--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Digital intimacy ruins the appetite for…" description: "\"Digital intimacy ruins the appetite for the real thing. So, when kids are gaming or even when spouses are gaming, they lose their appetite for genuine ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/gordon-neufeld-24007_appetite_digital-intimacy-ruins-the-appetite-for_2104731.jpg" --- # Digital intimacy ruins the appetite for the real thing… ![“Digital intimacy ruins the appetite for the real thing. So, when kids are gaming or even when spouses are gaming, they lose their appetite for genuine intimacy. Kids lose their appetite for getting their intimacy needs, their hunger for significance and attachment, with the family, and it erodes…” quote by Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/gordon-neufeld-24007_appetite_digital-intimacy-ruins-the-appetite-for_2104731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/gordon-neufeld-24007_appetite_digital-intimacy-ruins-the-appetite-for_2104731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/gordon-neufeld-24007_appetite_digital-intimacy-ruins-the-appetite-for_2104731.jpg) > “Digital intimacy ruins the appetite for the real thing. So, when kids are gaming or even when spouses are gaming, they lose their appetite for genuine intimacy. Kids lose their appetite for getting their intimacy needs, their hunger for significance and attachment, with the family, and it erodes the relationship between them and their parents.” [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Digital gaming reduces desire for genuine intimacy, weakening family bonds and emotional needs **In simple terms:** Gaming erodes real intimacy appetite Key Takeaway Limit screen time to nurture relationships Themes technology intimacy family Mood concerned thoughtful Type cautionary observational When to use this quote - parent‑child interaction - couples’ activities - digital detox - family meals Key Concepts digital addiction emotional needs Questions to Reflect On - How can families set healthy gaming boundaries? - What alternatives foster intimacy? A Different Perspective Not all gaming is harmful; moderation matters ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite/) [Attachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attachment/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Digital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digital/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Gaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaming/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance/) [Spouses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spouses/) ## Related quotes > [“Intimacy needs time to mature—a shared history, tears shed, obstacles overcome, photographs in an album. It’s a slow-growing plant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/intimacy-needs-time-to-mature-a-shared-history-tears-shed-obstacles/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I would like to get married, actually. I've done everything else in my life now except that, but where do I find the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviv-nevo/i-would-like-to-get-married-actually-i-ve-done-everything-else-in-my/) Aviv Nevo > [Heartbreak is a real thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thundercat/heartbreak-is-a-real-thing/) [Thundercat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thundercat/) > [“Whether a thought is spoken or not it is a real thing and it has power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/whether-a-thought-is-spoken-or-not-it-is-a-real-thing-and-it-has-power/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [The one real thing that money buys - Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marita-bonner/the-one-real-thing-that-money-buys-time/) [Marita Bonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marita-bonner/) > [The real thing is that sweet joy you feel when you're in the midst of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/the-real-thing-is-that-sweet-joy-you-feel-when-you-re-in-the-midst-of/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [And the real thing can kill you whether you believe in it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore-2/and-the-real-thing-can-kill-you-whether-you-believe-in-it-or-not/) [R. A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore-2/) > [Trust the Canadians to produce a game about mutual funds that is actually more boring than the real thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/trust-the-canadians-to-produce-a-game-about-mutual-funds-that-is/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [The real thing, when done right , is always better than a daydream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/the-real-thing-when-done-right-is-always-better-than-a-daydream/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [Subtle, funny and touching, with a striking downbeat authenticity. Director Craig Zobel is the real thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-o-scott/subtle-funny-and-touching-with-a-striking-downbeat-authenticity/) [A. O. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-o-scott/) > [“A counterfeit can never be a substitute for the real thing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sipho-bayeto/a-counterfeit-can-never-be-a-substitute-for-the-real-thing/) Sipho Bayeto > [“No point in wasting time with false vanity when you possess the real thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/no-point-in-wasting-time-with-false-vanity-when-you-possess-the-real/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [My only market analysis was to look around and see that, in one way or another, most watches are inspired by watches that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mille/my-only-market-analysis-was-to-look-around-and-see-that-in-one-way-or/) [Richard Mille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mille/) > [Most people don't act stupid - it's the real thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/most-people-don-t-act-stupid-it-s-the-real-thing/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Turns out typecasting is a real thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/turns-out-typecasting-is-a-real-thing/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) ## More by Gordon Neufeld > [“In thousands of little ways, we pull and push our children to grow up, hurrying them along instead of inviting them to rest. