253: Physician, Gank Thyself

[Mark J Kline]

Physician, Gank Thyself

You'd think that an addiction counselor would be the last person to get hooked on World of Warcraft, but that's exactly what happened to Mark Kline.

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[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

That's.... terrifying.

That really is a very scary thought, especilly to me. I've always steered clear of MMORPGs because I know I have tendencies towards getting hooked, but the thought that WoW can get anyone addicted, imagining what it could do to someone prone to addiction is deeply disturbing.

I think I'll be steering clear of this one a little while yet.

 

[Serenegoose]

I'd be interested to see someone actually tackling the fact that these games, to those 'addicted' by them are seen as -better- than reality, rather than skirting around this conclusion. Only by confronting that fact, rather than avoiding it, can we perhaps improve our real world so these games no longer have the hold they do, rather than simply going 'online bad, real world good'.

 

[tzimize]

I'd be interested to see someone actually tackling the fact that these games, to those 'addicted' by them are seen as -better- than reality, rather than skirting around this conclusion. Only by confronting that fact, rather than avoiding it, can we perhaps improve our real world so these games no longer have the hold they do, rather than simply going 'online bad, real world good'.

They are not better, but they can feel like the same. But this might not be the most important part, the most important part is that it is so much easier to succeed in such a game than in real life.

Another thing that is extremely important, as the writer said, some stuff we cant really make better, in those cases WoW can provide a much needed solace. And I speak from first hand experience when I say THIS IS NOT A BAD THING.

My gf has Multiple Sclerosis. An untreatable disease which causes her and me a lot of emotional stress, and other stuff that is not nice. There is nothing I can do about her disease, and nothing she can do. While I played WoW (I stopped playing a year or so ago) I could forget about these troubles if only for a while, and succeed and feel good about something I was competent at.

The fact that this is possible is not a bad thing, and I for one am not one to tell people how to live. If someone wants to succeed in wow instead of getting a family/great career go for it. But they need to at least be able to support themselves. It is when they cant even do that they need help.

 

[carpathic]

I find some solace in this article.

I have always avoided MMORPG's given my addictive tendencies, but also because I don't want to pay monthly for access to a game. Mostly though, it is just the knowledge of my own inability in the past to moderate my own consumption of games and gaming.

I think I am better now at managing these things, but I am not sure that I feel strong enough to try something like WoW.

 

[Remzer]

I went through something quite similar to greg, in my first couple years in university, only I was playing an emulated Ultima Online server...

I'd be interested to see someone actually tackling the fact that these games, to those 'addicted' by them are seen as -better- than reality, rather than skirting around this conclusion. Only by confronting that fact, rather than avoiding it, can we perhaps improve our real world so these games no longer have the hold they do, rather than simply going 'online bad, real world good'.

I agree.

The fact that most non-gamers, when trying to help in cases of gaming addiction, react by opposing "online" and "real" worlds, actually forces "addicted" people to chose one side, instead of balancing both. Admitedly, it IS hard as hell to find the will not to let go of reality and embark on the virtual journey.
WoW and its siblings have a knack for making you feel good, making you crave for more and more...

 

[Frybird]

Ah, MMORPG Addiction, something i will never understand. And i am a guy who spends most of his free time playing games and watching movies, often to drown thoughts about personal issues.

I guess there are two kinds of gamers: Those who like to play gameS, and eventually get bored by a game if they spend to much time with it, and those who like to play a game and are willing to dedicate endless amounts of time to master it.

I guess given all those addiction stories, i can count myself happy to be in the former group.

P.S.: I did try Guild Wars and Ragnarok Online back in the day, just so you know

 

[Soods]

I'm happy that Greg managed to quit wow. I also recently quit WoW after 3 years of playing it and now I'm starting to understand that life exists also out of WoW

 

[Eric the Orange]

I found this article very interesting. I don't play MMOs as a rule for one because I know that I'm the kinda person who gets addicted to things. I have low will power so I find it best just to avoid out right things that could be harmful in excess.

I'm happy that Greg managed to quit wow. I also recently quit WoW after 3 years of playing it and now I'm starting to understand that life exists also out of WoW

By your avatar I think you may have another bout with addiction in SC2.

 

[Georgie_Leech]

I'm happy that someone in the psychological world understands just what causes the addiction in these games. Knowing that, it will be easier to treat those who suffer from it, as addiction to WoW, etc., is somewhat different than addiciton to, say, alcohol, at least in what it provides as solace.

 

[Robby Foxfur]

I think that speaks volumes about what is possible to get addicted to, and its not the game itself that he was saying addicted the player but rather the feelings that the players experienced.

When i look at the games i play FPS and MMOG i can see how i feel when i play them. It is alluring to think about. what would your life really be like if you were your character?

 

[Kaihlik]

I dont play WoW but alot of my friends do or have. Its never really been a problem for them probably because we all have several other hobbies and interests that we share. It is also generally understood in out group that RL activities come first most of the time. Thats not to say that people wont miss real life events for raids but usually if they are given enough notice to cancel the raid or the event is important enough then they will make the time.

I think having other hobbies is important to avoid being sucked in, especially hobbies that require social interaction. Every time I read of people succumbing to gaming addiction it seems to be their only real hobby, alot of people spend their relaxation time watching TV which requires no commitment, it is easy to replace that time with another past time. Sports are all well and good but they are very easy to give up expecially playing competatively as any break from playing can jepordise form resulting in you losing your place in a team.

Really people who plan on getting into MMOs should make sure they have some other hobby that they enjoy and requires them to socialise with friends. Having multiple hobbies helps divide your attention between them preventing one from taking too much control over your life. If your other hobby is a sport you need to make sure you have friends who will push you to continue with it.

