Video Game Addiction -- Your Opinion

[Kaze]

Now, considering this is a gaming-based forum, I'm sure there will be some biased answers, but lets see what you guys have to hear about this.

My opinion is that there are two kind of "addictions". One is, for lack of a better word, "good" ("okay" maybe?), and the other is bad. I'd say I'm addicted to gaming, but in a healthy sense. I can easily play for hours on end and pull all nighters, but if I have something better to do or need to run an errand, etc., I can just as easily quit and go do that. A "bad" addiction is where you can play for hours on end, but you shut everything else out and get extremely :pshh: when someone bothers you or asks you to do something. Do I think video game addiction is a hazard to health? In some cases, yes. I hate how the media overdoes it and acts like 2-3 hours of gaming makes you socially equal to a meth addict, but they do have a point, albeit a small one. If you're playing a game and someone calls you and asks if you wanna go hang out or party or something (exception being you don't like this person), and you completely ignore/deny them so you can get one more level or ten more kills, it's bad. It's that "just one more level" attitude that leads to an unhealthy addiction. You say you're going to stop, but you just can't. I really think MMORPG's are much more addictive than, say, FPS'. Why? Because you can customize/personalize and represent your avatar and be your own person in a sense. Just look at Second Life or WoW and how many people are "addicted" to them. I personally play Silkroad Online, and I must say that it is pretty easy to get hooked on an MMORPG once you start playing. One thing I have to say is that I really do encourage gaming. Sure, unhealthy gaming is bad, but really, a lot of games (Counter-Strike, Battlefield, et al FPS') can really improve your reaction times, responsiveness and method of thinking. When you're in the heat of a battle in BF2 and you're leading a squad or commanding your team, eventually those split-second decisions have an impact on your actual daily life. I'm not saying that spending 12 or 14 hours playing an FPS is going to make you a star boxer or champion drag racer, but I think they can be healthy in a way if it's controlled to an extent.

I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this, and if any, responses to my thoughts :).

[Natoksane]

I like your comparison between the "good" and "bad" versions. I completely agree with you.

In that case I'd the on the same boat as you. I play when there is nothing better to do, but as soon as someone calls and says "let's do [insert interesting activity not involving me sitting in front of computer here]" and I drop whatever it is I was playing and head on out.

I've seen people who play WoW quit (one guy came back) because they said it ruined their social lives and school/work lives. I think it's most certainly an addiction at that point when you don't even leave to go hang out with your friends.

[TheTaxidermist]

If you sit in front of a video game for 10 hours (even though you are not required to do anything else and don't have anything better to do) I'd say it's a bad addict. Spending that much time a day doing video games is never a good thing. There are so many other things you can, that while not as enjoyable, can be done. For instance, is there any cleaning that could probably used done? Why not take the initiative without anyone asking you to get off your rear-end. There are better things to do than play video games for 10 hours straight.

[Kaze]

There are better things to do than play video games for 10 hours straight.


Naaaah :D.

But really, I agree, but sometimes you just need your fix, you know? Not like a 365-day-a-year thing, but occasionally, say, a couple times a month. I'll admit I've spent double-digit hours playing Battlefield or CS:S and don't even realize it.

[jambo]

You go into the double-digits of hours playing in a row?! 0.0

[Sersoft.corp]

once, my mom was away somewhere for 3 days and that summer, I wasn't allowed to go on the computer, so during the time she was away, I played CS all the time, and only slept about 5 hours in 3 days :P

when my parents are home (most of the time) I can spend maximum 3-4 hours on the computer per day, and 1 hour max playing games.

they don't do anything when I watch TV, so imagine how many triple digit numbers I've played when I had a PS2 :D

so, I kinda consider having a bad addiction to video games, but it's constantly limited by my parents.

[TheTaxidermist]

I'll admit I've spent double-digit hours playing Battlefield or CS:S and don't even realize it.

I hate to tell you this but I'd classify it as a bad addiction. I need a break when I play BF2 for 1 1/2 hours, let alone double-digit hours.

