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NEW VIDEO: Why You MUST Quit Gaming in 2025

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Posted (edited)
On 10/2/2024 at 4:02 PM, D_Cozy said:

Yeah, it's kinda like eating chips and drinking pop if you think about it; that's why Lay's has that slogan of "bet you can't eat just one" for their chips.

If you really think about why they went with that as their marketing slogan, it's because they know that potato chips are very pleasurable to eat. They're crunchy, they taste good, and they're easy to start eating with no prep required. It's so easy to eat an entire bag of them in one sitting. Same with pop and its fizziness, basically sugar in a can. Our mind craves these things because they are pleasurable, even though they are absolutely not healthy in the longterm.

Really the more I think about it, the more sinister the intention behind their products feel to me. It's why I have greatly cut down in chips and pop, now I mostly snack on nuts instead, and drink carbonated water for the fizziness with none of the sugar.

Yeah, I once listened to a lecture about sugar that explained that it's not the sugar per se that's causing the craving. Place a big bowl of refined sugar in front of someone who calls themselves a sugar addict and it's likely they won't even touch it. But as soon as you introduce a cocktail of various ingredients that are all designed to work in beautiful harmony the sugar is suddenly brought to life and becomes SO much more appealing. Flaming hot cheetos for instance have been labeled as the most addictive snack on the planet and they are pure artifical madness; even the physical shape of them are designed to make you crave more and more.

Many video games of course also follow this design philosophy, especially online and mobile games that are meant to grab your attention at all times. You can barely open up the app without the feeling of a reward coming your way and there's always room for one next game, dungeon, level etc. I totally understand why I fell victim to MMORPG's because they have all the ingredients I like in real life, like exploring new environments, learning new skills, overcoming challenges and chatting with friends at the same time. And If I didn't like the path I was on I could just restart everything and become someone else, somewhere else doing something else. It's the perfect artificial representation of life without the actual benefits of true happiness.

Edited by Wildermyth
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Posted (edited)
4 hours ago, Wildermyth said:

Many video games of course also follow this design philosophy, especially online and mobile games that are meant to grab your attention at all times. You can barely open up the app without the feeling of a reward coming your way and there's always room for one next game, dungeon, level etc. I totally understand why I fell victim to MMORPG's because they have all the ingredients I like in real life, like exploring new environments, learning new skills, overcoming challenges and chatting with friends at the same time. And If I didn't like the path I was on I could just restart everything and become someone else, somewhere else doing something else. It's the perfect artificial representation of life without the actual benefits of true happiness.

Yep, I fell into that with a rotation of mobile games I used to have years ago. There was a daily boss to fight as an alliance, a rotation of limited events, new "seasons" of story content drip-fed, and the loot boxes; the gacha summoning portal to get new heroes for in-game currency that you could buy with real money. My heart raced every time I saw a legendary hero pop out, even just typing that now reminded me of the feeling. But now I know that it's just a feeling, and nothing more than that. I know that I don't get lasting pleasure or happiness, not even relaxation or comfort because my heart rate is up and I will either be too excited of my prize or disappointed I got nothing. It's so much like gambling.

One other element that made me really addicted to them was the social element; I don't think I would've cared much for the big bosses had it not been had a cooperative element, the alliance banding together to take it down. That's what made me login daily as well, I didn't want to "disappoint" my teammates, and I liked feeling like I was "part of something bigger." But now that I've quit, the reality is that those people I played with weren't really anyone I owed anything to; out of the 90+ people I played and talked with regularly back then, I have only talked to one person since quitting (and he has also quit since). It's also why I got so addicted to social media, a lot of elements that those mobile games borrowed from social networks to keep me coming back daily.

Edited by D_Cozy
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Posted
On 10/4/2024 at 12:25 PM, Wildermyth said:

Many video games of course also follow this design philosophy, especially online and mobile games that are meant to grab your attention at all times. You can barely open up the app without the feeling of a reward coming your way and there's always room for one next game, dungeon, level etc. I totally understand why I fell victim to MMORPG's because they have all the ingredients I like in real life, like exploring new environments, learning new skills, overcoming challenges and chatting with friends at the same time. And If I didn't like the path I was on I could just restart everything and become someone else, somewhere else doing something else. It's the perfect artificial representation of life without the actual benefits of true happiness.

