Gaming Addiction?

[Velocirapture07]

Is it real, or made up? I know that sometimes I feel like I can't put a good game down until I absolutely feel satisfied that I've accomplished an objective or finished a storyline. This of course sometimes causes me to play for long periods of time, like hours on end. I was wondering when is too much? Sometimes I feel like I'm neglecting the people I know because of it (even though I don't think I'm that bad). I believe I read a little about this in a news article a couple years ago about WOW, where people get "sucked" in and can't stop playing. Needless to say I don't touch WOW because of fear that this kind of thing would happen.

My college even goes so far as to block communication on the internet (firewall I guess) so that x-box live and other pc online games don't work. Of course there are ways around it though. This is supposed to cut down on gaming related gpa drops and dropouts. So is gaming addiction really that much of a problem? Does anyone else game like I do? The worst in my opinion are rpg's (esp. offline) because I'll play for long periods of time, and then realize that no one is ever going to really see what I accomplished.

p.s.: srry about my other thread that got locked: I accidentally hit the enter key too early...and it was kind of a repeat...didn't see that the first time.

 

[Velocirapture07]

srry, i'm writing more text...hit enter on accident

 

[gmer412]

That's a tough one. I think that you can be addicted to anything, so why not games?

 

[Lobsterkid101]

Yeah, i'd say it is. Anything that gives you pleasure has the potential to be addictive no matter how absurd it might be. Gambeling, sex, and (i just read this, not making it up) even baby addiction? are all things i've heard people addicted to, with the highest probably being addicted to hand sanitizer...

And if you can be addicted to that stuff, why the hell not vidoegames?

I mean, don't we judge games BY how addictive it is? Call of duty 4 has been called addictive innumerous amounts i'm sure...maybe its a different kind of addiction, i'm not sure.

 

[goodman528]

yes.

 

[Toastngravy]

It's mostly an idea based around the person. Two people can both play games, lets say, 3 hours a day. But one person may do it more religiously and become very uncomfortable when his play time isn't able to be done on a specific day. While the other just plays in their free time and doesn't quite mind if they have to stop for a while.

Mostly it's all up to interpretation based on people and their actions. Much like people who just happen to play video games and shoot up their school. Considering most teenagers these days play video games at one point or another blaming it on the game isn't the issue, it's the person.

Although just because I'm rambling at this point I'll leave it at Yes.

 

[nova18]

It is proven that gaming is addictive as it is a stimuli in the same way that drugs are.
If you find that you constantly need gaming activity, and that a lack of gaming stimuli causes negative effects then you have a certain level of addiction.

But I think we should keep that to ourselves in case the naysayers get hold of it and bring Jack Thompson back on the scene.

 

[Velocirapture07]

It is proven that gaming is addictive as it is a stimuli in the same way that drugs are.
If you find that you constantly need gaming activity, and that a lack of gaming stimuli causes negative effects then you have a certain level of addiction.

But I think we should keep that to ourselves in case the naysayers get hold of it and bring Jack Thompson back on the scene.

Haha, oh JT...

 

[Erana]

That's a tough one. I think that you can be addicted to anything, so why not games?

Exactly.
Medically, its not much a chemical thing, so if they aren't going to list blogging and watching TV, as well, then they are doin' it rong.

 

[JRCB]

Sure. Since when has addiction been bad?

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

If you can be addicted to exercise, you can damn well be addicted to videogames.

 

[Merciless.Fire]

Don't know why you couldn't get addicted. If you like it, and you do it enough, it becomes habit. I guess you could say the habit is the addiction, but you wouldn't interpret it as an addiction, just as something you like to do. A lot.

 

[DirkGently]

srry, i'm writing more text...hit enter on accident

There's something called the "Edit" button. Use it.

You are keeping me away from WAR by creating this thread.
I will now sodomize you with a firepoker and get back to playing.
*twitch*

If you're playing a game, why are you on the forums?

That's a tough one. I think that you can be addicted to anything, so why not games?

Exactly.
Medically, its not much a chemical thing, so if they aren't going to list blogging and watching TV, as well, then they are doin' it rong.

While you can't get addicted to WoW or Nethack the same way you can get addicted to heroin, you can get addicted to the chemicals your body releases to help itself function more efficiently in those matters related to whatever your doing. Hence, you're not addicted to WoW, WoW is just the delivery method of choice. I'm not an expert on human biology or anything of the sort, but it makes sense, no?

 

[nick_knack]

Well, yeah, but only in the same way one could get addicted to say, a book.

 

[Erana]

That's a tough one. I think that you can be addicted to anything, so why not games?

Exactly.
Medically, its not much a chemical thing, so if they aren't going to list blogging and watching TV, as well, then they are doin' it rong.

While you can't get addicted to WoW or Nethack the same way you can get addicted to heroin, you can get addicted to the chemicals your body releases to help itself function more efficiently in those matters related to whatever your doing. Hence, you're not addicted to WoW, WoW is just the delivery method of choice. I'm not an expert on human biology or anything of the sort, but it makes sense, no?

Well, yeah. Everything is technically chemical. But it isn't a substance, and we aren't programmed for gaming like we are sex.

 

[DirkGently]

That's a tough one. I think that you can be addicted to anything, so why not games?

Exactly.
Medically, its not much a chemical thing, so if they aren't going to list blogging and watching TV, as well, then they are doin' it rong.

