Cult Of Games XLBS: Our Hobby And Our Health
October 2, 2022 by avernos
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It’s the XLBS Show………………………Happy Sunday my Fellow CoGs!
Happy Sunday,
I see that Tim has made the show. Its almost the Greatest Thing ever made, not quite but almost.
They told me they would show me nice things….
the one tip i can offer is to laugh. I know sometimes it is hard but it really does have to have humor in your life.
This is a key element to retaining something resembling sanity! We had just come back from a week’s holiday yesterday, where most things were idyllic and ‘far from the madding crowd’. Today, back to reality, the country’s financial mess, the world’s issues, trying to leave them to one side, but, then a text message from the bank, tomorrow’s payments will take my account into overdraft. The beginning of the month already! (Many, many are in the same boat currently). Last night, whilst browsing YT, I chanced upon a clip of Michael Parkinson interviewing the late Harry Secombe, during which the late Spike Milligan came on. Spike’s craziness rapidly got me laughing, laughing so much to the point of crying. Endorphins released, just like a super drug. So, laughing is an excellent medicine! Whilst the world can, just like this government, DO ONE! My creditors will just have to wait for their money, etc.
Love and thoughts to everyone here.
I think I came across the same YT vid today.
Was it during one of the times Parky was doing his show from Oz?
Yes, that’s the one. Once again, such genius comedy from a comedian who had his own struggles with life!
Yes, I agree very much. Laughter is very good for you, and Lludan, you’ve certainly made me laugh out loud quite a few times. Don’t stop what you do.
A topic that will always need to be revisited. This is a great community and it was pointed out that most of us bear the same scars or ones similar enough to recognize the pain of earning those badges of survival. Speaking will always be hard. Sitting along in your own head and the feelings is that much harder. Crying out for relief and getting the simple touch of another entity (animals can be very helpful as well) to make a connection with the world at large that might care for you can seem so much harder. The relief of the burden and opening the floodgates to let the emotion spill out is overwhelming. Losing one’s self in it is damn well frightening and makes the fear of feeling that much more compounded. Letting go and giving into the care of others… allowing and getting care from others… is likely where those of us with a hurt want to be. Stoicism can only take you so far. Knowing when you hurt and turning to someone else in trusted vulnerability is where it takes courage. Here, there’s safety in being online, but there’s a community of us odd ducks that come together and will quietly listen as fellow empathetic humans.
The world is in a VERY anxiety-inducing state right now. Those vulnerable to it are all having a tough time. It’s difficult, but finding the things that are real and important to you, and hunkering down there is a good strategy. As @warzan says, we have a lot in common, us geeks. Whether on the spectrum or not, most of us will be introverted, and that makes us easily overwhelmed by external forces, and the scaremongering industry that goes with it.
Sometimes you just have to make your world smaller. Even if only temporarily when the world starts to overwhelm you. And that’s why I love the hobby. It’s the small world that soothes the stresses of the big world. And maybe we all have that in common too!
Good morning CoGs. How is everybody? And where the bloody hell did my coffee go?
Fairly sure the brain on legs is called an Intellect Devourer.
But nowadays we just call him Gerry.
Lol
you know I can read this right?
Lol.
I am a father, a husband and a lynchpin of my family. Men are essential in their households, in their family’s and in the community. Rights for the dispossessed has been an essential topic of recent decades, that steam train has left one point often overlooked or under appreciated. Men do important things, essential things. I am a packhorse that creates stability for my family. I undertake the physically dangerous tasks so my cherished ones do not have to. I am a point of dependency for my loved ones around me.
That responsibility is a burden I take up willingly and bear it as well as I can even with all the failures and faults that I bring to it. It brings meaning to my days.
I grew up without proper men, it is not good.
Anxiety and fear are a hallmark of those who take responsibility, it is an imperfect aid in that task. When it crops up they are to be heard, assessed and thanked. Even if we then retire them for their advice and warning, as not being needed right now, anxiety and fear are essential tools.
Narrowing my focus to those overlapping spheres of influence that are immediately in my facility, Is not only better for my mental health, but allows me to be more effective in taking on my responsibilities. And the more I help my circles of influence, the more those adjacent circles will help there’s and the good will spread.
Cut out the white noise, concentrate on the communities that matter to you and you can reach out and touch. Men are needed.
