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General discussion (archive)Is it possible to be addicted to gaming?(31 posts)(31 posts)
(31 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 25, 2011
A fairly straight-forward question. And I don't mean in the 'Dude, I'm sooooo addicted to *insert game name here* right now!" sense. I mean addicted in the 'wreck your life to the point where you are doing shameful/harmful s*** to yourself and others just to indulge in your habit' sense.

See, I was watching TV and came across a program called "My Gaming Addiction" last night. I probably watched about forty or so minutes before dozing off. The portion of the program that I did watch didn't really detail what would be traditionally considered addictive behavior. Were a bunch of dudes playing WoW excessively? I suppose. Did some folks hook up and start relationships online? Yep. Perhaps some more extreme forms of behavior were shown in the part(s) of the program I missed. But as I watched, I had the sense that I was the victim of a sensationalist title.

Still, it did make me wonder. Is gaming something that one can truly be addicted to the way that we can become addicted to cigarettes, booze, drugs, etc? Or is this just an example of society allowing folks to overindulge by absolving them of responsibility for their behavior? I'm not sure either way. I lean towards the latter because I am a recovering addict and know how destructive true addiction can be. At the same time, though, I don't want to come off as some sort of dismissive prick by discounting the possibility altogher.

Thoughts? (Other than, "Christ, Homer, for a straight-forward question, that sure was long winded!"
Post edited February 25, 2011 by HomerSimpson
Posted February 25, 2011
Some people have addictive personalities that ultimately mean they can become addicted to damn near anything. It's not the same as chemical addiction (such as is the case with nicotine in cigarettes) and subsequently won't affect the vast majority. Some however won't be so lucky.
Posted February 25, 2011
A psychological dependency, sure, i guess so. Hard for me to say really, as i would probably be one of the addicts. Though i don't think it's games specifically, at least, not for me. I only get the shakes, and feeling of disorientation, lack of purpose, when the net is down, even if i don't need it. I love to google stuff up in the middle of a movie, or tv series, just to look up stuff. Sometimes it takes a few hours to watch a specific episode. When the net is down, i can't seem to focus on anything, not even willing to watch tv series etc. Even if i do, i maniacally check for the network state while watching.
When it comes to games, i used to play a lot. i mean, A LOT back years ago [late 80s - late 90s], and i've played so much that i've managed not to pass to the next year in highschool. I used to wake up with the "school... GAMES" feeling. And since i have problems with long term concentrations, i used to draw game related stuff all the time. I can still draw e1m1 map from Wolfenstein 3d from memory, and finish the first three Doom 2 levels without a monitor.
Come to think of it, perhaps it's more of a disturbing passion than an addiction.
Posted February 25, 2011
I would say yes. I know at one time I was addicted to MMO's - I would skimp on studying, skip or delay meals, and go almost entirely without sleep to play more. I'd say that's dangerous. I never smoked or drank, so I cannot compare it to other forms of addiction, but I know that even now I'll get nearly uncontrollable urges to reinstall Guild Wars or Runes of Magic and play. I'd say that counts as an addiction. I know my desire to play MMO's was far stronger than my erstwhile addiction to caffeine. I don't seem to have the same problem with singleplayer games, but I am cold turkey on all forms of MMO's now. And, I should point out, much happier for it.
Posted February 25, 2011
Sure, you can get addicted to pretty much anything. I think I am addicted to gaming to a lesser extent, and actually, many people here may be. And it isn't anything to worry about as long as it doesn't intervene with your daily activities or life - I do know of people who are really, really addicted and barely eat or sleep because of that, who ignore their family and friends just so they can play. That's bad. If gaming makes you postpone important things to do ... Well, it ain't AS bad, but it's still not good. If you can stand up and do whatever whenever you want, well... I think that's ok, even if you'll feel strong urge to play something at times.
Posted February 25, 2011
Well... a good friend of mine (I hope he doesn't mind my sharing of his story) admitted he used to be addicted to a Tiberian Sun. And by that, he means he virtually shut off reality while playing and set aside everything (his studies included) so that he could get back to the ga ASAP. Nowadays, he's very cautious about what he plays as he's really ashamed of his behaviour. (For example, he didn't even check out Din's Curse because he fears it would be too addictive for him.)

