Gaming Addiction a Growing Concern

i was addicted to a video game, but now i quit litterally tonihgt

Easiest way to get over these MMO type games is to step back and see the big picture in that you're playing them ultimately for nothing.

Most people just get caught up in the little game objectives that they lose sight of the big picture.

You don’t seem to speak from experience. D&D was the first game I stepped into and saw first hand people addicted to it. A number of factors played into the addiction. In real life, they were kind of a loser, didn’t do well in sports, looked down upon by others, never did well in class. But online, they could be great. They could achieve accomplishments and seek rewards.

Games are a cheap getaway, but online games go far deeper. Friends are made, real people, that you get along with and enjoy the game together. You go to work, to make money, to buy stuff you want and be with the people you care about. Well people here see things about the same, except rather then going clubbing or hanging around bars, they do it on a video game. It’s a social getaway.

Alimar, I tried to stay neutral, but I'm actually an avid gamer who has been playing since the first Doom on PC.

- John Brandon

For starters I don't play many games but in no way do I think that they're bad no how many deaths are related to video games and how many are related to stairs I'm guessing more come from stairs now should we get rid of stairs cause they're dangerous? also it's an outlet for people I believe that for many of these people who use it for an emotional outlet it probably stops them from snapping.

I believe the purpose of life is to be happy. As much as we can analyze all aspects of life; whether it's social interactions, evolutionary biology, the Cosmos, etc., it all leads to the result of ultimately being free from suffering and being happy, which could be said true for all sentient beings. Playing WoW, as research articles have tried to prove, can improve many skills that can be applied to real life situations. These skills range from problem solving, marketing (playing the auction house, managing/investing currency), social skills (how to interact with strangers, becoming a member of a guild, which in itself teaches the individual quite a great deal), and ultimately how to display yourself as a good person. These developed qualities can be implemented in real life and many of the WoW players I feel will do that when they're ready and realize there's more to life than striving to get ahead in an endless cycle of irrelevent progress on their computer. We cannot survive without human affection, and being present with others is one of the keys to true lasting happiness and it cannot really be achieved through WoW. But it is a useful tool to have fun and enjoy yourself with moderation, and there are many out there that need to be educated in regards to learning that there are potentials of our human happiness, and it has a limit on a game like WoW. So, yes it's very addicting and is a problem to thousands out there, but there are much bigger problems in this world than this.

I played WoW during my freshmen year of high school while parents were getting a divorce, my dimentia racked grandmother was dying in my house, and I was going to a new school. Not only did WoW keep me sane, but it helped me make valuable friends. And I am not afraid to admit that I cried on the night that i quit. Mostly because I can hide behind a username. =)

Well my experience from WoW is a roommate playing it into the wee hours of the night, lighting up the entire room so that it had been the most difficult sleeping experiences of my life.

And when I look back on all of the time I spent playing Diablo 2 (mini WoW), I think "well, I have a level 90 sorceress. In the meantime, my best friend has a girlfriend."

Hmmm...well, you can make online fake friends, or you can make "IRL" friends. And those IRL friends will be much better than your online ones always.

Like anything - it's really about moderation. It's not a problem to be addicted to an MMO, I've been playing one for almost 4 years now, as long as you can learn to balance it and prevent it from interfering in your day to day life.

"A Red Storm is rising.Those who shall perish shall do so without honour or glory, but will burn as those who were crushed before them." - Unknown -

There is really nothing wrong with WoW. Saying that the game is the cause for people's addiction problems is ignorant. It is not the game that is at fault, it's the people who get addicted. If you can become addicted to a video game, it's likely that you are susceptible and probably are addicted to other things, i.e. alcohol, pornography, drugs.

I'm tired of the blame always falling on somebody else or something else, other than the real culprit. If somebody gets addicted to WoW, and it begins to effect their relationships with people or their health, it's their fault. If somebody robs a taxi driver and then decides to kill him, it isn't GTA's fault, it's the parents that weren't paying attention to their child. If a child goes on a shooting spree because he "saw it in a video game", does anybody stop to wonder how badly the parents messed up? How did they not notice their sons had guns!

The point is, video games are harmless if parents are watching their children, talking to them and teaching them what is right and wrong. If an eleven year old child is left alone to play GTA4 because his parents aren't watching him aren't taking an active role in his life, yes he will probably have some development issues. But is it the video game's fault or the neglectful parents who should never have purchased the video game for him in the first place?

