253: Physician, Gank Thyself

[Walking_Target]

What really defines an addiction is the Why and How.

Why are you playing? Is it for entertainment? is it what you do instead of television? is it to stay in touch with friends? or is it to escape from problems?

Second is "how" as in "how is it affecting your life?" If you're like me and you work a job with late/odd hours (10am-9pm today) and this is something you do to relax, fine. If it's keeping you up till 3am and you work at 8am, not fine.

Again, i work pretty crap hours and I don't *like* the bar scene, i see my friends on weekends and I hate most television. During the week i play WoW or another game for 2-3 hours a night instead of watching TV. I would define that as a fairly healthy relationship with gaming. I work with a guy who literally goes from work to WoW and plays for at least another 5-7 hours every night, crashes for 4 hours, then goes back to work. That is *not* a healthy gaming pattern.

Most people I know who have developed problems with WoW are the compulsive/obsessive personality types. They stick themselves into feedback loops where they have to grind to play and it becomes extremely important to them and is in the same spectrum of behavior as problem gambling or other activity addiction such as excercise addiction.

For the majority of people, WoW is not a problem, but there are cases in which it is.


And yes. I will admit to spending a saturday playing WoW instead of going out. I don't like bars though and many of my IRL friends do play too.

 

[samsonguy920]

WoW was my first experience in MMO games, and I got quite addicted myself. Never reached cap with any of my characters but got quite adept at zipping new toons to mature levels (ones where guilds consider you eligible for recruitment) in record time. I spent quite a few nights without sleep, though at the time it helped that I had graveyard shifts and found it easy to sleep through the daylight morning hours even with the birds singing outside my window. Which left my afternoon and evening free for dungeon raiding and such.
After a couple times when I had to put my account to sleep due to budget cuts, it became easy to cut off my WoW after friends I had made through my early years had dropped off themselves. WoW for me was more the social aspect, exploring new parts of the world and experiences with friends online, and by the time I got back into it, it seemed a lot changed and the people I encountered just weren't all about the same things. I find that actually quite the relief, compared to the two stories shared in this article. I shudder at the lengths I might have gone to maintain my WoW experience.
Everything can have its benefits when taken in moderation, but can be quite damaging and even lethal, either physically or socially, when abused. This also includes MMO's.

 

[Krion_Vark]

WOW just WOW (no pun intended)

I can say that I have gotten into that addicted phase myself on a couple of MMOs but I have been able to quit quite easily when I needed to.

 

[lodo_bear]

Great article,just need a few more like you to write the paper on "The truth of gaming".

Cracked [http://www.cracked.com/search/search.php?sa=search&q=video+games], while extremely irreverent, has many insightful articles on that subject.

 

[Setsuhen]

I had an experience similar to Greg's parents, only it was with a friend.

Two years ago I decided to try the World of Warcraft trial to see what the big deal with WoW was. Maybe it was because I hadn't gotten that into it, but I couldn't comprehend why people found this game in particular so addictive and fun. And I'm still thankful that I stopped there.

One day, during the 10 day trial run, I invited my friend over and showed him WoW. I thought having someone else to play with would make the game more interesting. He was instantly hooked. He came to my house every day during that 10 day period, and even past them when he decided to make his own account to aquire the 10 day trial and crry on playing.

My friend didn't have any internet connection at the time, so I started to think that the only reason he was so eager to come over was to play WoW. The last straw was when he called me at six in the morning, asking if he could come over. Something snapped, and I made it clear that if he ever did something like that again, I'd never invite him over again. Things calmed down a bit were and back to the routine I had adapted to.

Then his family finally bought a decent internet connection. In these two years I have not seen or spoken to my friend. His mother tells me that he's still into WoW, and just as addicted as he was.

As easy as it would be to blame WoW, I realized that it was my "friend" I should be angry at. Not only did he use me to play WoW when he couldn't, but when he finally could, he completely erased me from his life. Still, I can't help but dislike WoW.

 

[SirAxel]

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

Indeed it is.This isn't usually what I read but all I can say is thank you for taking your time and explaining it so detailed(or atleast in a way that even a 10 year old boy can understand it ).People should know what WoW is capable of.

 

[mkline]

I really appreciate the thoughtful commentary evident here from The Escapist community. Its clear that many of you have had experiences similar to those I discuss in the article and its so great that you would take the time to share them. As a professional, I've tried to chart a middle course between my colleagues who are convinced that "video game addiction" is a disease and the alcoholism of our times, and my WoW friends and clients, who for various reasons have found their gaming experiences to be meaningful and important, in addition to being a great deal of fun.

You don't have to meet too many Gregs to see that video gaming can be part of a very problematic cycle in some people's lives. Its so hard for parents and professionals to see intelligent and talented young people diminish their possibilities and in extreme cases, put their lives in jeopardy over a game. These extreme cases can call for extreme action--its hard to swallow, but it sometimes makes all the difference.

