[jniedrauer]

> an addictive time-suck that eats money for nothing in return.

You just described mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing, running a marathon, skydiving, surfing, scuba diving, and just about every other amateur athletic pursuit.

[duopixel]

There are clear returns there: immersion in nature, cardiovascular/muscular/mental fitness, tolerance to pain, social bonding, etc.

[TeMPOraL]

> immersion in nature

That's a benefit for those who consider it a benefit. I personally don't find this interesting.

> social bonding

This applies to plenty of videogames as well - both directly to multiplayer, and to singleplayer games as social objects for discussions with other people.

> cardiovascular/muscular/mental fitness, tolerance to pain

In the same sense, videogames exercise your reaction time, complex reasoning skills and spatial awareness.

Point being - side effects are side effects, but both videogames and those outdoor pursuits listed are just waste of time, economically speaking.

[CompanionCuuube]

> That's a benefit for those who consider it a benefit.

Some reading on green exercise:

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_543531_en.ht...

[meditate]

I won't deny that. With the exception of long-distance running, all of those are cost-prohibitive luxury activities, just like gaming.