Also, I've read a confession in a magazine by a gamer who wrote he played so much WoW that everything in his life started to degrade (he put up all too much weight, got alienated from his rea-life friends, performed way worse at school...).
Posted February 25, 2011
Is it possible to be addicted to gaming?

Certainly, and I believe there must be life-wrecking cases as you mentioned. Gaming is a big hobby of mine, and I remember playing for hours and hours every day when I was younger (darn you, Oblivion!) However, being in 12th grade now with exams getting nearer and nearer, I've limited gaming so it doesn't interfere with studying and me getting the best grades possible.

Luckily, with every year I find myself playing less and less (kinda odd, knowing I'm about to study Computer Science and want to be part of the games industry, m?) Sure, there's this omg-so-addicting game every now and then, but weeks when I go to sleep with red eyes are a thing of the past.

I don't have a girlfriend at the moment, although I just broke up with this girl just more than a month ago who I truly loved, after a 9 month relationship. Safe to say, my gaming hobby had no influence whatsoever in her decision.

Now when gaming gets into the way of socialising with friends, I'll sure become worried. Honestly, though, I don't see that happening in a while.
Posted February 25, 2011
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HomerSimpson: A fairly straight-forward question. And I don't mean in the 'Dude, I'm sooooo addicted to *insert game name here* right now!" sense. I mean addicted in the 'wreck your life to the point where you are doing shameful/harmful s*** to yourself and others just to indulge in your habit' sense.

See, I was watching TV and came across a program called "My Gaming Addiction" last night. I probably watched about forty or so minutes before dozing off. The portion of the program that I did watch didn't really detail what would be traditionally considered addictive behavior. Were a bunch of dudes playing WoW excessively? I suppose. Did some folks hook up and start relationships online? Yep. Perhaps some more extreme forms of behavior were shown in the part(s) of the program I missed. But as I watched, I had the sense that I was the victim of a sensationalist title.

Still, it did make me wonder. Is gaming something that one can truly be addicted to the way that we can become addicted to cigarettes, booze, drugs, etc? Or is this just an example of society allowing folks to overindulge by absolving them of responsibility for their behavior? I'm not sure either way. I lean towards the latter because I am a recovering addict and know how destructive true addiction can be. At the same time, though, I don't want to come off as some sort of dismissive prick by discounting the possibility altogher.

Thoughts? (Other than, "Christ, Homer, for a straight-forward question, that sure was long winded!"
A very interesting question and thanks for posting it.

We humans can get an overindulgent urge in a lot of ways, some more harmful than others. We call the more harmful ones addiction, like drugs, alcohol, cigs, etc. We also call anything else addiction, but flippantly so, such as golf or shopping. But your exact words were: "'wreck your life to the point where you are doing shameful/harmful s***. On that point, getting hooked on gaming would be what I would call an overindulgent urge that can have harmful effects, but very rarely as harmful as, say, an urge to use drugs or stand in the street with your eyes closed or what have you. Seems to me there is a spectrum of seriousness that tends to get smeared together by calling everything an addiction.
Posted February 25, 2011
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Runehamster: I would say yes. I know at one time I was addicted to MMO's - I would skimp on studying, skip or delay meals, and go almost entirely without sleep to play more. I'd say that's dangerous.
Not if you're one of the undead.

You can be addicted to anything like some once told me.Be it,video games,the new thing with a i in the name that apple made.How strong are you addicted to x.?That will be the key to understanding the level of danger.You can be addicted to something and not have it take over your life,depending on your meaning of the word addicted.

