Why my YouTube Channel is a no politics zone

Why is my YouTube channel a “no politics zone”? And what does that choice have to do with the mental and physical health benefits of tabletop wargaming? In my latest video, I discuss a subject I’ve deliberately avoided since launching the channel in earnest back in 2020: modern politics in hobby spaces. While historical wargaming inevitably touches on political themes of the past, I’ve made a conscious decision to keep contemporary political debate off the channel. This video explains why.

At its heart, this is a discussion about protecting the hobby as a refuge. Many tabletop wargamers and miniature painters recognise the mental health benefits of sitting down at the painting desk or gaming table. The real world quiets. Stress levels drop. Focus sharpens. Creative energy replaces anxiety. But we don’t always stop to examine just how powerful that effect can be. In this video, I share a personal discovery that brought this into sharp focus: measurable drops in blood pressure during painting and hobby sessions. For someone managing hypertension, seeing those numbers move from elevated levels into the normal range during time spent painting miniatures was eye-opening. It reinforces something many of us intuitively know: this hobby is not just entertainment; it actively supports wellbeing.

I also discuss well-respected research into arts and craft hobbies, which found that miniature painting and similar creative activities can improve fine motor skills, enhance concentration, support problem-solving ability, reduce stress, and boost mood. There is even emerging evidence suggesting cognitively engaging hobbies may help build long-term mental resilience.

This is not about ignoring history or avoiding thoughtful discussion. I consider myself to be a very political person. I try to be well-informed, I follow the news and read articles by independent experts (not some shouty bloke on Facebook), I vote, and I care about the future. But that doesn't mean I feel I need to drag politics into every forum and space I inhabit. My Channel, this blog and my hobby room are a sanctuary from the never ending and exhausting ideological trench warfare of modern politics.

And the irony is that historical wargaming often encourages deep research into political contexts of the past. This can strengthen critical thinking skills. We learn to question sources without becoming conspiracy theorists. We discover that narratives are contested and appreciate a range of opinions. We see how propaganda works and how to look past it. That kind of historical literacy is very healthy, in my humble opinion. 

So, keeping politics out of the comments here and on my channel isn't about silencing debate. Rather, it’s about recognising the value of boundaries and protecting spaces that allow the hobby’s mental and physical health benefits to flourish.