And Sersoft, I know you probably think of it badly that your parents are so strict about it but consider yourself lucky that they care enough to limit it. They truly are looking out for your well-being and show that they wish you the best.

[Vars]

My opinion about it; if you're spending a lot of time playing games but enjoying what you're getting out of it, then what's the harm? Replace game playing with something else that's equally as fun or "time consuming", like another hobby for example, would that be considered unhealthy?

Back when I was younger, I easily sank numerous hours over consecutive days to playing games. But as I got older, I can't play games as long, for whatever reason. I need a break after an hour or two, albeit a brief break though.

[Jabode]

If I am with friends, I can easily pull the double digits. By myself, I usually only pull an hour or two daily, thought weekends can reach 5 or 6 if I am playing a truly great game. I hate to come back to it, but I think that WoW is the perfect example of a "bad" addiction. People play it for hours on end. It's amazing how little you do in an hour in that game. I have personally witnessed it destroy lives on a mental, social and academic level. It really is sad.

[Kaze]

I hate to tell you this but I'd classify it as a bad addiction. I need a break when I play BF2 for 1 1/2 hours, let alone double-digit hours.

That's you personally.

And I'm talking about pulling all-nighters because you have ****-all else to do. It's not that hard. And if you think double digits is bad, you should see some of the kids in my XFire with like 1600 hours in WoW in like 2 and a half or 3 months. It's seriously sad. That's about 2/3 of 2 1/2 months wasted on a game.

[Kester]

If you sit in front of a video game for 10 hours (even though you are not required to do anything else and don't have anything better to do) I'd say it's a bad addict. Spending that much time a day doing video games is never a good thing. There are so many other things you can, that while not as enjoyable, can be done. For instance, is there any cleaning that could probably used done? Why not take the initiative without anyone asking you to get off your rear-end. There are better things to do than play video games for 10 hours straight.
Let me make this next point clear.

Procrastination does not define addiction.

There very well may be better things to do in those 10 hours, but that doesn't classify it as being addiction.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines addiction as:
The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or or involved in something.

Therefore, spending 10 hours one weekend every now and then shows no actual signs of addiction. Yes maybe you could have found something better to do with you time, but it doesn't display any signs of medically recognise addiction, even if you sack off your friends, or chores for that matter, to do it.

In fact, spending an hour or 2 each day playing games displays many more signs of addiction and perhaps you should be a little more worried about that.

[Dr.Aaron]

I'd say I'm addicted to games, but in a good way, as sometimes I also go into double digits or near(saturday night/sunday morning for example :D) but when something important comes up, I'm like oh sh*t then I turn my computer off...

I'd say a bad addiction is a sterotypical WoW player, one of my teachers play WoW and he's got 2 level 70 characters and a few other high ones but I wouldn't say it's a big problem as it's not like he's on it in the class room lol...

[TheTaxidermist]

Let me make this next point clear.

Procrastination does not define addiction.

Therefore, spending 10 hours one weekend every now and then shows no actual signs of addiction. Yes maybe you could have found something better to do with you time, but it doesn't display any signs of medically recognise addiction, even if you sack off your friends, or chores for that matter, to do it.

I'm talking about if you (regularly, not once in a blue moon) have double digit hour sitdowns on a regular basis. To me, to play that long on something means you are hooked to it. Trust me, I have an idea of what addiction is like, I've played Pokemon. There were times when I'd sit down for like 6 hours playing Pokemon, and then I might not play it for a couple days, but then I just have to come back to it and play some more.

Also I was referring to those who are actually addicted sitting down for 10 hours at any point, not people who aren't considered addicted. If you read my post carefully you'd have known that. I was saying, "If you think there's no harm in having an addiction because you have nothing better to do, so you spend 10 hours regularly playing video games in one day, then it's a bad addiction. Bad addictions aren't only when you are missing out on social activities and other things."

To me, any addiction is a bad addiction. Because then that means you've lost control. And Kaze, if you can easily avoid playing games to get necessary things done, then you are not an addict. Because you have control over playing games.

