It's just a choice of life. I once heard a friend saying playing game saved tons of money for her because of money not wasted on endless night club and parties. Being productive making more money or getting better grades is fine. Other options to enjoy a life are also fine.

> A year of his life gone, unproductively looking at a computer screen.

Your perspective and opinion is valuable. But try not to judge or dismiss others' without the full story. Some of us who played so much did get a lot out of it: socially, intellectually, creatively, etc.

I've dropped a lot more than 8000 hours into reading various novels.

Do you pity me? I'm not entirely convinced Litterature with a capital L is any better than any other form of escapism. Arguably worse than cleaning the floor of a soup kitchen.

i’m sure i’ve spent 8000 hours doing one pittiable thing or another

if time is enjoyed, it isn’t wasted, so they say

> I recall a classmate in college relating to me that he had put in over 8000 hours in various games.

It’s possible that if it wasn’t video games it would have been something else like partying and drinking.

Some people do it to escape, to block out real life, the means can be substituted if some forms aren’t available.