I’m 34 and men were not a proper part of my younger days for modern reasons. My family was destroyed because of it, as were many of my contemporaries families.
Men are needed, the tragedies of existence are made far more bearable with proper male involvement. That involvement takes courage and perseverance, none of which comes without anxiety or fear.
Do not let the fervour of modern morality, which is in part necessary, drown out the importance of male participation. Of male virtue. And let us not allow the importance of local needs be drowned out by the white noise of far off needs.
Aagh Sundancer has invaded the OTT SITE.Lol
You’ll get used to that cat’s are like ninja’s an sit behind you to get stood on or trip over @warzan
These sorts of quest like the one in Chaotica have taken on a new light since the Nigerian 419 scams have been a thing.
HELLO MR ADVENTURERS I HAVE AN OLD MAP FROM MY SADLY PASSED ON UNCLE PRINCE WAHOOBAS OF LAGOS.
lol
Your game’s going to be as big as D&D @warzan ?
An XLBS with Sundancer! Hell yeah
And nobody mentioned the war…. odd feeling!
Oh Frostgrave you say? Oho!
So they have Bucky in that kingdom @sundancer ?
I don’t think I get that reference. To what section of the XLBS are you referring?
Your project with the bottle’s in the snow.
Ah, I get it…. I could see make myself a frozen outhouse XD
Lol.
Lurgan Champagne
With a happy wife/significant other ?
You have a blue so you’ll have a green? on the OTT Store @warzan
Good show! Congratulations to the golden button winners: awesome job! Good to see mental health as a topic revisited. Important stuff and I want to say well done to @warzan and @sundancer for sharing. For generations mental health has been a big issue in my family and more seem to be struggling with it than not. I agree with @sundancer: keeping away from the doomscrolling social media has really helped me out. I don’t visit any social media anymore, but I still need to find the strength not to check the news on three different sites three times an hour….
The world is a cluster fuck thanks to greed and parasitism politicians.?
Just watch you can get arrested for reaching out to the wrong person’s Gerry.
An interesting show guy’s.
Happy Sunday.
Does this now make Tim the official unofficial member of the team, or is that unofficial at this point?
Some great projects there, congrats on the golden buttons.
A heavy topic but well voiced. I myself had a touch of anxiety about a year or two ago, mostly, I think, brought on with the pandemic, and the hobby very much helped. I got into solo wargaming at the time as I couldn’t play with friends.
It took a while to get used to how discord works but it’s a great place to hang out. Some fun conversations and very funny pictures on there.
Also a big thanks to Tim for doing the uHH and the Unofficial Weekender posts over on the forums. I looks forward to both of these each week and I really appreciate taking part either in the chat or answering his questions three.
“official unofficial member of the team” is a very unusual way of saying “mascot” XD
So when are you getting the space bun’s @sundancer ?
Ha, yes ?
I had some cinnamon buns yesterday… does that count?
On but yes but no but.
I thought @avernos was the mascot? ?
Angry squirrel is the Ace of the pack.
Morning! Good episode guys. A subject matter that needs more focus I believe. It’s amazing the difference it makes to just talk to someone about your mental health. Realising you’re not alone can help immensely.
Also the OnTableTop crew have helped a huge amount for me. Just watching/listening to you eejits every week has given me some of the feels of social interaction without having to deal with the unwashed masses….Hurrah.
I shall leave you with one little bit of wisdom… It’s all about mindset! Too many projects on the go can be overwhelming, but if you flip that around, then all those projects can be a bonus. You want to hobby but can’t be arsed to edge highlight or paint fine details…go do some bases or build some terrain. Too hot to paint? Do some transfers! As hobbyists we usually have a bunch of stuff sat about. Embrace your inner hobby butterfly, surf that creativity wave and don’t fear wiping out or being eaten by hobby sharks. Do whatever makes you feel calm and zen…but also do stockpile canned foods and iodine tablets, don’t drink the water and never ever watch the News/propaganda!
Great to see @sundancer on the show. If you don’t check in on the unofficial hobby hangout then you should give it a go this Tuesday.
Well done for being open to another mental health episode. So many of us are struggling and it is helpful to everyone for you guys to share your experiences and to show that it is possible and positive to do so. Shows what a great community you have formed @warzan that so many others use it to keep or regain their equilibrium. We will continue to get through this scary world as we always do, together.
