Recent content by mkline

Thanks for all your comments and reactions. I wanted to focus on issues with gaming beyond the violence thing, and in response to a very thoughtful question, encourage Escapist readers to get through their defensiveness and denial, although I really do understand why some gamers are this way...

Thanks to all who have commented on the article. People who write to me have serious questions about gaming-related issues, and I know they benefit as much from the contributions of fellow readers as they do from my thoughts. As to my credentials, I am a psychologist with a doctorate in...

I guess it is a matter of perspective. I don't doubt there are many experienced middle aged gamers who have been at it a long time. It makes sense that many of these would be involved with The Escapist. I live and work in a very different environment. Some of my peers and colleagues can...

Thanks to all of you who shared your thoughts on this piece--I read all the comments and find them fascinating, even if you take issue with what I have said. I see that some of you found the idea of medicine repulsive. I don't think I was suggesting that meds are the first choice in a...

As usual, I've really enjoyed reading all your reactions and comments. Its a fair criticism that I should have been clearer in identifying this kind of "Long Haul Gaming" as seriously problematic. As so many in my profession err on the side of pathologizing habitual gaming, I tried to take a...

As tautologico notes, there is a difference between being introverted and having "avoidance issues." In the statement which seems to have offended some of you, I was referring to the latter, not the former. Gaming can become one of a vast number of habits people fall into to avoid some...

Lots of very interesting reaction here. To clarify, I think it probably isn't great for very young kids to be exposed to graphic violence in any media, and I think ESRB rating and film rating can indeed be very helpful to watchful parents in protecting them. I can't see any good coming from...

Incredibly helpful suggestions that would be useful to any couple--thanks so much for adding this!

These are all useful ideas--very helpful--thanks for adding them to the discussion!

Yes, the pet thing was meant as a joke. But having a pet when you have a baby can pose special challenges, especially if the pet pre-dates the baby. If you get a pet after you have a baby---god bless you!

So folks, the idea here is that any behavior, not just video gaming, can be considered an addiction if the person can't engage in it in a controlled fashion, and ends up doing harm to themselves as a result. The two ingredients that make addiction are lack of control and harmful consequences...

Having just finished a marathon viewing of 5 seasons of Dexter, perhaps I would reconsider the power of movies and TV shows to create immersion. While I really loved the show and thought about it often, I never experienced myself to be an actor in that world the way I did when I played...

Of course, you can't guarantee that they won't see some of the nastiness as it is frequent. I've been playing multiplayer Starcraft II with my son, and there hasn't been anything terribly inappropriate. Granted it is the novice level because I suck, but are you going to play Expert with your...

I love that Penn and Teller thing too. Not only thoughtful but funny as hell. I wonder if videogaming becomes professionalized like sports (and this is happening, at least in South Korea), will the videogamers act like assholes, like many athletes do? Maybe it isn't the activity (gaming or...

You're confused about what kind of psychologist I am. You seem to be describing a research psychologist, and a sadistic one at that. I'm a clinical psychologist, and we spend lots of time thinking about these kinds of questions because we have parents, schools, and kids who seek our...