i believe its only an addiction if you allow it to take priority over serious life situations. if you fail to pay bills because you bought a game, or bought a new console then its probably an addiction. if you consistently avoid your family members and friends for extended periods of time because youre playing a game its probably an addiction. my family too looks at me weird because im 29 and i still enjoy playing video games but i dont let it consume my life. its just a hobby for me. what i do with my 1-4 hours of free time a day shouldnt really be looked at any differently because im playing a video game. its really not any different than say putting a puzzle together, or knitting a sweat. i dont see the problem
Or maybe you're not the most smart person when it comes to money? Happens to some people.
Or maybe you have some other reason you want to avoid interaction with them? This surely implicates some problem - really a lot of possibilities to chose from.if you consistently avoid your family members and friends for extended periods of time because youre playing a game its probably an addiction.
Depends of how you view it. For a long time (about 12 years old to 15 years old) I played WoW all day long. Not doing anything else. I had like 3 or 4 friends. My life was basically going to school, then WoW. Was it an addiction? Maybe, but I sure loved playing WoW. I found it fun, entertaining, and I preferred playing than hanging out with friends or going to parties.
Over the time my hobbies, what I like etc. have changed. I don't really play games anymore.
But, I'm training like crazy for football. My life now is similar to my life then. I go to school, then 4 days out of 7 I go to the gym for 2 hours, then I train my ability to catch the ball for about an hour, then I come home and do my homework. The 3 days when I don't go to the gym, I do sprints and drills for 2 hours, then train wih the ball for 1 hour again. Is it an addiction? No, it's my passion. I love football as much as I loved WoW.
I think "addiction" is a pretty strong word when it comes to gaming. I think people can play games on level that others would see as addicted, but still manage to successfully manage real life at the same time.
In my case, gaming is a hobby and a passion. I play games (or do game related things) a lot, it's what I do with most of my free time, but only my free time. I understand and am capable of prioritizing more important things over gaming.
If gambling can be classified as a potential addiction, I see no reason why gaming can't.
Older article, but an interesting read.
http://www.peele.net/lib/gambling.php
Neither. It's a hobby like any other. you invest your time and money in it, and while what you have may not have much material value to the rest of the world it has value to you.
I don't buy into the whole addiction thing, obsession maybe, but not addiction. I'll buy into addiction when we have people giving blowjobs behind game stop for time cards and we have to have step down drugs to help people handle withdrawal symptoms.
Gross irresponsibility is not addiction.
I am not being ignorant. I am not biased. I played WoW for many years and stopped with some trouble. There is no research out there that proves that video game "addiction" is a thing. Saying that you're "addicted" to something makes it a medical issue, it makes you the victim. All thing things you listed at the end of what you said "gambling,alcohol, chocolate, food, sports, running, sex, watching tv, etc. " with the exception of alcohol since it is a hard chemical, does not give physical withdrawal and so, by your own definition you showed me, isn't considered an addiction.
I am not belittling or minimizing someone's obsession to a video game, lets say WoW since you brought it up and it's a good example. You gave an example of missing football practice to go play the new expansion's raid. That shows having screwed up priorities and unorganized time. You aren't going to go play WoW because you're addicted, you're going to play WoW because you love the game and want to play with your internet friends rather than interact with IRL people. If you have a "mental withdrawal" it's purely psychosomatic and can be taken care of with some self discipline. Also, no by my definition someone who is addicted to crack has a problem and needs serious help in rehab or what have you.
I am not saying that people's obsession with something like video games, like gambling, etc can't be bad for them, but it's not as if they need to detox their body like alcohol addicts, or drug addicts do. And to be quite honest, trying to label yourself as a victim of "video game addiction" is an insult to actual addicts who have destroyed their bodies and minds with hard drugs or something of that nature.
I am not insulting or belittling you or anyone that has a serious obsession with video games. All I'm saying is that there is a significant difference from obsession and addiction. People who are obsessed with something can get over it through self discipline or finding a new passion or something else to take their mind off it. For me, that was exercising, a lot since playing WoW 24/7 is kind of unhealthy. I really really really wanted to play the game again but I didn't wake up in the middle of the night with cold sweats, or have the shakes like an actual drug addict might. Now addiction on the other hand, would be someone who was hooked on a physical substance that fucked with the chemicals in their brain. It did physical damage to them. "Obsessions" only give you extra of whatever chemical is in your brain (my knowledge of brain chemistry isn't stellar so forgive me that I don't know the chemicals you get for exercising or gambling etc) and when you stop you miss what ever extra chemical you get. It's all in your head, where as people with addictions to alcohol, hard drugs, cigarettes, etc have to detox their bodies and deal with not only their fucked up brain chemistry slowly fixing itself, but the extra chemicals their brain secretes from taking said chemicals.
Again, I am not insulting, belittling, or minimizing someone's obsession to a game, or art, or exercise, or whatever. It can be bad and it can screw with your priorities. But it does not physically stop you. Someone deciding to sit on their computer chair and play more WoW rather than go out or do something as simple as eating is on them, they chose to do that and they can choose to not play, but they don't because they get lazy. While an addict chooses to snort cocaine because of all the reasons I said in the previous paragraph about brain chemistry.
