Comedian John Hodgman, known for his podcast "Judge John Hodgman" where he settles minor disputes, has issued a ruling on whether it is acceptable to play video games in bed. The latest case involved a couple, Dan and Elissa, with Dan complaining that Elissa's habit of playing Slay the Spire 2 on her laptop in bed was detrimental to their sleep environment.
Dan argued that screens have no place in the bedroom, while Elissa contended that playing games before sleep aids her in drifting off. Hodgman, who previously portrayed the PC in Apple's "Get a Mac" advertisements and is a known PC gamer, heard both sides of the argument. He ultimately ruled in favor of Elissa, determining that Dan did not have a strong case.
Hodgman's ruling was based partly on Dan's admission that Elissa's gaming did not actually disrupt his sleep. The comedian emphasized the importance of picking battles in a relationship, noting that Dan's tactic of storming off to the couch out of spite was counterproductive to their engagement. "One of the major arguments for marriage is to have someone in the room with you while you're playing a video game," Hodgman stated, questioning how Dan's actions made Elissa feel about their upcoming marriage.
While acknowledging the common advice to reduce screen time before bed and the view that bedrooms should be reserved for sleep and intimacy, Hodgman concluded that Elissa could make her own decisions about her pre-sleep routine. He reasoned that as her fiancé, Dan did not have the authority to dictate her habits when they weren't directly causing him harm. The case and its resolution are available to watch on YouTube or via the Judge John Hodgman podcast.