While you can't get addicted to WoW or Nethack the same way you can get addicted to heroin, you can get addicted to the chemicals your body releases to help itself function more efficiently in those matters related to whatever your doing. Hence, you're not addicted to WoW, WoW is just the delivery method of choice. I'm not an expert on human biology or anything of the sort, but it makes sense, no?

Well, yeah. Everything is technically chemical. But it isn't a substance, and we aren't programmed for gaming like we are sex.

True, but somebody has to offer a counter-point. Though I don't think you'll ever get gaming addictions the same way you get heroin or alcohol addictions, and I feel that people who go to Gamers Anonymous are people to weak-willed to own up to their own mistakes, I think there are some cases of addiction-like behaviour, though it's really an obsessive behaviour.

 

[SquirrelPants]

That's a tough one. I think that you can be addicted to anything, so why not games?

Exactly.
Medically, its not much a chemical thing, so if they aren't going to list blogging and watching TV, as well, then they are doin' it rong.

While you can't get addicted to WoW or Nethack the same way you can get addicted to heroin, you can get addicted to the chemicals your body releases to help itself function more efficiently in those matters related to whatever your doing. Hence, you're not addicted to WoW, WoW is just the delivery method of choice. I'm not an expert on human biology or anything of the sort, but it makes sense, no?

Well, yeah. Everything is technically chemical. But it isn't a substance, and we aren't programmed for gaming like we are sex.

True, but somebody has to offer a counter-point. Though I don't think you'll ever get gaming addictions the same way you get heroin or alcohol addictions, and I feel that people who go to Gamers Anonymous are people to weak-willed to own up to their own mistakes, I think there are some cases of addiction-like behaviour, though it's really an obsessive behaviour.

But what you're not taking into consideration is that the body and mind eventually learn that this thing is going to be stimulating them all the time, and therefore it's more like your brain is reprogramming itself to make you a more focused gamer. The same thing happens with things like tobacco, albeit in an entirely different way.
It's not so much a case of weak will as it is a case of "Get out of the house a bit more than you do."

On a completely off-subject note: DirkGently? Awesome name. Love that book.
Anyway, back on topic.

 

[DirkGently]

That's a tough one. I think that you can be addicted to anything, so why not games?

Exactly.
Medically, its not much a chemical thing, so if they aren't going to list blogging and watching TV, as well, then they are doin' it rong.

While you can't get addicted to WoW or Nethack the same way you can get addicted to heroin, you can get addicted to the chemicals your body releases to help itself function more efficiently in those matters related to whatever your doing. Hence, you're not addicted to WoW, WoW is just the delivery method of choice. I'm not an expert on human biology or anything of the sort, but it makes sense, no?

Well, yeah. Everything is technically chemical. But it isn't a substance, and we aren't programmed for gaming like we are sex.

True, but somebody has to offer a counter-point. Though I don't think you'll ever get gaming addictions the same way you get heroin or alcohol addictions, and I feel that people who go to Gamers Anonymous are people to weak-willed to own up to their own mistakes, I think there are some cases of addiction-like behaviour, though it's really an obsessive behaviour.

But what you're not taking into consideration is that the body and mind eventually learn that this thing is going to be stimulating them all the time, and therefore it's more like your brain is reprogramming itself to make you a more focused gamer. The same thing happens with things like tobacco, albeit in an entirely different way.
It's not so much a case of weak will as it is a case of "Get out of the house a bit more than you do."

On a completely off-subject note: DirkGently? Awesome name. Love that book.
Anyway, back on topic.

Firstly, thanks.

Secondly, on topic, I meant things like "Here is my goal, I must reach it. I must hit rank X on the leaderboards, I must get this new staff my warlock, I must beat this game on this difficulty, or in the case of Nethack, I must ascend!

Also, by weak-willed I meant that someone would say "I know I didn't what I was supposed to do, because I was playing this video game, but it's not my fault, I'm an addict! I need to start going to rehab!" instead of just saying "I know I didn't what I was supposed to do, I was off playing video games."

 

[McClaud]

Sure. Since when has addiction been bad?

When it interfers in your life to the point that you can literally do nothing else. Because you just went from being addicted to overly addicted to the point of obsession.

The American Psychological Association determined quite some time ago that you can be addicted to video games. Depending on your level of attention, ability to multitask, communicate outside the game, etc., you may or may not be more likely to become addicted. It's a case-by-case basis, and if you think you are addicted to video games, chances of you being addicted is more than likely.

 

[DirkGently]

Spoiler

srry, i'm writing more text...hit enter on accident

There's something called the "Edit" button. Use it.

You are keeping me away from WAR by creating this thread.
I will now sodomize you with a firepoker and get back to playing.
*twitch*

If you're playing a game, why are you on the forums?

That's a tough one. I think that you can be addicted to anything, so why not games?

Exactly.
Medically, its not much a chemical thing, so if they aren't going to list blogging and watching TV, as well, then they are doin' it rong.

While you can't get addicted to WoW or Nethack the same way you can get addicted to heroin, you can get addicted to the chemicals your body releases to help itself function more efficiently in those matters related to whatever your doing. Hence, you're not addicted to WoW, WoW is just the delivery method of choice. I'm not an expert on human biology or anything of the sort, but it makes sense, no?

Why can't I be playing a game and, while the loading screen is up, browsing the forums?
Also, it's psychological, I think.

If the game isn't loaded then how is he keeping you from it?