Gameing adiction

[y1fella]

I personally believe gaming addiction exists and have been careful to steer clear of it.
So I was surprised when someone I know accused me of being a gaming addict after a show called the 7pm project aired a segment on it (it' a lousy Australian show). Then i proceeded to demolish that person in the ensuing debate pointing out how I don't show any signs of addiction (dependence on games stressed out when I'm not playing game spend the whole day thinking about playing games) and then I pointed his addiction (and pretty much everyone in the country) to coffee. When he said he wasn't addicted to coffee I asked him if the thought of getting out of bed tomorrow and not have a cup of coffee was remarkably repulsive he said yes and I told him he was addicted to coffee.
So I ask have you ever been accused of addiction been addicted or known someone who was addicted?

 

[Infinatex]

7pm project ..... (it' a lousy Australian show).

It sure is, it sure is.

OT: Yeah I guess so, many things actually. Coffee and cigarettes were definitely ones I had at a time. Don't touch either anymore.

 

[Infinatex]

... double post

 

[Infinatex]

The topic so good I had to post twice

Holy crap 3 times!!!! I think I just won the double post contest!

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Addiction is like like rule 34.

If it exists, someone is is addicted to it.

 

[badgersprite]

I can't play MMOs because I have an addictive personality. I wind up being stupid and spending money on in game currency, and that is where I draw the line. Once I am spending money on nothing, I have to stop. This is also why I am unwilling to try gambling.

 

[oplinger]

I don't know anyone who is addicted to games. ...And I will be the 1st to tell you I'm not addicted to them. I actually don't think "gaming addiction" exists. It's not a chemical imbalance, it does nothing chemically that wouldn't happen naturally and there are better ways to get any of those that happen (many of the chemicals that come from playing a game happen in very low amounts). However, in a very very loose sense, you don't want to be bored, your priorities become wrong, and you just want to play more and more. It's nothing rehab worthy, you just need something else.

However if I was accused of being an addict, I wouldn't be surprised. I play games like some people watch B-movies. They interest me, I like knowing about them. Playing them, beating them. Could I live without them? Sure. Would I want to? ..Not at this stage no.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

Every single time I don't get an "A" on something my parents tell me I'm addicted to gaming and it's playing a role on my grades.

 

[LittleChone]

It's not an addiction: it's a passion.

 

[e2density]

I've been told many times that I am addicted. I really don't pay much attention to it. If a kid goes out and snowboards every day, he's an "enthusiast." If I play games for a couple hours a day, I am "obsessed" and "throwing my life away."

I think I get a lot of "addict" crap because I actively play some games at a competitive level, and regardless of if it's basketball, trap shooting, or snowboarding, any competitive sport requires you practice to get better. And I simply do what I need and have fun doing it.

 

[Berserker119]

I got addicted to ant nectar in Fallout NV one time. Closest I've ever been, though.

 

[JoshGod]

I'm obsessed with visual escapism (so games or film/tv). It's not the worst thing in the world. Although i try to set boundries, e.g. no MMO's. Man did that eat up a lot of time.

 

[Savagezion]

I don't know anyone who is addicted to games. ...And I will be the 1st to tell you I'm not addicted to them. I actually don't think "gaming addiction" exists. It's not a chemical imbalance, it does nothing chemically that wouldn't happen naturally and there are better ways to get any of those that happen (many of the chemicals that come from playing a game happen in very low amounts).

-snip-

That but followed up by another word. Obsession. Addiction and obsession are 2 different things. One is a voluntary act and one is a physical need that compels the person. I hate how often society misuses the word "addicted" nowadays. It's about as retarded as some people that use the word "literally" after stating something completely impossible. For example: "I am literally sweating my nuts off." that statement makes as much sense as "Gaming/TV/Online chat addiction". Take your pick. They have all been called "addictions".

They are Obsessions. It is still unhealthy but people sound stupid when they question the ability for a media to form an addiction. No, these things can't form addictions. But people can become obsessed with them. The difference is the only urges they fight/succumb to are ones imposed on themselves, not the target of their fascination.

 

[Chibz]

I'm not addicted to vidja games (and vidja game) accessories, contrary to what many people seem to think.

I'm only addicted to... Derailing threads and stealing attention!

Spoiler

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I try my best to finish homework in school so I can waste as little time as possible from getting home to playing games.

I put at least one of gameplay in everyday at the minimum.

Yes, I can live without games, but when I realize tomorrow up to Sunday I'll be without games (camping), I dread it.

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

Addiction is like like rule 34.

If it exists, someone is is addicted to it.

this is true,

For me, it was yaoi once. Now, it's star wars .-.

 

[Hunter6475]

Every single time I don't get an "A" on something my parents tell me I'm addicted to gaming and it's playing a role on my grades.

^ This happens alot to me...
OT: I've been accused for being a music addict, heck, I guess it's true? On certain school days I have my ipod on for 3/4 of the day during elective classes, and when I get home I'm playing an instrument or two for hours..
As for gaming addiction, I play alot but I'm not addicted =/

 

[SimuLord]

I'm not addicted to games any more than people who decompress in front of the TV for three hours a night in prime time and another hour or two for Letterman and whatever's on at 12:30 these days are "addicted to television".

Even if I spent five hours a day gaming (I don't doubt it sometimes, especially when I've just picked up a new game), my schoolwork gets done, I sleep a good five or six hours a night (note that I suffer horribly from delayed sleep-phase syndrome, so that's actually a positive), I never miss class unless I'm practically dead (and even then I try to drag myself to school), and my lack of a romantic life is by my choice, at least until I get home to Boston (no eligible women 'round the Wasteland, I'm afraid.)

Every single time I don't get an "A" on something my parents tell me I'm addicted to gaming and it's playing a role on my grades.

Your parents really need to go back to parenting school and pay attention during the part about "expecting too much of your children to the detriment of their mental health."

Oh wait, there ain't no such thing as "parenting school"? Well dammit, there should be. As long as you're passing (speaking as a college student who busted his ass for a 3.32 GPA last semester---that's a B+ average), and as long as you're putting in an effort, expecting perfection is just "stop fucking up your kids" for Mom and Dad.

 

[ShakesZX]

I've been addicted to caffine before, but never gaming. I've displayed signs of being addicted to gaming (constant thoughts about games, nervousness when not playing, etc.) but I've always overcome those feelings and they seem more like moods that have more in common with depression than addiction.

 

[Jaded Scribe]

I've struggled with game addiction at a time, namely to WoW and SWG. They were a way for me to get away from life, and interact with real people. I wasn't in a good place emotionally, and I needed somewhere to hide.

However, as my life got back on track, I started playing less. I still play quite a bit, but I manage my time now. Homework gets done, I spend time with the kids, the house is (usually) reasonably clean. Others (usually my mother-in-law) will start carping about it when they feel the need to ***** at me for whatever reason. But it holds no water. Do I often wish I was playing video games when I'm not? Of course. Seriously, which sounds better: sitting through Concepts of Programming Languages (I had a dry textbook and an even drier teacher. I LOATHED that class) or kicking back killing Templars?

Yes, game addiction is very real, and can cause serious problems. But, like so many other addictions, it's a symptom of deeper emotional issues (usually hiding from problems, or trying to find some way to feel good when day-to-day life doesn't cut it).

Any form of escapism can be addictive. The internet, television, even books. If engaging in an activity is detrimental to your life (you start underperforming at work or school, cut off social relationships to give you more time doing what you're doing, ignoring your health and safety in favor of doing it) and you can't stop, then it's an addiction.