That photo is taken using those POV camera glasses used in certain videos on the internet. He must have borowed thwm from work. We now know what he does for a living.
“certain videos on the internet” can you elaborate? 😉
P.P.V. Videos.?
I forgot to mention how impressed I am with the games @warzan comes up with. They sound fantastic and look beautiful! Definitely a big inspiration for me: I dabble in thinking up games myself, but not on that level!
I’m in general a solitary individual and don’t have a gre@t circle of friends. When I was having issues of self worth and low self esteem I emailed my work colleagues and apologised for the way I may have been acting. No one spoke to me about it. Not a line manager or a team mate. Then one asked if I fancied playing a game. We both knew it was in response to my cry for help but neither of us said anything. Recently we organised a game at work and 9 people turned up but before the game began I was so anxious I nearly went home with my game and left them all to it. I find social media difficult to engage with such as discord and I hardly visit Facebook. The project system helps me as an outlet and having people look at your work even if it’s to take the piss is great because no ones going to see it in real life. I’m not a great painter but I feel painting focuses my head so I’m not thinking about all the bad in my life which is usually in my own head. I’m in a happier place within myself now but still very solitary and when I look at my painted minis I often think why did I bother but the collecting and painting has helped me more than real folk.
If you’re more into using something like the project system then it’s totally fine. Maybe, if you don’t want interaction with social media, build yourself a blog? That way you can share your works with the world with no need to interact 🙂
I’ve struggled a bit to get back to feeling comfortable hanging outin my FLGS, but picking it back up every other week at present past month. Feeling good 🙂
But above all speak to someone about it, a friend/lover, boss at work, support services or charitty, or local self help group, don’t suffer in silence, find someone to have the conversation you need to, its ok to not feel ok, and even if not understanding if those around you understand there’s a problem at least they can try and help you with it.
Even if you think others may view it as inconsequential it may still be crippling to you, but others will try and help generally. Following is like 59 seconds so please spare a minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEJuKY_APIk
Little youtube post folks may find interesting, and perhaps reassing something you already thought you knew.
Great and meaningful show.
Happy ( belated ) Sunday !!
Some sweet hobby golden button projects there 🙂
I feel your anxiety with crowds Warren . My father was diagnosed with a cancer that wiped out his immune system during the first weeks of Covid lockdown so I’ve cut out going places other than work so I lower the risk of passing things back to him . I live near centre of Birmingham so that’s not the best with crowds ? I also flutter from project to project rewatching the XLBS on mental health with Mel and you guys helped a lot to be honest .
Keep calm build & ( leave on the side for a few years ) paint minis ?
The dog’s been a valuable member of the family, mostly because she doesn’t talk. 😀 Dad still won’t get the jab, and I have a back problem, so I don’t go out and the mountain of miniatures gets my attention. Now, while I find painting a source of irritation 😀 I know it can be calm, therapeutic, and otherwise good for one’s mental health, so keep at it if it helps — and feel free to share any thoughts of how painting helps your mental health. Me, I’m still trying to get this red cloak to look like an alien cloak and not a patterned rubber stamp… 😛
Just one thing to say. Totally support Sundancer’s recommendation to cut right down on news and social media consumption. Bad news sells, and consuming too much bad news is a killer.
A fine episode folks. Well done.
Appreciate the conversation gents. Ill add that this show always gets me motivated to do hobby, which in turn is excellent for my mental health, so thanks for that!
Thanks for the time that people gave me in the welfare discord last week. It helped to share. Luv from Dug.
@avernos That movement mechanic is the same as triton noir’s assassin’s creed is it not?
I seriously need to actually ahve a go with this art creation thing Warzan keeps mentioning, I haven’t even looked for it yet. Let along find out how to use it
I lost my father in March, I didn’t handle it very well. My mother has Alzheimer’s and me and my sibs just aren’t getting along. It just almost worse then my father dying. When your own mother cannot remember you, it hurts. Am I suicidal..not at all. Baring all that.. I also have had to relearn what I think is fun. I used to love some things and now I’m questioning whether they were worth my time. I haven’t even chatted with people playing in my FLGS. I feel like I’ve lost all my social skills and that worries me. I really miss just chatting it up with folks. (BTW 40k 9ED is garbage)
Mate remember to hit us up in the discord if you ever want to let off steam or grab a chat