2eclipse | gaming addiction

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so i originally heard this on BBC news on NPR tonight, but the news nazi's (i imagine they're a bit like tooth fairies) won't let me see their written story. so you guys get this version instead.
i would love to hear what everyone thinks of this. is it a real addiction?

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/08/D8I489R80.html

Current Mood: curious

Threaded | Flat

From:

cecilialark.livejournal.com

I know I've seen other journalism things on "game addiction" before. I don't know how much I buy into it, but then again anything in over-excess can become an addiction (anytime someone gets defensive about it and says, "I control ____________, ____________ doesn't control me, biiiaaatch!" you know that there is some addiction going on).

It seems weird that there would be a clinic JUST for that though. Does gambling count as "gaming"?

A friend once gave me this great point (after I had bought Sims to try playing that):

"If you are taking up all this time to play a game and create a persona that isn't real, are you really happy? I mean, you're not actually doing the things that you're pretending to do thanks to a good game programmer. Why not actually do the things your RPG is doing in real life and get the true satisfaction? It might be a bit scarier, but the rewards would be worth it. Instead of points, you'd be getting a well-lived life and that sounds a hell of a lot better."

I immediately sold my Sims game. I think he put it a lot better than I did, but damn, if that boy didn't make some serious sense.

I know tons of folks who live their lives with relationships solely based via computer, internet or game/fantasy. When you actually talk to them, they aren't happy. Maybe they could be if they had some real-time, real-life interpersonal connections.

Meanwhile, if it's just the clinic and addiction thing that tweaks your nose, I'm left with one serious question: Where in the hell are the clinics for fiber addicts? Because I know that I'm addicted to yarn and fibers. (Then again, at least I see and talk to people in order to feed the addiction and enjoy it.)