[Lopez]

I wouldn't say I'm addicted to games, I see them as a convenient source of entertainment. I live quite literally in the middle of nowhere, a 1 hour bus ride into Preston city centre that cost's me £2.70 that I don't have (I put all my money straight in the bank as soon as I get it, I'm saving for something but don't know what) and so I play games, mainly with my friends as I own most of the same games as them. I looked at my Xfire profile whilst reading the other posts and my gaming hours in the past 7 days are as follows: 1 hour on CS:S, 11 hours on DoD, 1 hour on BF2142, 11 hours on GMOD 10, <1 on GW and 3 hours on UT 2004. If I was reading someone else's profile without knowing them or their situation I would think that was quite a lot of gaming however, this week I haven't played on BF2142, that was my brother and I have played DoD (in total, ever) for about an hour. As you may have guessed that was also my brother. UT 2004 and Garry's Mod were birthday presents and I (and my brother) are no longer at school (for 3 months anyway) so I think those hours are reasonable.

Anyway, moving on to someone I would say is addicted to games in a bad way. My best friend is a hardcore gamer in one of the strictest senses. I just looked at his gaming history then an qutie frankly I'm shocked. I expected a lot more games than this:http://www.xfire.com/profile/thekilla1234/
but then again it makes sense. When he first got his Xfire account he was playing UT, it was not installed properly and didn't show on Xfire, I then got CS:S and so did he. A few months later we heard about the Guild Wars free PvP weekend and so participated. I enjoyed it, as did he. I however decided to stick to CS:S he however got a copy of Guild Wars, as you can see by his considerable amount of play time, much more than my total play time in all my games, combined. About 6 months ago, he was coaxed into downloading the WoW trial by another friend, we can all see where that went. The rest of his playtime is either from LAN events that me and some friends went to or when he was bored of GW of WoW for short periods of time, except Half-Life 2 which was when his internet went out for a few days. His 71 hours this week seem quite mild, normally (especially when we were at school) he'd have hundreds of hours on whatever game, per week. I think the significant drop is due to him not having to get up early in the morning, so he'll awake at about 4 and play till about 1. Then sleep.

The friend in question however does not fit into the "bad addiction" quota described by Kaze, although I agree with his descriptions 100% as he does have a social life. If we are going paintballing or go-karting or whatever, he will come, definately in precedence over WoW it's just he doesn't play any other game unless we can annoy him enough to do so or we are at a lan. I'd say he hovers in between the bad and good quota's. I don't think I fit into either, unless proved otherwise. My parents however do.


NOTE: Now in paragraph's due to popular request (i.e. Viktor Berg :P)

[Sersoft.corp]

And Sersoft, I know you probably think of it badly that your parents are so strict about it but consider yourself lucky that they care enough to limit it. They truly are looking out for your well-being and show that they wish you the best.

No they dontO_O didn't you read my post? they don't care if I watch TV all day at all, they just think that the computer is evil :tongue:

[Ares]

I think Kaze put it pretty well when he compared "good" addictions and "bad" addictions. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a gamer, and yeah, there are time where I'll spend 8 hours playing a game, or I'll go to LAN parties and the whole afternoon, night, and morning of the next day will be devoted to gaming for fun and tournies, and doing other random crap involving computers and games.

Still, if real-life friends call and want to do something, by all means I'll drop any game and show up. Games are great, but even just hanging out with friends is usually infinately more entertaining. Have I put off assignments, chores, and the like and played games instead? Sure. But the thing is, assuming I didn't have acess to any computers, I still would've procastinated, just the medium of procrastination would be different.

This whole movement in trying to classify "Video Game" addiction is just bullcrap, in my opinion. If you were enthusiastically watching new movies, or watching plays, you'd be considered a thesbian or someone that enjoys the performing arts. If you spent the same amount of time or more drawing, doodling, or painting, you'd be seen as an upcoming artist. Same amount of time to creating and listening to music? You'd be considered an up-and coming lyricist, or musician. Wiriting and reading? Author, historian, or book-worm.

Yet, if you spend a large amount of time playing games on the computer, creating material for games on the computer, or even spending time on the computer, you're considered an addict.

