Seriously, most of these articles are by those antiquated middle aged men that would be in just as much a huff if we said their fox hunting and pipe smoking was a worse habit.
Which they are.
Which they are.
Question of the Day, May 26, 2010
- Thread starter The Escapist Staff
- Start date
Gaming addiction is not, and will not be a medical condition.
Mental, maybe, but a actual addiction would require chemicals to enter your brain and you become addicted to those.
If there ever was such a thing as video game addiction, it would be caused by chemicals in the brain that are released by "fun" and "pleasure" and you could get the same rush from doing anything else that you consider fun.
If this means that I'm addicted to fun, by the gods, someone must find me some help!
Mental, maybe, but a actual addiction would require chemicals to enter your brain and you become addicted to those.
If there ever was such a thing as video game addiction, it would be caused by chemicals in the brain that are released by "fun" and "pleasure" and you could get the same rush from doing anything else that you consider fun.
If this means that I'm addicted to fun, by the gods, someone must find me some help!
=))
seriously? games are the latest looming threat?
anything you enjoy doing can become addictive.
seriously? games are the latest looming threat?
anything you enjoy doing can become addictive.
Any addiction is serious. Be it drugs, alcohol, gambling, gaming, or anything else. Once it starts being an addiction it's a serious problem, no matter how harmless the activity is.
I'd say yes, gaming addiction IS serious. I wouldn't say that it's on par with drug addiction though, but I've noticed among many friends and friends of friends that they go nuts unless they play whatever game they're into every day. Take WoW addicts for example, someone freakin' DIED because he couldn't stop playing.
That's serious if you ask me.
But as mentioned by someone before me, it takes discipline. But on the other hand, so does quitting drugs.
That's serious if you ask me.
But as mentioned by someone before me, it takes discipline. But on the other hand, so does quitting drugs.
Gaming addiction is related to gambling addiction. Both aim for a goal and make you euphoric when you win. I think gaming addiction does exist. I'm a teacher and I've seen students addicted to games (esp. WoW, Runescape, Warrock) At school, they can't concentrate, they can only talk about the last time they've played and what they're going to do the next time. That is, if they even come to school.
Talking to them about this puts them in denial. Most common phrases:
- Gaming addiction doesn't exist.
- I can stop whenever I want.
- I'm bored.
And it's my older colleagues who are mostly in denial about this. We have terrific school-programs for drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, but none for gaming.
I don't know if you can call this behaviour an addiction, but it's nearly impossible to make them stop. (except for taking away their computer, but what about homework then) And if it's not an addiction in the medical sense, it sure is a problem. I've seen students graduate with grades that are half of what they could achieve.
Talking to them about this puts them in denial. Most common phrases:
- Gaming addiction doesn't exist.
- I can stop whenever I want.
- I'm bored.
And it's my older colleagues who are mostly in denial about this. We have terrific school-programs for drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, but none for gaming.
I don't know if you can call this behaviour an addiction, but it's nearly impossible to make them stop. (except for taking away their computer, but what about homework then) And if it's not an addiction in the medical sense, it sure is a problem. I've seen students graduate with grades that are half of what they could achieve.
I posted on an article somewhat like this before and I'll say it again! Steve Pope is a dumb ass. I have friends who have become hooked on cocaine, and I have friends who are game addicts. My cocaine addicted friends actually scare me, whereas the game addicts are just the same as everybody else. Steve Pope is simply an idiot who doesn't understand what he is talking about.
I fully agree with you!Straying Bullet said:
The closets thing i can relate to a gaming "addiction" is: When you are having a good time/fun or something like that, you're brain sends out signals of pleasure. and because you are affected positive of these signals, you want more. some people can't handle this and they are the "addicts".
Anything can at some break point transform into addiction, so video games as well. Once you stop having control about how much time you spend on it compared to other, especially more important activities/daily routines you are, like it or not, addicted.
Is it on par with drugs/alcohol or other more common addiction? I doubt, it doesnt affect your health nor perception in such direct ways, but still can be somewhat dangerous in terms of social part of life (including education/work). Its still quite far from the drug addiction state, but probably in some cases may be a noticeable problem.
Is it on par with drugs/alcohol or other more common addiction? I doubt, it doesnt affect your health nor perception in such direct ways, but still can be somewhat dangerous in terms of social part of life (including education/work). Its still quite far from the drug addiction state, but probably in some cases may be a noticeable problem.
I think it's just one of those things that people can get addicted to, simply because of the rewards a lot of games offer for playing (the high from beating a level, killing a noob, etc.). But that sort of addiction is psychological, rather than the real chemical addiction that can come from cocaine, alcohol, or caffeine.