In need of some adivce or whatever.

I think the main issue is with dota is that once you start a match you can't quit and save for later or pause for an hour and then resume, and because a game can be between like 20 minutes to even 2 hours it is very unpredictable. I mean, and hour and a half you HAVE to play is kinda crazy when you think about it (obviously you can abandon). And that brings me to another point, you are penalised when you leave a game, which makes it seem like you are forced to play a full 1 hour, I know they have to make a penalty so everyone doesn't abandon, but it makes it seem much much worse compared to other games your parents may be used to.

http://www.dotafire.com/dota-2/blog/smuggels/living-with-dota

there ya go dude.

hopefully it helps a bit.


but also i am older then you by a bit so if i was 16 i also would be looking at it as a hobby i would not put it before school or work. i have a fulltime job so i can "IF" i want to i can spend all my free time playing it. where since you are at school i would say focus on what you NEED to do first.

Its just something to avoid having to worry about all the pressure in my life. I have an axiety disorder, and juat bign able to play and focus on the game makes it better. Honestly the community doesnt bother me much or stress me out. It's justa game.

Yeah Dota is pretty much my way to go if i am in a depressive state....which happens kinda often.
And while playing I don't feel sad anymore - I can just forget about all the bad things in our world. And when I finished playing I can work calmly again because I know there is this island called Dota to which I can flee if I feel down again.

I can relate to your situation.

When I was younger, there was a point where my #1 priority was climbing the Warcraft 3 ladder and being ranked among the top players. My grades were in the toilet, and my father would take the Internet away. When I would explain to him that if I didn't keep playing and winning games, I would lose my spot on the ladder. He didn't care (and rightfully so, haha). Eventually we came to an agreement about grades and I was given my internet privileges back.

Now if it's not a grade situation, or you're not sacrificing anything to play more DotA... They probably just dislike the idea of you spending so much time inside/at a computer. If that's the case, I would (respectfully) explain that everyone has an escape. Some people play sports, some go party with friends, some draw/write, some people get high, some people hit the gym, and some people play video games. Everyone needs "something" to devote themselves to outside of their responsibilities. Explain that video games are your preferred hobby, and try to figure out why they don't agree with your gaming. Once you figure out their perspective, you will be in a better position to argue (positioning is very important in real life, just like in the doto).

I Would like to thank everyone for all the advice, it really means a lot.

I do have A-B grades, I am actually underweight, I have a girlfriend and friends. I guess that I was thinking more about my social life, and what DotA was doing to MY life, and now what it was doing to THEIR life. After reading all of these comments I think that it might be making a difference on their lives, with having a kid who spends all of his time on the computer, which they don't really understand.

Hopefully they will be a little understanding.

Again thanks a lot everyone.