[TheTaxidermist]

No they dontO_O didn't you read my post? they don't care if I watch TV all day at all, they just think that the computer is evil :tongue:

At least they care enough to monitor something in your life. You see, they probably think the internet is bad and that you are looking up porn. But the TV they have no problem with because they don't view it as a trouble-source. At least they care enough to monitor SOMETHING you do, maybe not everything. Not that I think they are necessarily right but hey, they're lookin out for you.

[MaxTheLimit]

I think the word addiction, representing anything other than something body develops a needs to function, is only a word used by those uncomfortable with calling it what it really is. It's reliance. It gives you something to play for hours on end at the cost of other things because it's over self indulgence. You don't need and and you CAN stop it but you desire the masturbation of self amusement more than other life needs. It's the same with substances or actions as well. I have an aunt that drinks 30 pepsi a day. Literally spend her life drinking pepsi, and now she's dieing and I have no sympathy. Your body and mind are objects that can be trained. If you spend your whole life training your body to do something to the point where it knows nothing else it's a reliance you built into your own body, you deserve consequences. We all create indulgences but to let the indulgences rule our lives is where we hide it by calling it addictive. We go to huge lengths by saying look how science is my excuse for my actions, "it's not my fault". Would you be able to say I couldn't stop eating all the time even though it was killing my family. I couldn't stop what I was doing even though the neglect was driving my offspring to suicide? Then it's negligence and it makes me sick that we have to wait until it get's to the point where it hurts others that we have to get upset. Maybe noticing behavior before it's out of control is something we should all look at in ourselves?

[Atomic Waffle]

I play games because I have nothing better to do, and it's better then reading or watching television, because I can interact with those. YouTube and Wikipedia are mainly what i've substituted those with, to an extent. I still like television series'. I'm not an addict, I just like my games.

[TheTaxidermist]

I have an aunt that drinks 30 pepsi a day. Literally spend her life drinking pepsi, and now she's dieing and I have no sympathy.

That's kinda harsh. What if she was dieing from smoking cigarettes, no sympathy then?

[MaxTheLimit]

Nope. None at all. Especially if she was smoking several packs a day...if you spend you life doing nothing BUT smoking while you do other things secondary you don't deserve life in my opinion.

[Atomic Waffle]

That's a little harsh.

[Sersoft.corp]

I drink about 10 coke cans a day sometimes :ohmy:

[MaxTheLimit]

That's a little harsh.

I don't think so. If it bothers people **** them. Can't make me give a damn about their lives if they can't give enough of a **** about their own to try and keep it. Pandas deserve to die as well because they won't even have sex despite the whole species depending on it.

Video games, caffeine, and other only slightly "addictive" substances are a joke when you can't get off them to save your life.

[Atomic Waffle]

You know what? **** you. My Dad almost died because he smoked. Back then, they didn't know it was as bad as it was, and now he has a heart condition. Saying he deserves to die, what the **** is wrong with you? You aren't any better than the tobacco companies. People get addicted, but it isn't their damn fault if they can't quit. Sure, they may want to, but there is a biological and/or psychological addiction to Nicotine, and it's really difficult for them to quit.

Sure, it is their own fault for getting hooked in the first place, but most people will attempt to quit once they truly realize the danger to their own health. Have you ever felt any addiction that strong? How the hell do you even know? What kind of sick **** do you have to be to say that an alchoholic or someone who smokes doesn't deserve a life? If anything, you don't deserve one.

This message doesn't even warrant a reply by you. I don't want to even read any more of that bull****.

[MaxTheLimit]

**** that smoking is still just a habit and while nicotine has a more pervasive effect than many others but if you have so little will power that you let something control your life than yeah anyone deserves what they get as soon as it becomes apparent that it's something prevalent in their life. And, yes people do know. Boo-hoo to all the alcoholics and smoking addicted dieing victims.

