Since the introduction of the silver screen and even earlier, entertainment has always been a healthy and much-needed supplement to the perpetual bustle of our daily lives.

A weekly trip to a movie theater or a family night gathered around the television for a favored show have proven to be effective methods of relaxing and temporarily forgetting about the stress of real life.

In the earlier days of entertainment, we would break up long work days with occasional games of solitaire or hectic weeks with family “game nights.”

However, entertainment today often goes past the point of supplementary and becomes an alternative to “real life.” Movies, TV shows and video games of late fit into the category of escapism — something used to avoid real life problems.

When our favorite shows were only seen as they aired each week, our “escapes” were short and extremely temporary. The pixelated graphics and corny story lines of video games’ earlier era didn’t virtually remove us from our living rooms as modern games do.

This escapism in video games was accompanied with the early cries of “video game addiction.” And there were, here and there, cases of young people so glued to their computer monitors that they deprived themselves of food.

“World of Warcraft” — as the all-time most successful massively multiplayer online role playing game — provided an entire new world into which players lost themselves completely. With entire virtual continents and millions of fellow gamers, it was a seemingly endless outlet for people of all ages and locations. For many, “WoW” was not just an occasional distraction but an entire way of life.

Even single player games such as “Skyrim” or “Dark Souls” offer worlds more enormous than anything we could have imagined decades ago. Challenges such as area bosses or quest lines are surmountable through weapon upgrades or steady leveling, making them far preferable to real life obstacles such as homework, unemployment or relationship troubles.

Video games might be the most interactive forms of escapist entertainment but they definitely are not alone. When Netflix became available to stream from home televisions, “binge television” was born. Now, instead of sitting and watching one or two shows a night, individuals can consume an entire season or series in one sitting.

We sympathize with TV characters who deal with their own life problems, and we enjoy watching them perhaps because they aren’t issues that we personally need to solve. For once, we can sit back and let others do the work. Watching our favorite actors tackle challenge after challenge as we finish off yet another sleeve of Oreos can be ultimately satisfying. At times, it’s easier to hit the “play next episode” button than it is to take responsibility for the stresses of life.

So, who’s to blame here? Is it entertainment itself and the technology that has brought it so far?

Hardly. Though vehement cries for the “dangers” of television and video games are often heard in the media, it is ultimately the responsibility of consumers to prioritize their time.

It can be argued that “real” life is difficult. Whether the stress is related to school, jobs, relationships or money, it can be too much at times. But our checking accounts won’t be replenished by binging through four seasons of “Breaking Bad.” Upper management won’t stop breathing down our necks because we spent a day as an unstoppable level 80 shadow priest.

These slothful activities can be a great way to unwind over the weekend or on vacation. But the entertainment is not the one to blame when we can’t seem to uproot ourselves from our oh-so-comfortable couches, it’s own lazy natures.

Escapism entertainment can be a dangerous outlet if we don’t learn to prioritize appropriately. But with the realization that problems are still out there waiting to be dealt with, it’s okay to kick back and make your way through Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black.” It’s just fine to log eight hours on “Killzone.” And no one’s stopping you from spending an afternoon wiping the floor with your opponents on “NBA 2K13.”

But the escape isn’t permanent — remember your responsibilities when you rejoin the “real world.”