It's not just the games either. It's also the news, adverts, people with certain character traits... It's not always easy to opt out, but it's worth it, as then it's possible to use the time for something worthwhile.

On 10/4/2024 at 4:03 PM, D_Cozy said:

One other element that made me really addicted to them was the social element; I don't think I would've cared much for the big bosses had it not been had a cooperative element, the alliance banding together to take it down. That's what made me login daily as well, I didn't want to "disappoint" my teammates, and I liked feeling like I was "part of something bigger." But now that I've quit, the reality is that those people I played with weren't really anyone I owed anything to; out of the 90+ people I played and talked with regularly back then, I have only talked to one person since quitting (and he has also quit since). It's also why I got so addicted to social media, a lot of elements that those mobile games borrowed from social networks to keep me coming back daily.

I had it quite similar. I had some people watch my streams on Twitch and after I quit games, I wrote with one or two of the guys on Discord. I obviously had no Steam at that point and I didn't have much incentive to be on Discord either. It all eventually fizzled out a year or two later, but I don't think it's something unusual, even if it was an "offline" connection. If there is only one attachment (let's say a common hobby) between two people, it'd be strange if those two people (acquaintances) met afterwards on purpose. I think there are more attachments between true friends than just one.

One hack I found out for news and social media was to just not use their apps and access their websites through a normal mobile browser. That way I am more in control and have to think more before I go there and I'm OK with it.

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Posted
On 10/4/2024 at 1:25 PM, Wildermyth said:

But as soon as you introduce a cocktail of various ingredients that are all designed to work in beautiful harmony the sugar is suddenly brought to life and becomes SO much more appealing.

Put a good teacher in a school, and the pupils will want to attend it.

There has to be a realized conflict for your life to be exciting. If it is too easy, it will take away from the motivation. I think the problem is that people don't see conflicts . If they don't see them, they can’t resolve them. They get the illusion that the job is boring, or that talking with the neighbor won’t carry a benefit. 

There are alcoholics who can’t understand how living without alcohol is possible. Similarly, members of this forum relapse by switching from games to films, or social media thinking it is too fun to throw away. The most down to earth, rewarding growth I have had was when I pulled the chord on all electronic entertainment.

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Posted (edited)
On 10/7/2024 at 8:37 PM, Amphibian220 said:

Put a good teacher in a school, and the pupils will want to attend it.

There has to be a realized conflict for your life to be exciting. If it is too easy, it will take away from the motivation. I think the problem is that people don't see conflicts . If they don't see them, they can’t resolve them. They get the illusion that the job is boring, or that talking with the neighbor won’t carry a benefit. 

There are alcoholics who can’t understand how living without alcohol is possible. Similarly, members of this forum relapse by switching from games to films, or social media thinking it is too fun to throw away. The most down to earth, rewarding growth I have had was when I pulled the chord on all electronic entertainment.

My former gaming buddy (who wasn't as willing to do repetitive levelling) had a similar point of view. He wanted mild contest all the time - action that was enough for him (in-game). Back in the day, he got me to create a free forum to recount 'adventures' we had in our team. Basically, he seemed to be broadly about learning/'education' (edit: through organising battles and talking about them) - better than the entirely self-motivated kind, perhaps. 

One person I semi-worked with probably thought it before even knowing other people had said it first - 'everything is a competition if you try hard enough'. It might be right to say that a whole lot of us have gone wrong in our approaches to work and hobbies in terms of energy/'attitude' (a word my buddy also said was 'everything'). I sure as hell treated everything like a competition and game during my first 3 month holiday when high school was over for me. All I was scared of was me or my peers becoming sad or depressed. I fancy that I can usually tell now, and is that unhealthy?

I'm not even grieving for it so much anymore, but when I started challenging my parents, they didn't grow in my opinion, they straight up got back at me. I reckoned the difference between play and cruelty. I was allowed to mostly develop character on the internet, leaving a lot of space for growth behind for when finding myself in the right environments, it seems. Still, my defence for them would be not knowing any better.

