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this post was submitted on 08 Oct 2023
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It's like watching sports, except you also have someone cracking jokes and being effectively a stand-up comedian.
But also, you're assuming people always actively watch, which is not always the case. I tend to play a game on my main stream, while having a stream (or vod) open on another.
In addition, it's also a bit like hanging out with a friend and watching them play. It's basically sharing stuff and experiences with others, which is fun, even if you're not a direct participant.
...and also, as the other commenter mentioned, there are games which you don't really want to play, but are still interesting to watch.
So sports
I think the weird thing is the people that see streamers like a friend rather than just picking a game they want to see and finding a stream without a face cam and a calm demeanour
Seeing a streamer as a friend is definitely getting into parasocial territory sure, but watching the same streamer all the time isn't always unhealthy. People have specific sportscasters they prefer watching over others, it's a similar concept with streamers. It's not weird to enjoy one entertainer's personality and content more than another's.
The term that wraps all this description up succinctly is "parasocial relationship" and it is not a healthy coping mechanism.
it can be parasocial, but it doesn't have to be. Neither does it have to be a coping mechanism. I still watch streams even if I get plenty of social interaction. I like streams specifically because I don't have to be social, and can just relax.
But yes, of course, it can be problematic, and it's important to be aware of that. Especially since there are some content creator that exploit that phenomenon. That's bad. But you can apply similar criticisms to video games, how they can exploit our psychology and make us addicted or want to spend money etc etc. Doesn't mean all games are bad, or gaming is bad, either.
Not everyone has to be damaged you know. I'm allowed to just watch content for entertainment.
Yeah man, nothings more parasocial than watching comedy. If you laugh at jokes a person tells with intent to make you laugh, thats a coping mechanism, and reddit tells me that makes it bad
I didn't mean to rustle any jimmies mate.
Careful, trying not to rustle jimmies is a pretty big sign of a parasocial relationship. You should probably talk to a health professional before it gets any worse
You wound me, sir. (Just kidding)
Tell your favorite streamer I say hello I guess 🤷♂️