Semantic Nonsese: The Ability to Overcome Great FOMO
It’s Tuesday. I’m writing this blog while eating pizza, watching “Um, Actually” and checking my 3DS games for DLC actually worth buying. Though the sudden realization that I never got around to replacing my broken copy of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker vs. King Abaddon brought the mood down a bit.
(I’m sure “Um, Actually” might make it to Quarantine Control because I like to tease you. Unlike a 3DS story, which is actually coming next week.)
But as I was sussing out how badly I wanted extra navigators in the Persona Q games or cheat maps in the Fire Emblem(s), I had a sublime vision. As though all the jagged parts of my life have come together to form a complete and mystical… whole. An epiphany. What if I just… didn’t?
Granted, I’ve already grabbed some, so me declaring “fuck it” would not be a clean sweep. But it nonetheless seems like continuing with this task would amount to throwing good time and money after bad.
Not to drone on about my backlog again, but all of these games I was looking at the DLC for were still more games I played enough to know I liked them, but hadn’t really gotten into properly. For the most part I’m not really in a good position to evaluate whether I will want their DLC, and when I am it will be long after the eShop closes next week.
So here I am, leafing through random threads on Reddit and GameFAQs looking for advice on my 3DS games’ DLC and trying to guess from there what I’d have the most Fear Of Missing Out for. Instead of basking in the pizza and watching game shows without multitasking. Is it reasonable to expect that simple joy to be paid back with interest at some nebulous point in the future when I get to spend a few minutes in a fight with Marth in a game that already has a Marth at home?
No more. For me, the shop closes now. Doing otherwise is simply not a good use of my time. This imminent store closure is just another piece of bullshit I can’t be bothered with, like daily login bonuses or limited-time offers, that dictate to me how I interact with my hobby when I’m the one who should be in control.
I cannot honestly expect myself to have a genuine feeling of loss over random add-ons, especially when I can just more quickly move on to any of the other 370+ games still in the backlog instead.
(The backlog, of course, is both a literal and metaphorical expression of a lack of focus I’m only this year recognising for what it is and attempting to overcome.)
Commitment is freedom. Make choices and boldly follow them. Cast off the shackles of wishy-washiness and make much of the time and energy it saves you.
About The Author
Drew
Features Editor | Drew started behind the 8(bit)-ball in the video game world. He first became interested in anime by chance exposure on the Sci-Fi channel. Drew's the creative force behind blog-wide features, works the movie and food beats, and pioneered Damage Control’s entry into video, podcasts and streaming.