Good posts here guys.

Edited by wheatbiscuit
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Posted
On 10/7/2024 at 11:37 AM, Amphibian220 said:

Put a good teacher in a school, and the pupils will want to attend it.

A few, maybe. As long as the standard format is a teacher telling kids something they can find on the internet, it doesn't have much practical relevance. The majority of the kids actually have the natural right to be bored. It might be why I never liked school, even though I am a teacher/lecturer. University was much better though, because I had an actual choice as an adult.

16 hours ago, wheatbiscuit said:

I'm not even grieving for it so much anymore, but when I started challenging my parents, they didn't grow in my opinion, they straight up got back at me. I reckoned the difference between play and cruelty. I was allowed to mostly develop character on the internet, leaving a lot of space for growth behind for when finding myself in the right environments, it seems. Still, my defence for them would be not knowing any better.

Good posts here guys.

I am sure your parents didn't know any better; but that most likely also means they don't know any better now. I also found out some things about my parents only after I had my epiphany and quit gaming. They messed up. I messed up too. I don't regret it though. I have a good life now, so really there's no point in me pointing fingers.

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
On 10/7/2024 at 11:37 AM, Amphibian220 said:

The most down to earth, rewarding growth I have had was when I pulled the chord on all electronic entertainment.

Wow, that's quite admirable. How do you even succeed with that in modern society when our surroundings are filled with so much tech and people that constantly use it?

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Posted

So I had a relapse again. I bought the same gaming console and surrounding equipment as the last time. I believe I got sidetracked by watching some Youtube videos that made my think some kind of balance was possible. I still fail to realize however that I'm not the target audience for those kind of advices. My brain is simply too hardwired at this point to not get hooked in an unhealthy way.

I think I end up in these situations rapidly now because I'm scared not to have anything in my life that gives those "highs" as video games did. Even though those feelings were nothing short of superficial my brain is still afraid of letting go completely. And ironically I feel more happiness than ever with the progress of my strength training, traveling and photography, yet I just cannot feel fully satisfied. Even though I can see how clearly it wastes my time to partake in gaming it just doesn't want to let go of me completely.

My brain just continues to make up reasons (excuses) to get me back into it:

"Wouldn't it be nice to have something fun to do on the train while traveling long distances?"

"Think of all the great video game music you can hear that can inspire you to create your own music!"

"It's a great place for you to unwind after a long day of work. You deserve to treat yourself!"

"You love to explore, and what better way to explore new worlds constantly than in a video game?"

"It's part of your identity and you know too much about it to let go at this point!"

"Maybe you can use your huge gaming struggle experience to help others while you still continue to game?" (this one is the most screwed up I think 🤔)

 

Would be glad to hear some input on this and some advice on how to proceed. What's causing me to relapsing this rapidly now when I mustered 9 months during my very first attempt?

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Posted (edited)
14 hours ago, Wildermyth said:

So I had a relapse again. I bought the same gaming console and surrounding equipment as the last time. I believe I got sidetracked by watching some Youtube videos that made my think some kind of balance was possible. I still fail to realize however that I'm not the target audience for those kind of advices. My brain is simply too hardwired at this point to not get hooked in an unhealthy way.

I think I end up in these situations rapidly now because I'm scared not to have anything in my life that gives those "highs" as video games did. Even though those feelings were nothing short of superficial my brain is still afraid of letting go completely. And ironically I feel more happiness than ever with the progress of my strength training, traveling and photography, yet I just cannot feel fully satisfied. Even though I can see how clearly it wastes my time to partake in gaming it just doesn't want to let go of me completely.

My brain just continues to make up reasons (excuses) to get me back into it:

"Wouldn't it be nice to have something fun to do on the train while traveling long distances?"

"Think of all the great video game music you can hear that can inspire you to create your own music!"

"It's a great place for you to unwind after a long day of work. You deserve to treat yourself!"

"You love to explore, and what better way to explore new worlds constantly than in a video game?"

"It's part of your identity and you know too much about it to let go at this point!"

