbies. He died of liver cancer a few months into retirement. One of our last conversations was when he was dying. He got a letter from the union stating they will now cover his medical expenses 100%.)

> Exactly what is a meaningful life anymore, especially in America?

That's a personal and existental question. What are your principles? What would you like people to say about you at your funeral?

These are my principles. I want to be honest and fair to others. I don't care what people say about me at my funeral. Perfectly ok with an anonymous death.

This gives rise to 2 questions

1. Do you mean a meaningful life from the gamers perspective or from the perspective of outsiders?

2. If the issue is lack of self-esteem etc. Wouldn't it be better to focus on mental health instead of employment? Once again, I was interested in talking about gamers who are happy with their situation.

Meaningful to one's self and principles. In the sense that Viktor Frankl wrote about in "Man's Search for Meaning." Wherein he describes the survivors of the nazi concentration camps were the prisoners who had something personally meaningful to live for. People thrive if they have meaning in their lives.

If you can derive meaning from your career, that's great. Otherwise, family or contributing to society or whatever you think makes a difference in the world and is worth working toward.

Like everything, gaming is great in moderation, but the gamer who does nothing with their life but game is probably going to have some regrets on their deathbed.

If the gamer is happy spending his time with his parents and games, it might well be that his principles are aligned around this social connection and activity. It is difficult for me to judge from a distance. Moreover, he might not have any particular principle for his life. I know plenty of folks like that.

You have also used another word - meaning. Is that a synonym for principle?

I am sure the gamer interacts with his parents. I couldn't find anything in the medical literature about excessive gaming either. It is quite possible that he may have regrets on his deathbed like most people. However optimizing your life for the thoughts you will have in your deathbed might not be a great tradeoff if it means doing work that makes you miserable for most of your life.