Gambling on Video Game Competitions

My first reaction was "this is the single lamest phenomenon in all of recorded human civilization." This gave way to the more thoughtful realization that it was in no meaningful way different from gambling on sports. These two not inconsistent premises arguably pointed squarely towards a conclusion that I, being the degenerate sports gambler that I am, am equally as lame the terrible-at-life-in-all-respects toolbags who I cannot speak of without an accompanying tone of mocking derision.

Is mastery of the controlled projection of a fuzzy yellow ball over waist high net a loftier achievement than mastery of a joystick that controls a digital representation of a fictional character? Does success in one impute onto a mankind an increased level of utility that the other does not? No, no both are 100% arbitrary and meaningless and exist exclusively for purposes of entertainment. If Al Michaels is a legend, well then so is Pewdiepie. If winning your local church league basketball tournament gets you a trophy and some bragging rights, then so does making it into the Brasil Game Cup bracket with your fellow squadmembers.

Who am I to judge?