"Maybe you can use your huge gaming struggle experience to help others while you still continue to game?" (this one is the most screwed up I think 🤔)

Would be glad to hear some input on this and some advice on how to proceed. What's causing me to relapsing this rapidly now when I mustered 9 months during my very first attempt?

I could appreciate the magnitude of having to buy a physical console in the extended heat of the moment until setting it up again. That decision would worry me to no end, personally (sorry :X). Typing here a ton has somehow kept me off of Youtube mostly, and I've given up trying to adjust my clicking style to those of 'the best' shown in videos, so I dunno. Hard learning and the sheer number of speaking videos on the topic of self-help have made me think long before starting one, this year. Putting down a book or taking a break from text feels less like abandoning something than pausing or leaving a video speech (I made this last statement up too, so not to worry!). Lastly, though there may be other 'peaks', our habits can always change. Even after my own cave-in yesterday, that idea wasn't shaken much. I just think to myself that I know what that will look like already, when I can't. 

I also sometimes think of physicists who could observe things like gravity, ripples, time and space and feel so mystified that they turned to the numbers, dedicated. I think of the guilt of using recorded music and earphones ebbing in and out as I determine whether or not I need it in the moment. Our 'predecessors' perhaps intended for people to be dedicated to discovery and/or reflection. I've said before that my RPG meets a similar need to observing splashes and ripples from dropping things in water. The rest of it is just a 'bonus'. I may not wholly be an introvert, but I have many introverted needs - like requiring fewer, intimate friends. It's not that I can't do otherwise, but maybe I shouldn't. I've thought that maybe monogamy/marriage these days is almost reserved for people who cannot be out of tune indefinitely with those needs and eventually need that recognised. Maybe that's some of us here at GQ.

___________

Finally, those sentences you've put in quotes and italics are so good I thought they were taken from this website! 

#2 - Inspiration that doesn't quite come to fruition 😛 

#3 - Unwinding! I almost wish I had proper experience of truly being wound up, but yeah - I usually add 'celebration' as a reason. Could you be kinder to yourself as to what you deserve, I wonder?

#5 - Familiarity with the game's images versus knowledge of the mechanics

#6 - It took a lot to decide to type my 'Day 0' post before just spouting whatever here first, true. And that's almost what I did this year for a couple of months. Maybe the real battle is finding the inspiration all offline.

Advice? 9 months is almost a year of study - subtract the holiday periods. I'm likely to try something official next year, if only for shared commitment meeting people for on-site learning. I like to joke around and answer deep questions for easy distractions, and once I find those ready people (as I did for awhile at work), things often go swimmingly. Try any study you'll find useful, and if you can turn up and form bonds, the learning might take care of itself.

I'm glad to have spent only an hour over breakfast here today - largely because of your post(s). Cheers Wilder.

Edited by wheatbiscuit
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Posted (edited)
On 10/26/2024 at 12:17 PM, Wildermyth said:

Wow, that's quite admirable. How do you even succeed with that in modern society when our surroundings are filled with so much tech and people that constantly use it?

This was a year when I had to learn a lot in a short period of time. There was no job security for me. I can get to the same sweet spot if I learn enough skills and challenge myself to a higher position.

Another period I can remember is when it was the norm to go out with my friends at lunch and return at night. We stayed in each other’s homes, but mostly played games outside. 

when we played the games, we discussed the local news, science, and plans to beat the other boys.

Edited by Amphibian220
  • Like 2
Posted
13 hours ago, wheatbiscuit said:

I could appreciate the magnitude of having to buy a physical console in the extended heat of the moment until setting it up again. That decision would worry me to no end, personally (sorry :X). Typing here a ton has somehow kept me off of Youtube mostly, and I've given up trying to adjust my clicking style to those of 'the best' shown in videos, so I dunno. Hard learning and the sheer number of speaking videos on the topic of self-help have made me think long before starting one, this year. Putting down a book or taking a break from text feels less like abandoning something than pausing or leaving a video speech (I made this last statement up too, so not to worry!). Lastly, though there may be other 'peaks', our habits can always change. Even after my own cave-in yesterday, that idea wasn't shaken much. I just think to myself that I know what that will look like already, when I can't. 