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/in-thousands-of-little-ways-we-pull-and-push-our-children-to-grow-up/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“Children do not experience our intentions, no matter how heartfelt. They experience what we manifest in tone and behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/children-do-not-experience-our-intentions-no-matter-how-heartfelt/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [Parents are the designated caregivers and are best suited for being able to raise children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/parents-are-the-designated-caregivers-and-are-best-suited-for-being/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [We have lost sight of nature's role in the whole process of maturation and growing up. Parents and nature are a team. And nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/we-have-lost-sight-of-nature-s-role-in-the-whole-process-of/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [Children need to trust and depend upon those who are responsible for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/children-need-to-trust-and-depend-upon-those-who-are-responsible-for/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“As children grow, they have an increasing need to orient: to have a sense of who they are, of what is real, why things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/as-children-grow-they-have-an-increasing-need-to-orient-to-have-a/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“Unconditional parental love is the indespensible nutrient for the child's healthy emotional growth. The first task is to create space in the child's heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/unconditional-parental-love-is-the-indespensible-nutrient-for-the/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“thus educators learn about teaching subjects but not about the essential importance of connected relationships to the learning process of young human beings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/thus-educators-learn-about-teaching-subjects-but-not-about-the/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“less mature a person is, the more he will rely on this basic mode of attaching. Peer-oriented kids like Cynthia are preoccupied with being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/less-mature-a-person-is-the-more-he-will-rely-on-this-basic-mode-of/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“What to us looks like independence is really just dependence transferred. We are in such a hurry for our children to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/what-to-us-looks-like-independence-is-really-just-dependence/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“Increasingly, children’s behavioral problems are ascribed to various medical syndromes such as oppositional defiant disorder or attention deficit disorder. These diagnoses at least have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/increasingly-children-s-behavioral-problems-are-ascribed-to-various/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“The key to activating maturation is to take care of the attachment needs of the child. To foster independance we must first invite dependance;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/the-key-to-activating-maturation-is-to-take-care-of-the-attachment/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“Absolutely missing in peer relationships are unconditional love and acceptance, the desire to nurture, the ability to extend oneself for the sake of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/absolutely-missing-in-peer-relationships-are-unconditional-love-and/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“Children parented in such a manner never come up against the necessary frustration that accompanies facing the impossible. They are deprived of the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/children-parented-in-such-a-manner-never-come-up-against-the/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [I started my career in parent education with the idea that we needed to let our kids go. I believed that parents were suffocating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/i-started-my-career-in-parent-education-with-the-idea-that-we-needed/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) [Explore all 25 Gordon Neufeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) ## More Appetite quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [the appetite for thinking must be regulated, as all sensible people know, for it may stifle one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-appetite-for-thinking-must-be-regulated-as-all-sensible-people/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“if you cannot control your hunger and appetite, good luck managing your blood chemistry, metabolism, waistline, and, in the bigger picture, the prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/if-you-cannot-control-your-hunger-and-appetite-good-luck-managing/) [David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/) > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [My curiosity and my appetite for evolving as an actor is one of the main components of me still working today in the business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/my-curiosity-and-my-appetite-for-evolving-as-an-actor-is-one-of-the/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [I have a strong appetite and its not for food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-strong-appetite-and-its-not-for-food/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The plain fact is that education is itself a form of propaganda - a deliberate scheme to outfit the pupil, not with the capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-plain-fact-is-that-education-is-itself-a-form-of-propaganda-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You should also eat eggs. Not “one egg per week” or some such non-physiologic restriction. Eat what your body tells you to eat, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davis/you-should-also-eat-eggs-not-one-egg-per-week-or-some-such-non/) [William Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davis/) > [If your desires are not great, a little will seem much to you; for small appetite makes poverty equivalent to wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/if-your-desires-are-not-great-a-little-will-seem-much-to-you-for/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [The commonest and cheapest sounds, as the barking of a dog, produce the same effect on fresh and healthy ears that the rarest music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-commonest-and-cheapest-sounds-as-the-barking-of-a-dog-produce-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 994 Appetite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Digital intimacy ruins the appetite for the real thing. So, when kids are gaming or even when spouses are gaming, they lose their appetite for genuine intimacy. 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