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There are no physiological effects from playing too much Halo, you were just brain dead from the start. *Shocked look on face*
It's no different to reading lots or watching TV.
personally, I think people who play video games too much are pathetic.
personally, I think people who play video games too much are pathetic.
Hey look, progress!
These people with "addictions" just need to learn to put down the controller and go do something outside for once. They do know about the outside world, right?
These people with "addictions" just need to learn to put down the controller and go do something outside for once. They do know about the outside world, right?
"And the heavens opened up and a word of sense was heard. But none of the peasants learned from it and so it came to be that God just wiped out all those stupid shits."
I'm writing The Gamer's Bible.
I'm writing The Gamer's Bible.
@Squak,
give us some examples? Maybe avatars are not on your list...
But, yeah, tell us what you are addicted to?
give us some examples? Maybe avatars are not on your list...
But, yeah, tell us what you are addicted to?
I dunno...I think games are more addictive than people think. While the remedy may not be medication, it's still an issue that I think will only get worse as future generations will be surrounded by video games from day 1.
It's not an addiction. It's a lack of personal responsibility and self control. These people are just looking for an excuse to blame anything other than themselves.
Just the same as someone is "addicted" to TV, or films.
Also inb4 someone flames "IRONEE" at last statement.
Also inb4 someone flames "IRONEE" at last statement.
I've long said I've been addicted to the vidya. Staying up until 4 am when I've got networking class at 8 the next day (Or rather the same day). But I don't honestly think I'm addicted. I'm just extremely irresponsible.
No one is really addicted. At least not in the same sense as a junkie is to crack.
No one is really addicted. At least not in the same sense as a junkie is to crack.
Yeesh. I like that the media is spending so much time and effort to raise awareness for the scourge that is videogame addiction. Videogame addiction, or VGA, can lead to mild obesity, decreased social interactions (IRL, only) eye strain, and increased consumption of empty-calorie snack cakes. Thank god that we're focusing on this impending crisis rather than less important "media-friendly" woes like alcoholism, surgical addition and SUV ownership.
People get "addicted" to video games because at their worst they're still more interesting that the horrible corrupt reality that we've allowed to be built around us.
Aren't we being a little oversensitive here? Anything can become an addiction. I can become addicted to bacon, or fapping to Marge Simpson rule 34, or even Jim Sterling -- and it's certainly possible to become addicted to gaming. I don't see that there's anything wrong with saying that.
Obviously though, it's not the games' faults. There's not necessarily anything addictive in their nature, it's just a matter of people not exercising self-control.
Obviously though, it's not the games' faults. There's not necessarily anything addictive in their nature, it's just a matter of people not exercising self-control.
Sharpless:
It's not about sensitivity, or worrying about the stigma of videogames. No, my point of view is that "addiction" is overstating what it is, in my point of view. Similar to how they've started calling alcoholism a disease to make people feel better about themselves.
The reason I don't view videogame addiction as a medical issue is because I think it is, like this guy says, a social issue. To get "addicted" to videogames indicates a real underlying cause. I think it's wrong to focus on videogame addiction. That merely works to remove a symptom, not a problem.
It's not about sensitivity, or worrying about the stigma of videogames. No, my point of view is that "addiction" is overstating what it is, in my point of view. Similar to how they've started calling alcoholism a disease to make people feel better about themselves.
The reason I don't view videogame addiction as a medical issue is because I think it is, like this guy says, a social issue. To get "addicted" to videogames indicates a real underlying cause. I think it's wrong to focus on videogame addiction. That merely works to remove a symptom, not a problem.
@ Jim
I agree completely. I got hooked on IV heroin real bad about a year and a half ago. I stayed hooked for about 6 months or so and eventually ended up in a half way house to kick.
When I stayed at the half way house, I brought my Xbox 360 over there and spent many hours playing it (maybe 2 or 3 a day). Eventually, I got sick of all the games I had and let this crack head borrow it for a while. Now this guy went fucking nuts with it. Every moment of every day he spent playing the goddamn thing. I mean constantly. He played that thing like he was chasing a rock or something, alright? But let me tell you something - I wouldnt for even a moment say that he was 'addicted' to video games. It was just something for him to hide behind and keep his mind occupied. And that is not what addiction is. A real addiction is much more complicated than that.
And by the way, addiction is not a disease (in my opinion).
I agree completely. I got hooked on IV heroin real bad about a year and a half ago. I stayed hooked for about 6 months or so and eventually ended up in a half way house to kick.
When I stayed at the half way house, I brought my Xbox 360 over there and spent many hours playing it (maybe 2 or 3 a day). Eventually, I got sick of all the games I had and let this crack head borrow it for a while. Now this guy went fucking nuts with it. Every moment of every day he spent playing the goddamn thing. I mean constantly. He played that thing like he was chasing a rock or something, alright? But let me tell you something - I wouldnt for even a moment say that he was 'addicted' to video games. It was just something for him to hide behind and keep his mind occupied. And that is not what addiction is. A real addiction is much more complicated than that.