I accidentally got addicted to opiates when I was 12 because my doctor ****ed up on my prescription for a spinal injury and gave me an almost pure codeine mixture by mistake. It took 2 years but I eventually was forced to take matters into my own hands at the age of 16 (until 18) to fight off the effects. Physical reliance IS real but addiction is something that can be prevented and is something I feel can't be overcome only by the weak. Common sense must be practiced at all times. Excess is ALWAYS something that leads to something bad in the future.

Also, I think that yes if you throw away your life you don't deserve to have one. I don't give a **** about you or your parents. I think that with so many who crave and struggle for life every day to throw yours away a little bit every day for no good reason isn't worthy of being given sympathy for causing it.

[Atomic Waffle]

Stop posting here. You obviously don't comprehend how mind-numbingly self-centered and horribly apathetic you are. I hope you get Cancer, or some other form of terminal illness. You will want sympathy then, won't you? ****.

[MaxTheLimit]

Good Rebuttal. I will if I have nothing to say in response to my own or the previous post. It is after all a debate forum.

[Atomic Waffle]

Seriously. I thought this forum was filled with generally good people until I read that drivel that was your post.

[Psyborg]

I've never seen so many stars...

[MaxTheLimit]

I never ask for sympathy, or even care for other peoples involvement in my issues (especially over the internet forums) but I do think that "good people" act instead of feel sympathy or complain about situations they are in. To put it plain. If you feel you are addicted to gaming (relating back to the origin of this thread) then do something about it before it effects the people in you life and inevitably yourself. If it's too late to act on it then do what you can and use it to help others. I realize it SOUNDS harsh, but it isn't. Complaining, sorrow, regret and excuses do nothing. Action is what makes good people good. The Atom bomb was built on good intentions....still an evil creation. If your father truly wants to make something of a life he "almost" lost then use his silly behavior to keep it from happening to others. Can you really say that's not the right thing to do? It's the least selfish thing in the world to say that someone who wouldn't change despite chances to do so deserved the result. To mention it is to learn from it.

[Atomic Waffle]

No ****. Do you honestly think that those people sit there and whine all day? No. That's been my whole point. People who have overcame addictions, 95% of the time, help others. I know quite a few. I still think you're a self-centered social darwinist who needs to be quite a bit more compassionate if you want to get anywhere.

[Black Op]

Also, I think that yes if you throw away your life you don't deserve to have one.
Too bad then that such a philosophy would never work out in reality. If such policies were implimented, some twisted bastards could claim that being Jewish, gay, or a prostitute also equates to throwing one's life away. We'd have yet another Holocaust on our hands. Instead, the best we can hope for is to try improving the lives of those proven to be destroying themselves.

[MaxTheLimit]

**** compassion. feeling sorry for those who destroy their own lives is simply an out for repeat behavior. I don't even think you know what your point is. To simply sigh and get upset about the horrible repercussions of ones actions is a terrible thing to do. It's basically ****ting on the life lessons of what your father did. You should totally jump on board an degrade the poor actions of his past. It's no insult to him he has learned his faults and looks as though from what you say he's attempting to overcome it. You shouldn't excuse it and you should be the one most up in arms against people perpetuating his mistake. Do what you want though I have no desire to piss on gravestones merely to learn from them and hate those who ignore warning signs.

@bo: There is a difference in throwing away ones life for no good reason and throwing it away out of necessity or important belief.

[Atomic Waffle]

Who the **** raised you?

[Black Op]

There is a difference in throwing away ones life for no good reason and throwing it away out of necessity or important belief.
That reasoning won't compute for hate-mongers who'll spin throwing a life away out of necessity into doing so for no good reason.

[MaxTheLimit]

Exactly. It's not accept and let die though.
Would you be as supportive if his smoking gave you or someone you love emphysema? Resentment would be there then. I suggest you feel resentment where those who are unwilling to feel it towards themselves feel it...for their own good.

@BO: I'm hoping the right message in the right hands will do good instead of harm. It will always do the opposite for those who spin it their won way anyhow no matter what you say.

[Atomic Waffle]

So you are saying that we should hate those who are victims of an addiction because they can't hate themselves for doing it in the first place, and not noticing the reprecussions? Nice. You know, we could always help them...

