What Misunderstood Passions Have Quietly Taught Us

With a dad who loves video games, it didn’t take long for my daughter to get curious. From an early age, she would sit beside him, watching him play. By the time she was in kindergarten, she was trying out simple games like Super Mario. At first, she could barely hold the controller, let alone play properly. Watching her bump into walls and jump at random moments, I sometimes wondered if she even knew what she was doing. 

But now, her fingers move quickly and confidently, and more importantly, she is thinking through how to beat each level. When she gets stuck, she still calls for her dad, but she also tries to figure things out on her own. These days, she loves discussing strategies with him and running over to me to share her latest discoveries. I rarely understand what she is talking about, but watching her light up always brings back memories of my own childhood. 

When Games Were the Villain

Back when I was growing up, video games were treated like a threat to society. Many parents in Taiwan believed they would ruin kids, damage their grades, harm their mental health, and lead them down the wrong path. Some even associated them with gambling. Many families, including mine, had strict rules against gaming. 

I remember my parents constantly scolding my older brother for playing arcade games or spending time on his Game Boy. It was as if games were dangerous, something addictive that had to be kept out of the house. But to me, my brother was the smartest person in our family, and I always felt that video games played a part in that. He had a way of quickly grasping complex rules, spotting clever solutions, and reacting faster than anyone I knew. I looked up to him so much. 

What Games Really Teach

As I got older, I began to see how misunderstood video games truly were. Many people I know - friends, relatives, and acquaintances - who were passionate gamers turned out to be some of the sharpest thinkers I knew. They had excellent logic, quick decision making, and strong problem-solving skills. Far from being mindless entertainment, gaming actually trained their brains in ways that school often did not.

More importantly, games teach something I value deeply. They teach you how to fail and keep going. Every time the screen says Game Over, it is a chance to learn and try again. I have seen my daughter go through this over and over, adjusting her strategy after each attempt and trying again with determination. That kind of resilience, the ability to learn from failure and keep moving forward, is something I believe is essential in life. It is far more useful than anything you can memorize from a textbook. 

This is why I do not oppose video games. In fact, I use them as a reward. Compared to watching passive shows on a screen, interactive games give her a chance to think, make choices, and discover her strengths. 

Of course, balance matters. The most important principle is to know your limits. If you can stay disciplined and play in moderation, gaming can be a healthy and rewarding experience. If you trust your own self control, then go ahead and enjoy the game. 

A Familiar Stigma

Thinking about video games reminds me of another passion that is often misunderstood: heavy metal music. In Taiwan, metal has long been associated with violence, darkness, and rebellion. To be fair, part of that image comes from the way the culture presents itself. But as someone who loves the genre, I know it holds emotion, social reflection, and creative depth. 

Still, growing up with a love that the world around me saw as negative had a lasting effect. And it makes me wonder. What do we do when the things we love are misunderstood? Do we hide them in order to fit in, or do we stand by them and stay true to ourselves? It is not just a question of personal interest. It is a question of identity. 

Beyond the Labels

Watching my daughter play games and talk excitedly about her progress has made me reflect on how many things in life are unfairly judged. Every generation has something that becomes the target of fear or misunderstanding. Often, that fear comes from not knowing enough. 

But when we look closer with curiosity instead of fear, we can find real value. I see it in my daughter’s focus, her problem-solving mindset, and the way gaming has brought her and her dad closer together. The tool itself is not what matters most. It is how we use it, and what we grow through it. 

What Parenting Really Means

To me, real parenting is not about blindly following what society says is good or bad. It is about learning to think critically and teaching our children to do the same. They will grow up in a world full of opinions and noise. What they need most is not protection from everything, but the ability to think clearly and choose wisely.

If you have ever had something you loved misunderstood, then maybe you know what I mean. Sometimes the things we were told to avoid turn out to be the ones that shape us the most.