I also sometimes think of physicists who could observe things like gravity, ripples, time and space and feel so mystified that they turned to the numbers, dedicated. I think of the guilt of using recorded music and earphones ebbing in and out as I determine whether or not I need it in the moment. Our 'predecessors' perhaps intended for people to be dedicated to discovery and/or reflection. I've said before that my RPG meets a similar need to observing splashes and ripples from dropping things in water. The rest of it is just a 'bonus'. I may not wholly be an introvert, but I have many introverted needs - like requiring fewer, intimate friends. It's not that I can't do otherwise, but maybe I shouldn't. I've thought that maybe monogamy/marriage these days is almost reserved for people who cannot be out of tune indefinitely with those needs and eventually need that recognised. Maybe that's some of us here at GQ.

___________

Finally, those sentences you've put in quotes and italics are so good I thought they were taken from this website! 

#2 - Inspiration that doesn't quite come to fruition 😛 

#3 - Unwinding! I almost wish I had proper experience of truly being wound up, but yeah - I usually add 'celebration' as a reason. Could you be kinder to yourself as to what you deserve, I wonder?

#5 - Familiarity with the game's images versus knowledge of the mechanics

#6 - It took a lot to decide to type my 'Day 0' post before just spouting whatever here first, true. And that's almost what I did this year for a couple of months. Maybe the real battle is finding the inspiration all offline.

Advice? 9 months is almost a year of study - subtract the holiday periods. I'm likely to try something official next year, if only for shared commitment meeting people for on-site learning. I like to joke around and answer deep questions for easy distractions, and once I find those ready people (as I did for awhile at work), things often go swimmingly. Try any study you'll find useful, and if you can turn up and form bonds, the learning might take care of itself.

I'm glad to have spent only an hour over breakfast here today - largely because of your post(s). Cheers Wilder.

I had one of those worrying experiences when I bought another console about six months ago. I bought the most expensive version of the console, the best controller, a new tv and even some new furniture, but when I started booting it up I kind of froze and just bailed on everything immediately.

I too am somewhat of a thinker and an observer. I recently made a personality test which highlighted my need for discovery and new experiences. I think video games at least gave the notion of discovering something new, even though life outside of the game never moved forward in any significant way. I believe every aspect a game builds on premises that holds true in real life; we are curious beings who like to progress and discover things, and we also like to share and be strengthened in our commitment to knowledge. When someone asks me how a mountain is formed I never scan my brain for games I've played, but I rather try to collect memories from my interactions with real mountains in order to form that knowledge and response. To me that feeling is incredibly powerful and it truly makes me feel like I'm connected with reality and my own self. 

I sometimes think about that scene from American Beauty where one of the characters observes a plastic bag in the wind. It's such a dull moment taken at first glance, but the more involved you get with your senses and your ability to understand you realize the complexity of what's unfolding. And that's also what the character is experiencing when he gets so touched by the moment that he gets tears in his eyes. It's such a powerful feeling just to be alive and to be connected with reality and sometimes we forget that even the smallest of things can bring us that feeling.

Today when I woke up I was more determined than ever and I'm gonna ride this feeling out for as long as I can. Right now I feel incredibly inspired to learn the piano and make some music for once and I'm gonna take the first steps to make this come true. Thanks for the inspiration and kind words! 💚

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  • 2 months later...
Posted

So I fell into a short gaming relapse once again. This time I had a strong feeling of being overwhelmed by several tasks in my everyday life and I just couldn't see how gaming was benefitial to my already tight time schedule. Most of all I wanted to prioritize gym training, which has kind of developed into a real hobby and therefor demands more attention than before. My gym sessions are about 1,5-2 hours long and in-between I need to rest properly and look over my program to make adjustments. I've also finally started piano lessons and bought myself a nice looking digital piano. With all this I've realized I need as few distractions as possible to really make time and practice.