And by the way, addiction is not a disease (in my opinion).
i think that was a cheap shot at doctors, Jim. Personally, I've never seen one say it's an addiction until this center opened up (just for money, I'd guess). People just label a continued behavior as addiction, like Squawk up in the comments.
By the way...sex addict? Pfft.
By the way...sex addict? Pfft.
Thanks Jim. I knew you'd find a crack in their armour. yes, there are ACTUAL doctors that claim gaming is addictive (please look at the article about the Italian kid who went into seizures after playing a "marathon" of playstation. Not to menton the new Vietnamese and Chinese centers to "cure" such addictions.) It's not Sonys fault. The kid and his parents did not heed the warning about extended play (Did they read the manual?). Even some games being made these days have warning within the game (see MGS4).
Here's the wiki on it, braulio09: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_addiction
I believe that the Doctors in Amsterdam have real insight into why this is a problem. I agree.. it's a social problem, not an addiction problem. I do like that Jim mentions alcoholism as a mirror to this subject.
Alcoholism is NOT a disease. It's a CHOICE. You chose to drink. You don't wake up one day and get the Alcoholic disease out of nowhere, you aren't born with it and it has nothing to do with genetics. You chose to drink the first drink and every one thereafter.
Leave it to the potheads to uncover that this is actually BS. Personally I believe that it's a self control issue. I have enough control to pry my sweaty, shaking, game addicted hands off of the controller to do some work for my college courses.
I guess it's another case of people thinking that they aren't responsible for their own actions.
Here's the wiki on it, braulio09: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_addiction
I believe that the Doctors in Amsterdam have real insight into why this is a problem. I agree.. it's a social problem, not an addiction problem. I do like that Jim mentions alcoholism as a mirror to this subject.
Alcoholism is NOT a disease. It's a CHOICE. You chose to drink. You don't wake up one day and get the Alcoholic disease out of nowhere, you aren't born with it and it has nothing to do with genetics. You chose to drink the first drink and every one thereafter.
Leave it to the potheads to uncover that this is actually BS. Personally I believe that it's a self control issue. I have enough control to pry my sweaty, shaking, game addicted hands off of the controller to do some work for my college courses.
I guess it's another case of people thinking that they aren't responsible for their own actions.
@Jim
I'm not saying that it's ever medical. I don't think addictions have to be medical though, right? Wouldn't you agree that it's possible to become addicted to games, for people to "need" to play them on a frequent basis? I mean, one needs only look towards WoW for evidence of that. I've had some close brushes with it, myself. Much like Marky Mark, I have an addictive personality.
I'm not saying that it's ever medical. I don't think addictions have to be medical though, right? Wouldn't you agree that it's possible to become addicted to games, for people to "need" to play them on a frequent basis? I mean, one needs only look towards WoW for evidence of that. I've had some close brushes with it, myself. Much like Marky Mark, I have an addictive personality.
@Sharpless:
I'm not so sure. It's not like video games have physical side-effects when you don't play them for an extended period of time except boredom (and maybe some weight-loss a-hyuk).
But then that would go against the alcohol argument because it's easy to tell when someone is detoxing.
Many things to consider, but I don't think it's addiction so much as fascination. Or maybe it's not addiction to games so much as its addiction to "not reality".
I'm not so sure. It's not like video games have physical side-effects when you don't play them for an extended period of time except boredom (and maybe some weight-loss a-hyuk).
But then that would go against the alcohol argument because it's easy to tell when someone is detoxing.
Many things to consider, but I don't think it's addiction so much as fascination. Or maybe it's not addiction to games so much as its addiction to "not reality".
Every few generations, a new technology is invented that trancends the understanding of the prior generations. Their limited mindsets seek a scapegoat for their perceived injustices in the world, and they lash out at this technology as the root of all evil.
Books have been there. Radio has been there. Television has been there. Now games are there.
There is *no* instance where an entertainment products created instability in someone. Anyone who goes off and shoots a group of people because they thought the Matrix was cool or kills a bunch of school mates after they had played some counter-strike source would have done the same things if their hobbies had included gardening or customizing cars.
Also, the argument that people who play games "don't have lives" is inane. Who is to judge what "having a life" is? Is going to strange people's houses and getting dangerously drunk "having a life"? What makes going for a bike ride more befitting "having a life" than a round of Left 4 Dead?
Nothing- it's utter nonsense. People need to learn to stop aiming their frustrations at other people's joys, and look inwards for the problems they face in their lives.
Books have been there. Radio has been there. Television has been there. Now games are there.
There is *no* instance where an entertainment products created instability in someone. Anyone who goes off and shoots a group of people because they thought the Matrix was cool or kills a bunch of school mates after they had played some counter-strike source would have done the same things if their hobbies had included gardening or customizing cars.
Also, the argument that people who play games "don't have lives" is inane. Who is to judge what "having a life" is? Is going to strange people's houses and getting dangerously drunk "having a life"? What makes going for a bike ride more befitting "having a life" than a round of Left 4 Dead?
Nothing- it's utter nonsense. People need to learn to stop aiming their frustrations at other people's joys, and look inwards for the problems they face in their lives.
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