[cirgue]

Because activities related to those things create sustained material security and personal fulfillment. Your efforts at building a strong network of friends pay dividends for decades, the equivalent amount of time playing video games has no bearing on your life a year from now.

[announcerman]

So in your opinion all efforts that result in the optimization or improvement of something decided as relevant by yourself are worthwhile?

[cirgue]

All any of us have here are opinions, and yeah it’s my opinion that any time spent doing things that don’t lead to some better future state is the pastime equivalent of junk food: I eat junk food and enjoy it from time to time, but I also don’t ever make the mistake of confusing it with nourishment or trying to justify why it’s good for me.

[announcerman]

I do not mind your opinion or way of life, but if I consider other things to be relevant, why can't I use my time to improve in them? Just as you do with the things you consider relevant? As long as the activity doesn't infringe on anyone's liberty why should you be branded as defective for engaging in it? Besides, it is hard to pinpoint what a better future state means. Doesn't it mostly depend on what you consider important to improve?

[nvarsj]

It's certainly possible to build "a strong network of friends" by playing games. Many people game specifically for that reason, or at least a large part of it.