On the other hand, I've known many folks who find a way to enjoy this hobby without losing themselves in it. I've even known some whose video game play became the inspiration for careers in the gaming industry and other areas of the technology world. And I have also known some people for whom the escape of living in an alternate universe is the only reliable way to deal with physical or psychological pain that is unrelenting.

As gaming is a way people "relate," its not at all surprising to hear that some of you conduct your social lives and even close relationships through your game play. I think that is interesting and exciting and it isn't going away any time soon. Its a kind of social/entertainment revolution that we are only just beginning to understand. I don't think much good will come of professionals simply criticizing and discouraging it and I was grateful to have the opportunity to experience it during my WoW time.

I truly believe that we need to continue thinking and talking about our video gaming experiences. I know how seductive it can be to just play and not think about it--or to just think about the game and all its vicissitudes to the exclusion of just about anything else. When we reflect on what we are doing and why, it may become easier to manage and control our behavior. Or we just may be reassured that we've achieved the right balance.

I will eagerly read all comments about this article and I'm glad to dialogue with any of you personally at any point--best way to reach me is email: [email protected]

Thanks again for all your insightful thoughts and feedback!

 

[The Lizard of Odd]

Plenty of people here are using this article as a way to feel vindicated in their beliefs of the 'evils of WoW', and while in a way they are right, I am also correct in feeling vindicated of the benefits of WoW. It's an interesting and well-balanced article that can do that.
My first year of WoW was exactly as you described...every waking moment, noticed or not, was devoted to the game. It's like the ultimate form of collection, mixed with social interaction and pressure.
I quit for a few months, went back for a while, quit for a few months, went back...
Each time it was like the game was still just as enjoyable and fun, but less addicting and more of a casual thing. I really like where I am at in the game right now . . . I log in only once or twice a week to raid, hang out with friends, and then head back out, with no real desire to continue playing.
I feel sad and a little ashamed at how much of my life the game took for me to get to that point, but even now I feel like my current playing experience is worth the time and money. I love my guild, I enjoy the content, stories and masterful game design of Blizzard, and look forward to the next expansion. More than anything it's a social thing for me. I can't really quit, because I love the friends I've made too much. But I refuse to devote any more time than I have to.
In the end, I can't feel -too- bad about my time in the game...I met my current boyfriend in the Barrens (we're going on 3 years now), and through my love of games in general I'm finding a fun, productive career in sound design.

Anyway, enough rambling. Thanks for the great article. It was a fascinating read, and I feel confident knowing there are people like you out there, willing to help others from such a well-balanced point of view.

 

[Mister Benoit]

I've been playing WOW now for about half a year. Actually, checking my account, I see that it's been a little over four years. I disagree with people who say that WOW will consume your life and disconnect you from society. I play the game to escape the annoyances of everyday life such as the war in Iraq and the daily actions of President Bush. Also, I think it's healthy to be able to release your inner child. Michael Jackson is basically just a child at heart who is successfully living his dreams and still managing to raise a family. Lastly, I don't worry about the health risks of my gaming because many famous athletes like Tiger Woods are gamers, and he is a role-model for millions of kids around the world. In no way do I feel that my six months, I mean four years, playing WOW has disconnected me from society!

I see what you did there.. I can help you >.>

 

[YonderTunic]

Ah totally reminds me of the first couple months I played WoW...

I refer to those days as the "dark days" as I'd usually lock myself in my room and play for eight hours straight every night. That didn't last long though, my mom pointed out I had a problem and limited my internet use, which while I was very, very angry at the time, I really appreciate it now.

 

[addeB]

Huh, strangely enough WoW has never gotten me after 3 years of playing. When a new game is realised I'm ready to leave WoW for the time I need to clear the game with no problem, and I even get tired of WoW from time to time and take a break for some time.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I have known for a very long time that I use WoW as an escape from the ills of my life. I picked up WoW as a Freshmen in High School, at that time my sister was causing outright turmoil in the house on an almost daily basis. There was constant shouting and slamming of doors between her and my mother. It was a very embarrassing thing when I would have a friend over to have to shut my door simply to muffle the sounds of fighting; even then when the yelling would begin there would be a very awkward silence between my friend and I.

This had been going on much longer than then, my sister had been out of control since my 7th grade year of middle school, and even to this day it still feels like that storm of chaos continues to rage (albeit much quieter than it used to). From drugs, to running away, to stripping, to prostitution, to attempted suicide; that girl has kept my mother and I on edge for more than 7 years. The stress of it all was driving me to the breaking point of emotional sanity, then like a miracle I was introduced to WoW. I had been told many times before by teachers I would confide my trouble in at school that the best thing I could do was remove myself from the situation. Being still far to young to simply move out there wasn't much I could do. When WoW came along I found that ability to remove myself from the chaos. No matter how much the fighting would rage outside my bedroom door all I had to do was keep on questing.