[MaxTheLimit]

I DO help them. I spend my weekends with addicts. You need to learn tough love with some people. You can't forgive and you can't understand, because it will be used by them. The sad thing is Addicts to live destroying substances sometimes have the greatest will to live....it's almost as though they see it as a flaw and try to crush it. It's not a game Waffle. If you see a mother prostitute their child out for something as simple as a coffee you question if addiction is really something about the body, or the mind.

[Atomic Waffle]

And yet you believe those addicts don't deserve to live?

[MaxTheLimit]

Nope. They don't. Poor children in sick ward who die for no good reason do. I have seen children die and parents not even care enough to show up, but it happens. That being said, even though they deserve it...would you still do something about it. I hate many of the people I try to help, but I do it for reason other than respect for their lives. I respect life itself and the potential for something good to become of it.

BTw that was pretty fragmented. Innocent children deserve life adults who destroy their own do not is my stance.

[Atomic Waffle]

They have as much potential as the next person, it is not your place to decide.

[MaxTheLimit]

Who's place is it? And who are you to say what my opinion should be? I'll decide for myself what to think of people who waste their lives thank you.

Seriously though, I'm now an angry person. I just see the nature of the people that come through the low life areas. Many DO NOT DESERVE TO LIVE. However, they do. Innocents die all the time and that is what bothers me. I don't care if pathetic waste goes on, but if people who don't care enough to fight for life while their children die in intensive care do no and will not have sympathy from me. Extending that those who accept life in a limited sense and let it g by will also get a sneer from me. Like someone who will only ever see once and close their eyes out of spite addiction towards ending something precious will always disgust me.

[Atomic Waffle]

Yeah, you know what? I agree with you. Pathetic waste doesn't deserve to live at all. I think i'm going to go out and curb stomp some homeless people now.

[MaxTheLimit]

Have fun!
Nice to know how you see the homeless BTW.

[Atomic Waffle]

What? People who haven't gotten anywhere with their lives, and who usually suffer from severe mental disabilities seem to be right on par with addicts. Oh, and that was sarcasm, in case you didn't notice. I don't know about you, but i'm not going to shun the poor.

In any case, i've hijacked this thread enough. I'm done here.

[MaxTheLimit]

So you think the homeless usually suffer from mental disabilities? Nice cover sarcasm. The weapon of the witless ( haha ya I know I use sarcasm).
Getting back to game addiction, is there anyone willing to defend those who sacrifice their life for a game? The only valid argument I've seen is Kaze with the need for an alternate perception of ones self.

[Atomic Waffle]

So you think the homeless usually suffer from mental disabilities?

From what i've seen in downtown Toronto, yes.

Getting back to the topic...

is there anyone willing to defend those who sacrifice their life for a game?

Well, I suppose if you have a ****ty family life, a RPG or MMO would be a nice escape.

[7ty714]

You're an idiot, Max, sorry to say, you seem like a nice guy otherwise but on this subject you just talk a bunch of bull****. You think you're such a smartass but as the nihilist I am, I don't think anyone deserves or does not deserve to live because that's a conception from human morals.
You don't deserve to live, Max. Neither does Waffle or myself. The universe doesn't care for us any less than for those who throw their lives away.

Humans even in the deepest core are just built-up biological substances, objects if you will. A fly deserves to live as much as we do, even though it's not as smart. Weapons or violence don't deserve to exist by human morals, yet they do.


I confuse myself when I try to explain my thoughts on more philosophical matters, but I hope you guys undertand my point. Summed up: No one deserves to live or exist more than anyone or anything else. We just Are. Keep that in mind.

[Kaze]

Guys, if you don't put this back on topic, I will have it closed. I didn't make this thread to have 3 or 4 people come in and start bashing each other. Back to the original debate please.

[MaxTheLimit]

The act of playing a video game is a self pleasuring action. This is something that can be overdone, and go into the realm of addiction. But, the same as anything else, when taken to heavy excess is detrimental. There is nothing you should do in life that should overtake all else. periods of indulgence is acceptable, but a life revolving around self indulgence of one kind it just stupid because everyone knows it's a negative thing to do to your life.

