How can I help a mmo addict?

[Kayaanai]

If you somehow turn off the electricity from her house she would have to go somewhere else to play O.O

 

[hondommond]

Well man it kinda sounds like she doesnt like you...

other than that find out how much she plays if its more than 10 hrs then she needs help

and Females dont go on the intarwebz(including MMOrpugerz...

 

[Syntax Error]

Play it with her. All you have to do is ruin the experience for her in-game. Just be careful and don't get addicted yourself.

 

[freakyHippo]

There is a good scene in the movie half baked which basically sums up my feelings on this. Here is the transcript (in this case replace the word 'marijunana' with 'world of warcraft'):

Thurgood: I'm here today because I'm addicted..to marijuana.
Rehab patient: You in here 'cuz of marijuana?! Man, this is some BULLSHIT!
Bob Saget/Cocaine addict: Marijuana is not a drug. I used to suck dick for coke.
Rehab patient: I seen him [do it]!
Bob Saget/Cocaine addict: Now that's an addiction, man. You ever suck some dick for marijuana?
Thurgood: No, I can't say I have.
Bob Saget/Cocaine addict: I didn't think so.

 

[Letsrock456]

I have two tips

Tip one: If she's happy, She's happy, if you do manage to break her away from it, she won't thank you for it.

Tip two: If you really have to get her off it, try making an account and talking to her online friends, ask them to help.

 

[tehweave]

It is difficult to pry a MMORpuger from their computer... I remember I stopped playing WOW mostly due to influence from a friend, but also complete boredom of the game after a while. If you go by her house, sit her down, and talk to her in a calm and peaceful manner, she will most likely listen. Tell her how much you care for her, tell her her friends miss her, tell her you guys are there for her, that sort of thing. She will listen, especially if you don't budge on arguments for why she should stop playing.

 

[iron codpiece]

Sneak on to her computer and fuck up all the internet settings beyond all recognition. Maybe even delete some critial MMO files. If it's that bad.

Maybe offer her the only thing she likes more than MMO. (Ice Cream, Sex, Fancy Teas)

 

[Asehujiko]

For a start, ignore all the idiots basicly telling you to break into her house and steal her computer. If she's just being antosocial, it will make her think of you as a control freak and hate you. If she's got a bad case of OCD, she'll find something else to do all day and odds are it's less healthy then sitting still. If she's despressed as i suspect, there's a big chance attempting to control her life that way will cause her to lash out violently against either you or herself.

Find her a shrink to see what's realy wrong.

 

[Erana]

Sounds like she suffers from despression, not OCD. Find her a shrink.

This. Or have her blood tested for hormone levels 'n such. Can effect a chick pretty badly, but can have an easy fix.

 

[Gruthar]

I would just tell her that you're worried about her and want to know if something is wrong. Or you could just ask her point-blank "Are you happy?" As long as she knows that you guys care, that should be enough. If she wants help, help her. But, if she's content with the way her life is going, that's her choice. Don't try to force her to do or give up anything. Even if it is mildly self-destructive, you should respect her decision if you wish to remain her friend.

Ultimately her life is not your responsibility.

 

[stormcaller]

This is coming from a MMO-fan, leave her to it.

Hang out with your other friends for a bit, just let her do what she wants to do eventually she'll find a balance between life and game that she finds acceptable.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

Shrink. You'd be amazed how helpful it can be. Also tell her that there's a difference between going to a Shrink and actually being crazy.

 

[jasoncyrus]

Hi it's been a while since I've posted on here but recently I have started to lose a really good friend to the dreaded depths of mmorpg addiction and I need some advice to help her, so it's back to the good ol' escapist.

Now this isn't like you would think ie. a guy being too protective of his female friend. No this is pretty bad she hasn't been out of her house for anything but uni in the past 5 weeks and from what I've gotten from mutual friends she hasn't been on msn much either, in fact when I do see her online and try talking she doesn't answer or is really distant even when I really needed her for some moral support the other week. And that's not to mention how she's been neglecting homework as well.

I've tried to get her out of the house and keep trying to get her to talk, I even tried telling her like it is and that she's treating her friends like shit but she just gets angry at that.

I've never given up on a friend but I just don't know what to do she keeps blowing her real friends off for these people in-game, does anyone know how I can get her off of this and get my friend back?

One question.

Have you tried being in her shoes?

I am a self profession gaming addict and my flavour of the current period of time is mmos. do you have ANY idea how annoying it is to have some uninformed friend tell you what you are doing is wrong?

It's like being gay and having catholics camp outside your front door with protest signs.

She's going to uni, thats what count. Shes not letting it "ruin" her life. If you wanna talk to her get online a bit more instead of trying to force the outside world on her. Trust me, she'll only dispise hate and want to murder you for it.

And finally your last line made me quite...angry, to say the least.

Just because she has friends online does NOT mean they arn't REAL friends. If you even *dare* to say a real friend is someone you met face to face then you dont have a clue what a real friend is.

if YOU were a REAL friend you'd be supporting her and tempting her to come outside with things she likes, like inviting her round for a lan party or a console night.

Gamers are like rabbits, or some other small Agoraphobic animal, you have to have something THEY want to get them out of their burrow. If you try to force her out of her comfort zone with things she snt crazy about then you dont deserve to be her friend.

 

[timmytom1]

Only a bullet between the eyes can cure an MMo addiction permanently

 

[Legion]

Way to pick up on that one little bit and miss the rest.

She has told me that she like's these people but would never want to meet them in real life and it's not just the social interaction between me and her that's taking a beating because of it, there's also others and her study.

I like how you changed it from "Way to pick up on that one little fact you twat!" to "Way to pick up on that one little bit and miss the rest."
Very politically correct.

But no, I didn't miss the rest. I just decided to respond to one part.
I personally find your reaction distasteful.

Honestly, what has this world come to that a girl can't be antisocial without people trying to "fix" her. She's found something she's enjoying so just leave her alone with it. She may eventually get bored of it or she may not, and she'll either fail or she won't. But It'll be her choice and her fault. And she'll learn her lesson.

And now it's time for your lesson. She's distant and doesn't want to do anything, that's her call. Don't get all pissy just because she isn't behaving like you expect her to. Sometimes friends need space and you just have to accept it. If you won't accept it, well then you're not being a very good friend.

I agree with this man.

Gotta say I agree with you on this, just because she has friends in her online escapism, doesn't make them "fake" or not "proper" friends.

And incidentally, OP, this is why I was being a "twat."
Little things like phrasing bug me.

This. For the love of all that is holy/unholy/mildy distasteful This.

 

[Beltaine]

If she's in WoW, is she in a guild? Raiding?

A raiding guild is one of the biggest timesinks in any MMO because you're constantly competing with not only the game and your own time, but also all of your guildmates.

I finally got out of raiding and then out of WoW when I got bored of trying to keep my raiding character in step with my guildies. Once I got to the point that I'd never catch up, the desire to play completely left me.

I'm still floundering around trying to find a new hobby to occupy my time, but I at least have moved off of MMO's for the most part. EVE is still an addiction, but I can station camp while I learn skills there and play when it's convenient to me.

 

[roboosh]

Cut her hands off. Can't play an MMO without hands. On a more serious note, leave her alone, if she wants to waste her life playing a game then it's her bussiness

pretty much this.
I don't want to sound as if I don't care, but you know, shit happens.
Anyway, it's not like it's drugs -- WoW (or whatever mmorpg she's playing) gets boring after a while.