You just don;t get it, do you? Either you're just dense, or you're intentionally refusing to see the truth. Whether there are physical withdrawal symptoms is one of 7 psooible criteria for a diagnosis, and DOES NOT have to be present for a diagnosis. It's quite funny how you lack the understanding to see the problem, and keep putting your own value system onto the problem. You use words like "Lazy, psychosomatic, self discipline" to try anfd prove your point, and all you're doing is pointing out your lack of understanding. Opinions liek yours (and what you're saying is pure opinion and conjecture, you have absolutely zero facts to support your position) are why addictions are so poorly understood by the general populace. I challenge you to go to a Gamblers anonymous meeting in your area to go see how these peopel have ruined their lives. And so hear some of them talk abotu the physical withdrawal symptoms some of them have experienced when they tried to quit playing - anything to headaches, the shakes, vomiting, irritability, etc.
YOu just don't get it, and I am starting to think you are never going to get it. Whether this is intentional, you're trying to troll, or you're just being an ass is unclear. What is clear is that you have a gross misunderstanding of addiction, and your claims of what addiction are just plain false. Go to the link i posted on page 1, read the medical definition and criteria for addiction, think about it for a couple days, then come and rejoin the discussion when you can back up what you say with some facts.
Zait, you can absolutely be addicted to gaming. You're looking at definitions that are all relating to substance addiction. A gaming addiction is a behavioural addiction and applies to compulsions that are not substance related, such as shopping, sex addiction, gambling, and gaming. The individual in question has a recurring compulsion to engage in the activity, despite the potentially harmful consequences to their individual health, mental state, social life, etc. And I refer you to the 18 year old kid that died after playing Diablo for 40 hours straight or this boy that was hospitalised after playing CoD for 4-5 days straight, leaving his room only to snack or use the bathroom.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_1...straight-days/
Gaming addiction is a real thing.
---------- Post added 2013-02-25 at 03:17 PM ----------
And yes I know its not medically recognised at this time.
If you enjoy it and it isn't stopping you from getting the things done IRL that you need to then I don't see any real issue. I don't really play video games much at all anymore. I still like/love video games but my tastes are too specific to really consider myself a gamer. I'm married and my wife doesn't fuss about how I spend my free time.
People that called me addicted to gaming i call mindless zombies, because it's okay for them to sit in front of the for 2-3 hours a day watching utter crap like.. The Block, The Voice, My Kitchen Rules, Master Chef.. and so much other crap.
So if i find playing a game for those 2-3 hours, that actually requires my input and my brain to work more than pushing a remote button to change the channel, i will bloody well do it.
I don't see anyone telling people off for reading books, really what's the bloody difference. The fact is computer gaming has always been targeted by overreacting people that have absolutely no freaking idea what gaming is or is about.
As long as gaming doesn't become compulsive and doesn't interfere with life in general, it's by definition not an addiction.
There's a hell of a difference between a little A-hole kid who wants everything and screams till he gets it, to going out and blowing someone for a copy of halo.
p.s. if anyone tells you your addicted to gaming tell them to piss off back to facebook or their reality tv shows with all the other sheep in society .
A bit of both, I guess?
I dont usually put off IRL stuff due to gaming, unless something "really good" is going on in-game that I'm really excited/hyped about. Sometimes I get a bit too excited about in-game stuff, though, but I'm quite quick at realizing it... resulting in me "cooling down" for a few days and doing more IRL things.
I do go to the gym quite often and socialize during weekends. Luckily enough all my IRL friends are gamers to some extent so "hanging out" during weekends can either be a drunken LAN-party or going out clubbing. It all depends on what we feel like doing :P
I dont really intend on ever stopping playing games as long as my friends dont. It's a great way of spending time and it's not like it's too un-social either as I'm always on Skype/TS with IRL-friends or ex-guildies from different parts of the world.
Gaming is only an addiction when you let it come in the way of important things in life. That is, unless it's your job, then it would be more normal.
Parents or grown-ups in general aren't used to video games yet. Maybe the younger generations of grown-ups and parents (if that makes sense), but the older ones, most definitely not, unless they are extremely open-minded.
Gaming is already starting to become commonplace, and eventually, even they will start to get used to the idea of video games.
In the end it depends on the person. Someone can be addicted to food (becoming obese), or simply eat in order to nurture himself for survival. Food on its own doesn't have a label on it.
passion simply no,passion is used to describe much more meaningfull things
gaming is entertainment,much like watching movies
if you spent 1/5 of your life in front of a screen,if it ever affected negatevily your real life,then it's addiction,if you play when there is nothing else available,no problem,if you say no to friends so you can raid,it's addiction
You do realize this is extremly ignorant thing to say? Passion is so extremly subjetive, there is no way really to describe what it feels like for every person. What is a passion and what isn't comes from deep inside of every human being.
I have 2 passions: music and gaming. Noone really has any knowledge of my personality to say that this isn't true.
Also, watching TV feels so horribly passive while gaming by no means can be passive. Only because something is entertaining you can't say that it can't be a passion. In fact passions are usually extremly etertaining for the passionate.
By this defition work is also an addiction :Pif you spent 1/5 of your life in front of a screen,if it ever affected negatevily your real life,then it's addiction
What if you have other reasons to say no to your friends and gaming happens to be the more enjoyable thing to do? Not everyone has to be social person. I've enjoyed my alone time long before I even had a computer. Gaming simply fits perfectly into my personality that requires very small interaction with others - I don't have a problem to interact with people but I simply feel better when I don't have to. Doing something that feels better is not an addiction - it's responding to your needs. As long as YOU feel good about what you do in life there is absolutly NOTHING WRONG with you. I emphasize on YOU because it happens when people around you might make you feeling bad about things you do and the important thing is to eliminate this noise from your feelings and focus on your personal needs. It's sometimes hard, however, when you manage that you will be happy. And a happy person will be a good person.if you play when there is nothing else available,no problem,if you say no to friends so you can raid,it's addiction
Last edited by Lilija; 2013-02-26 at 01:39 PM.