I've no doubt in my mind that WoW was what has kept me sane. I have found over the years that as my emotional stress increases my time logged in game also increases, and when the stress lifts I cut back. Now in my third year of college I am transferring to a university 3 & 1/2 hours away, finally moving out of the home haunted by an overbearing sense of tension, the tension that any moment some aspect of my sister's life will come barreling through the front door; shouting, screaming, and cursing at whatever stands in her way. As the day when I move out draws ever closer I find myself needing WoW less and less. No longer do I need it's support to be emotionally stable.

As a child I needed WoW to act as my defending shield against emotional trauma I had no idea how to handle. Now I can put it aside with a sense of closure and move on to bigger and better things.

[small]Good grief I need to find a shrink[/small]

 

[Goremocker]

Wow...I have 2 people in my family who are crazy for WoW so I really see what this article means. Oddly enough out of the three types of people who play wow, my relatives are both option three (meaning that their schedules fit their insane amount of play time). I was even planning to join them when the new expansion comes out(If you must know,yes,it's because I like werewolves). But I think I've gained some new perspective from this and now I'll think a little harder about getting involved with something this deep.

 

[Enzeru92]

As someone that has felt WoW addiction also am glad that there is someone that doesn't brush the idea of WoW addiction to the side just because its a game or find no real reason people would be addicted to the game. This was a great article hope to see more

 

[RandV80]

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!)

This is how I've always viewed it. It's not necessarily the video game itself that is addicting, but rather the escapism. Which of course can be found in any other entertainment medium, video games just do it the most effecitvely, and is you say can be persistent. Books for example, I remember one highschool summer discovering Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series and going through all six books (at the time) in about 4 weeks. But unlike WoW eventually I get to the end, get a little depressed for a day or two because the rides over, then have no choice but to move on.

As for Mr. Kline's experience, I wonder if it isn't so much about personal maturity vs gaming maturity. I'm almost 20 years young than him, but those 20 years have been spent gaming. If I was 10 years younger I'm sure I'd be addicted to WoW now, but at some point in my early 20's I hit a saturation point with video games that while I still enjoy them there's a 'been there done that' attitude that when I gave the trial a try killed any appeal for it.

 

[Weaver]

This is a great article. I find it comforting a psychological professional has serious experience with game addiction.

 

[The Iconnorclast]

Great article, it always astounds me when I read these articles and read how someone can get so addicted to something I have never had problems with. Maybe its because I am pretty self-disciplined and never had addiction problems, but honestly I can't understand how a person can not recognize they are addicted to something, especially when they have gotten to the point of the kid in the article.

I can see how it can become addicting and I know first-hand why it's so appealing, but to have WoW take over your life like that, I just can't understand how these people can't see themselves fall so low.

 

[Lalalarzi]

is it bad that reading this almost made me wanna start up my sub to WoW again? :S

 

[Flying Dagger]

I think MMOs like WoW don't get enough credit for the amount of suicides they must prevent.
A good friend of mine recently killed himself, and I look at him, and the troubles he faced, and realised it could have very easily been me, if in my darkest hours I had not had another world to turn to.
I just wish he could have turned to one.

Oh come on, I'm sick of people thinking WoW is basically Heroin because a few people can't handle themselves.

I have EXTREME ADD, I am the most impulsive person I know, and I have an addictive personality.

I haven't played WoW for three months, and it has never caused any of my commitments to not be met.

As someone with a ridiculous level of impulsivity and fully fledged ADHD, here's what I think.
I think there should be a clearer definition of addiction.
I didn't want to quit an MMO because I didn't want to leave all my online friends behind, because returning to real life where I had no one was too much to bear.

Compare that with my smoking addiction, where when I felt like stopping, I just stopped.

They are not the same. If I was just someone who got addicted easily, I would not have been able to drop smoking after a year with literally no pull to return to it.

Though maybe I just wasn't playing MMOs that were good enough.

 

[Jaded Scribe]

MMOs, especially WoW, can be so immersive, especially when things at home aren't their greatest. WoW helped me through some rough times (being a stay at home mom with two kids, and no money to go out and do things, it was my only adult social life for a long time).

The key is to be able to find balance. It's been hard, but I've weaned myself off when things get busy (now that I'm back in school, that's usually a good chunk of my time.)

I've been glad to see WoW become more casual friendly. Raiding no longer requires 20+ hours a week. (My own guild raids about 9 hours per week, with a relatively lax attendance policy.)

The biggest thing about raiding that people outside of Azeroth have difficulty understanding is that it's really a team sport. There have been plenty of times, particularly in the more "serious" guilds I belonged to where I logged on to raid desperately hoping I could sit out and go do something else. But, I hated the thought, especially when recruitment was slim and we had some attendance problems, that my not logging on could mean that 20+ other players wouldn't be able to raid. (Ok, I play a DPS, which is hardly crucial or hard to find, but still).

I think that is where the biggest challenge comes in. You don't want to let down your team. I've been frustrated on nights where a tank or healer didn't show and we had to call the raid. I made time to be there, I felt they should too (or at least give some kind of notice so the guild could alter the plan accordingly.)