Usually I quit in an unhinged state of playing excessively, but this time I was just kind of bored and tired of booting up the console. I just couldn't bring myself to feel any enjoyment or sense of meaningfulness. All I thought about was all the time I could've used to learn something new and meaningful, like playing the piano or going outside. Even though this is a relapse yet again I'm gonna see the outcome of this one as a personal victory. It feels like my new hobbies have finally created a natural desire to steer away from gaming and that's a major win.

I'll make sure to post some videos in the future when I get better at playing the piano. Peace! 💚

IMG-3787333.jpg

  • Like 1
Posted

Haha, thanks man!

I would say a successful day at the gym always starts with a good nights sleep and some mental preparation. With a fully rested body and a clear mind I'm more likely to really push myself and follow through with the entire program. It's also important to rest in-between sessions and to eat properly. I don't personally believe in cheat days as they tend to undo a lot of the work you put in during the weekdays. Just stay focused and be on track and you will learn to love the lifestyle of being healthy. Also, listen to your body. If it hurts, stop immediately. If you feel exhausted, concider an extra rest day. You will reach your goals eventually as long as you're willing to put in the time and effort; there is no need to rush things.

  • Like 1
Posted

Had a really awesome gym session today! Felt very energized and completed my entire program pretty much flawlessly. I think I was in the right mental state, not having to worry about lack of time or getting home as quickly as possible. Being at the gym and thinking "this will take as much time as it needs, I'm in no rush" is just such a relief. I remember feeling like this every now and then when I managed to quit for about 9 months. It's a hard feeling to describe but it really helps to reinforce the decision to quit for good.

I've also started the process of trying to get up at 7 a.m. every day which is a bit rough so far, even though it has gotten better with each day. I've calculated that this is the optimal time for me to always get up as my work starts at 8 a.m. certain days. And it just helps with everything related to my sleep and energy for the day if I always get up the same time every day, or at least try. But this also means that I have to get in bed earlier and that's the most challenging part. I think I'll have to be a bit flexible with this as I sometimes work late hours and don't have the option to go to bed very early. I know for sure though that not playing video games will help immensely with this!

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Posted
On 1/25/2025 at 10:40 AM, WilderDaze said:

My gym sessions are about 1,5-2 hours long and in-between I need to rest properly and look over my program to make adjustments.

I get that. I just finished a workout with my girlfriend that lasted about an hour. Another hour to relax a little, take a shower and eat. I hated to rush the workout time maybe it was a part of the reason why I quit working out completely a few years ago. These two hour blocks are hard for me to find, but I try to work out at least twice a week.

51 minutes ago, WilderDaze said:

I've also started the process of trying to get up at 7 a.m. every day which is a bit rough so far, even though it has gotten better with each day. I've calculated that this is the optimal time for me to always get up as my work starts at 8 a.m. certain days. And it just helps with everything related to my sleep and energy for the day if I always get up the same time every day, or at least try. But this also means that I have to get in bed earlier and that's the most challenging part. I think I'll have to be a bit flexible with this as I sometimes work late hours and don't have the option to go to bed very early. I know for sure though that not playing video games will help immensely with this!

I get up around 7 every day at too, also because my earliest work time is 8. I normally tend to wake up with the sun, so to speak, but everybody is different. There are morningness/eveningness questionnaires online to help out with determining the best circadian rhythm for you 🙂 

  • Like 1
Posted
41 minutes ago, Ikar said:

I get that. I just finished a workout with my girlfriend that lasted about an hour. Another hour to relax a little, take a shower and eat. I hated to rush the workout time maybe it was a part of the reason why I quit working out completely a few years ago. These two hour blocks are hard for me to find, but I try to work out at least twice a week.

I get up around 7 every day at too, also because my earliest work time is 8. I normally tend to wake up with the sun, so to speak, but everybody is different. There are morningness/eveningness questionnaires online to help out with determining the best circadian rhythm for you 🙂 

I prefer to wake up to the sun as well, but living so far north we only have like 4-5 hours of sun during winter time. At the moment the sun rises close to 9 a.m. so I can't really adjust my sleep to that. During summer time it's waaaaay easier to get into a good sleeping pattern as it's so much more invigorating waking up to the rising sun.

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