By the way, I play WoW pretty frequently. I'm a happily married man with two cats and a good job. I spend time with my friends both in WoW and in the real world. WoW has not adversely affected my life but where's the news article about me?

I Spent 3 years playing World of Warcraft. 1 year hardcore. Anyone who has played, knows what I'm talking about, but for those who haven't, let me explain what hardcore means. Hardcore means that WOW is literally like a 2nd job. 40 hours per week inside WOW isn't uncommon for many people.

The argument can be made that MMORPGS like WOW are addictive and can have negative real life consequences, however, it is important to note that these games are A, a great stress reliever, B, a nice way to kill time during the winter for those of us who never got into sports, and C, do foster real friendships. There were people inside my old guild that were so close that they literally helped out each other on bills/groceries. I don't know many people in RL outside of family who would willingly offer money to someone in need, let alone someone they have never actually met before outside of typing/voice chat. So to the person that didn't make any real friends, it's a shame for you, but it does happen to others.
In my opinion, there isn't enough data out there to suggest that MMORPGS are more harmful than any other hobby taken to the extreme. Just google the guy who got divorced over his model train collection to see an example of what I'm talking about.

I truly hope that this doesn't turn into a huge issue because the majority of us who play MMORPGS, even the hardcore, still balance real life just fine. During the peak of my hardcore year, I never missed work to play, my house remained clean, when I was attending school, my grades remained around a 3.4 GPA, and I didn't become a living ghost to my family. The moment gaming becomes listed as "addictive", people will begin to view games the way they view drugs. If and when that happens, it's only a matter of time before games become illegal.

I play video games but, when it becomes your life I think you've gone to far.

I've got a cousin who I think has forgotten other people exist and when i think about his future it isn't to bright.
However, I don't think anybody can tell you what to do with your life but if the only thing your life consists of is gaming I think you need to take another look at the world.

test

I am a non-gaming 42 yr old mother of a 15 year old son who had never played video games excessively, but who insidiously got sucked into the mire of World of Warcraft this summer to the point that other formerly enjoyable activities were being pushed aside--including hanging out with friends. This was a totally new way for this fairly outgoing child to behave. This may not be labeled "addiction", but it was weird for me to observe. That's why I bought internet filtering software called Ez Internet Timer. It helps to restrict internet access and block Internet browsers, e-mails, messengers and keep them blocked for as she wish.

Video games are fun.

I like video games.

But remember, as the Hebrew King Solomon said (some of his sayings are in the Bible):

"There is a time and a place...for everything"

I play video games, and I like them a lot. But my mom loves me enough to limit how much I and my siblings can play on them.

If anybody allows the virtual world - as wonderful as it is - to become more important than the real world, then they need to take a video game time out.

this is a very good platform for game lover.god job.
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Rider21
Anybody know where the World of Warcraft European servers are located? Someone said they are all in Britain but I am not sure. Would they have some in Germany, some in Finland etc?

I am trying to do a business plan for my own massive multiplayer game and was wonder how they spread out the resources.
WoW Europe Gold

Anybody know where the World of Warcraft European servers are located? Someone said they are all in Britain but I am not sure. Would they have some in Germany, some in Finland etc?

I am trying to do a business plan for my own massive multiplayer game and was wonder how they spread out the resources.
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rider
WoW Europe Gold

I am not only concerned with the addiction of specific games online, but also the social networking sites that are now encouraging friends, how many do have? Last count I have 500 friends. Yes sure. Any way the latest is Second Life which groups your friends into to preferred likes and dislikes. You can play games together online. Wow! We will never need to physically touch a human being soon. This is going to be social challenge during the next ten years for young people growing up and not knowing any different. I know my friends and I would spend hours each day now doing a FB social networking. We could have been out together, but no chatting on FB and we live in the same house. Yes you could argue it good for when there is distance and I agree however it is now increasing to absurd proportions. My emails are clogged. Ok! I am an adult and new the value of playing with my friends, going places, camping, all those wonderful times out and about. How many children or teenagers unless they are juvenile do you really see in the street? We are creating problems for our children and I am not just talking physical.

I did forget to add that there are many games that can be played in real life and online as a balance between the two. People can play Online Bingo, poker, chess, many games that they can then meet with their friends in a social setting.

Thanks for listening

Fabian
www.i-love-bingo.co.uk