Captain Death :The plan is ready sir.
Me:Good send the first one in.
Death:Yip yip!
me:Bringing to you a case of someone that is addicted to something.
randomgoblin23242:I stab! Stab stab stab! Kill kill kill! I like to stab for it hurts and kill things. I like to kill ,so i stab!
me:That will be all. Send in the next one.
Death:Right away sir!
Randomorc24232:Me like to make things blow up. Me like when things blow up. Me like finding out new ways to make things blow up.Me happy when i find a new way to blow things up.
me:That will be all from you. Send in the last one.
Death:Bad news sir,our last guest had to say home and take care of their pet spider.
me:Dam, time for plan b. Well what are you all still doing here?Get out nothing for you to see here!
Post edited February 25, 2011 by uruk
Posted February 25, 2011
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Arteveld: A psychological dependency, sure, i guess so. Hard for me to say really, as i would probably be one of the addicts. Though i don't think it's games specifically, at least, not for me. I only get the shakes, and feeling of disorientation, lack of purpose, when the net is down, even if i don't need it.
Good point. I would guess many of us are kinda borderline game addicts, but I would also guess that most of us would struggle a lot more if we lost connection to the internet (I mean, I can handle a vacation without a connection, but sitting around at home without being able to check mail and forums, surf the web, play online...? that's torture).
Posted February 25, 2011
In 1999, near the end of my university I had a ‘light version’ of addiction playing Fallout 2. If I didn’t have to go for work I could play this round the clock. Almost every day after I finished my office work I was meeting my girl friend for about 15 min only to say hello and inform her that I’m going straight home to write thesis…Of course I didn’t tell her truth and at home I spent hours playing F2. The same story for weekends…Even at work I was thinking constantly about that game…Luckily I was able to see final animations in time to pass all exams, successfully graduate… - and yes.. marry that girl :-)
Never met game like Fallout 2 again :-(
Post edited February 25, 2011 by tburger
Posted February 25, 2011
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Arteveld: A psychological dependency, sure, i guess so. Hard for me to say really, as i would probably be one of the addicts. Though i don't think it's games specifically, at least, not for me. I only get the shakes, and feeling of disorientation, lack of purpose, when the net is down, even if i don't need it.
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Zeewolf: Good point. I would guess many of us are kinda borderline game addicts, but I would also guess that most of us would struggle a lot more if we lost connection to the internet (I mean, I can handle a vacation without a connection, but sitting around at home without being able to check mail and forums, surf the web, play online...? that's torture).
I really have to wonder if internet isn't more like getting used to turning on the light whenever you want to, but with information.
Posted February 25, 2011
Rock, Paper, Shotgun has done some coverage of the subject of gaming addiction. A good example is here:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/12/06/what-is-the-truth-about-gaming-addiction-2/

In short, the conclusion seemed to be that there is no definitive evidence that games are inherently addicting, but people with addictive personalities can become addicted to gaming much like they can be addicted to other activities, such as gambling.

Gambling addiction is a much better comparison... games are definitely not addicting in the same way as cigarettes, which generate a chemical dependency.
Post edited February 25, 2011 by Waltorious
Posted February 25, 2011
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Zeewolf: Good point. I would guess many of us are kinda borderline game addicts, but I would also guess that most of us would struggle a lot more if we lost connection to the internet (I mean, I can handle a vacation without a connection, but sitting around at home without being able to check mail and forums, surf the web, play online...? that's torture).
Exactly! I was on a 3 day trip with my friends 1,5 a year ago [i don't socialize a lot], and i was completely ok without the net. Though i believe to have developed stomach ulcers then.
Anyhow, since i don't do social stuff, especially emotional exhibitionism [blogs, twitter, etc], nor do i email a lot [used to do a s..tload of IRCing 10 years ago, but i quit, i admit, i was addicted to IRC]. Hell, this is the only forum i'm on. and i still have the shakes, when i don't have the Net. Completely ridiculous, since that should allow me to move my ass and actually do something, a cupboard or whatever.
I'm not going to miss anything, people survived without getting news on any topic 5 minutes after something happened, right?
I've noticed i play less and less than i used to. In 1999 or so, i could sit around and replay Deadly Games a zillion times, make every move of every merc chess-perfect. Now, i don't have the willpower to finish JA2. Saved on Meduna's doorstep, and that's it. Lies there for 4 days or so.
What is REALLY funny, is that this lowering interest in gaming, worries me. Since games are the biggest [and beside music, the only] driving force in my life, i guess i'll have to make a switch, and live a life as a carpenter. Wonder if one can get addicted to making furniture..
Posted February 25, 2011
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Waltorious: Rock, Paper, Shotgun has done some coverage of the subject of gaming addiction. A good example is here:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/12/06/what-is-the-truth-about-gaming-addiction-2/

In short, the conclusion seemed to be that there is no definitive evidence that games are inherently addicting, but people with addictive personalities can become addicted to gaming much like they can be addicted to other activities, such as gambling.

Gambling addiction is a much better comparison... games are definitely not addicting in the same way as cigarettes, which generate a chemical dependency.
I like this post. It demonstrates intelligence.
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General discussion (archive)Is it possible to be addicted to gaming?(31 posts)(31 posts)
(31 posts)