Just my 2 cents.

Kaihlik

 

[Alar]

I probably play WoW to an amount that people will see as unhealthy.

I work eight hours a day, come home, and usually log in to WoW and play, only interrupted by doing chores around the house (I wash my dishes, do my laundry, take care of my cat, deliver bills, bring in the mail, mow the yard, etcetera.), spending time with my family when they visit, or visiting my friends in town.

I probably play anywhere between six to eight hours a day.

My time, however, is not solely devoted to WoW. I check the Escapist, I browse news websites, I chat with friends on instant messengers, and occasionally I fire up other games. So, I guess I could say my time on WoW would vary even more, whereas my time on the computer does not. Is this just a plain computer or Internet addiction? Possibly, but I do my best to make sure it doesn't interrupt my work or family life.

If my parents ask me to come and talk or do something for them, I will type, "BRB for a bit." to whatever group I might be in at the time (this isn't necessary as I don't spend all my time running instances) and go help them out. Sometimes I might do this in a bit of a hurry because I don't want to incovenience the group, but I always make sure to help my parents.

Even recently I've been spending more time with my friends, and been offered to drop in unexpectedly more often, something I won't be passing up.

So, am I addicted? I personally don't think so, but I can easily see how other people can get so wrapped up in this (or a similar) game.

Great article. I love how the doctor put himself in the patient's position (more or less) and was able to come out with a new appreciation of what happened.

 

[Lucifron]

Really cool article. +10 internets to mister Kline!
Escape in to the bliss of MMO's is an awesome way to stay sane, although:

"Escape is an ever-present commodity, perhaps a bit too present..."

You just have to keep it at a stable level.

 

[tetron]

Omg finally someone who talks about WoW and makes some sense.

I have a new understanding of what devoted players get out of it,

That right there, all I ask is that if people tell me I play too much WoW that they understand where I'm coming from. There's not much hope for me though as my WoW addiction can only be equaled by my addiction to regular video games. Personally though I would say once you hit the level cap the game gets a lot more manageable. You're either running heroics, which you can only do so many of a day, or you're doing raids which are preplanned for certain times. So it's not like you get a call from some shady guy saying " The banana has split", and you have only a few minutes to get on WoW for a raid. I've once even had my friends ask me to hang out and I said "no I'm raiding", and they're like "rawr you're addicted" so I told them to stfu cause I'd told them earlier that week I was raiding, with an unspoken but implied >.> "my guild mates would've remembered something I was excited about". Which brings me to another thing, some people say "you have friends outside of WoW"; well I have better friends in WoW. And just for the record I'm currently on a "console gaming" break from WoW.

 

[Walking_Target]

WoW can be addictive, so can gambling, alcohol or extreme sports. as in the article, anything that fills a specific psychological need can do so.

Really, the greatest danger WoW has posed to my free time is the "one more" mindset. There *are* some interesting story lines within the game, usually as questlines, and it is easy to fall into the trap of 'just one more then i'll go do [insert activity here]'. Once you realize that and if you have good self control, it's fairly easy to avoid. It definitely helps to play with other mature people who have similar opinions.

It's good to see that some psychologists are recognizing video games, gambling and other compulsive behaviors as actual problems though

 

[Morden2260]

A well written article from somebody with credentials and first hand experience in this area. Thank you.

 

[Tharticus]

A really good article by a psychologist. Kudos to you Mr. Kline. I've never imagine that he would play WoW to see the effects.

 

[Oakheart]

I've played WoW for 4.5 years, raid endgame (we're on Blood Council and Dreamwalker), run a guild of friends IRL... and I also do academic research on the game.

I find it interesting that the writer got drawn into playing 5-6 hours/night which is more than research generally finds to be true for the "average" WoW player. Granted, the bell curve is relatively flat -- some people play a few hours a week, some play (like Greg) all day every day. But most relatively committed players play 20-25 hours a week, according to a number of academic studies. (Productivity software on my computer tells me I log around 20hr/wk.) Compare that to the Neilsen studies of television watching -- 35.5 hrs/wk in 4Q 2009 -- and it seems evident to me that more people handle their time management of WoW in a healthy manner than do not.

Personally, the time I play WoW is the time I used to watch TV, which I no longer do. I don't even own a TV.

Does that mean everyone handles their hobby well? Clearly not; Greg is exemplary of someone allowing the game to negatively impact his life. The writer felt his playtime got out of control -- 35-40hr/wk sounds like a lot to me, too.

Others will speak on this thread, surely, about how much is too much. I want to be one who says those speaking out about "too much" may be as much the exception as the rule, though. WoW in particular gets a helluva lot of bad press for being "addictive" (a term I find offensive, equating it with the physical addictions of drugs and alcohol, with physical withdrawal and physiological health impact). Gaming and virtual worlds in general are engaging, immersive, and carry people away the same way good books and movies do -- all entertainment media do this. (Ask a teen girl about Twilight!) The difference is that virtual worlds are persistent, always available, always fresh and new. They also provide more substantive benefits than a movie or TV. (I still love my books!)

I'm deeply glad to see an addiction counselor making the effort to get the whole picture, coming to understand the benefits of such gaming from the inside. Arguably, it's also good that he slid downhill to understand the potential problems from the inside as well, and can take that more-nuanced understanding to his clients -- and to the readers of Escapist.

 

[Stevo_s]

Seriously, this is why I haven't played WoW. I'm pretty addicted to MW2 and like to think of myself as important in the clan I'm in.
I waste enough hours in mw2 and know that if I was to start on WoW I would probably never stop.
It may be silly to compare mw2 to WoW but that's the closest thing I have and I am really scared to play it.