@7ty714: Just because someone isn't a Nihilist doesn't make them stupid. Don't bog yourself down with bigotry. Also Nihilist beliefs have no effect on social behaviors as you've said the universe doesn't care. Sure in the view of the universe no one might care, but in my eyes (and yes that portion of my argument was my opinion) an innocent deserves life more than those who throw life away. I'm not a deity so it's not like my belief hurts anyone, and it's not as though because I think someone doesn't deserve life I wish them dead either. It just doesn't bother me when it happens. The only grief I have is for the positive aspects of some people not able to overtake such a glaring flaw.

[TheTaxidermist]

Okay first off, people who have video game addictions DO deserve to live. So you are saying I don't deserve to live because I was addicted to a game at one point is what you are trying to say? For somebody who says you help addicts, you sure are cruel to them.

[MaxTheLimit]

It's not really cruel I don't think. There is varying degrees as well. I have no ill will to those with moderate addictions who still have lives to live, just have a small flaw in that they can't seem to kick a habit, and those for example who spend all day every day playing video games. Not even getting up to use the washroom. Those that destroy the lives of their families staying home playing games instead of going to work, or instead of paying attention to their children, or ignore the negative effect such action would have on others. These are the ones I feel are undeserving of the life they continue to have. Addiction is sometimes just a small thing for some people. Addiction to one coffee in the morning, or every other night spending 2 hours playing counter strike or WOW may be called addiction and may not be the best thing for you, but it shouldn't really hurt others and could be stopped if the effects start showing in yourself. It's not cruel to have an opinion about things either. To help those who's actions contradict your own beliefs to the point that they cause distinct anger in you, and help them as if they were your closest friend or brother. If for example I had a wife, and she spent every day playing video games all day and wouldn't get up to go to the washroom and blew all our money for our family on gaming and slowly killing her body by not moving for days on end, then I would have a large part of me hate her for what she's doing to herself and to our family. I would feel she doesn't deserve the life she's gotten to throw it away. I would still care enough to help. The reason is people do change. With help they have a better chance to. A chance of reversal is there. People can earn back the gift of life. It's in them, but it's not something that can't be lost as something you inherently deserve (in my eyes). If someone die fighting to waist their life and to die, I would have a very hard time feeling pity even if it was my wife. Maybe it's cold or callous, and probably it's a flaw in character, but it's how I feel. Now bear in mind there is exceptions, as with anything. A kid ho becomes addicted to video games to run away from a house of abuse as an escape, or someone who's used it as a coping mechanism after a loss. It's the ones who just for no real reason let themselves rot for no good cause. It's those that irk me. Think of me what you will but those people may not deserve to go on while others who deserve life die in want. That's kinda the reason I do help...if not it all just a waste. Isn't it part of our purpose (if there is one) to help those living to die find ways to live a life.

[TheTaxidermist]

You do realize when most people get addictions, it's not like they do it on purpose. It starts harmlessly enough as a game every night, and then they are planning non-stop before they realize what they have just done. And by then they are in way too deep and for them, it's not so much of a choice as it is a requirement. Can they stop? Yes. But if you have never had a severe addiction, you cannot judge how extremely difficult those habits are to break.

[MaxTheLimit]

At first you are right it may be something you just don't notice about yourself. But at a certain point there are physical manifestations that are impossible to ignore. At this point you have to realize that the mind isn't noticing these things on purpose...

[Killer_Within]

Its that feeling when you are staying up all night to finish a quest/mission/pick your favorite. Its when you notice that work/school started 2 hours ago. Its how you talk to people on the phone, "I have to go, no seriously I have been trying to do this for hours". Its when you notice you can actually smell your own B.O.

:) Its a happy feeling....

Until you die/fail/lose, yell at the t.v/game/console/computer screen, and then evidently go mad at the thought you forgot to save.
Then start over again knowing that you might not make it to that point before you need to take your kids to school.

Then you get pissed...

[Sersoft.corp]

You don't deserve to live, Max. Neither does Waffle or myself. The universe doesn't care for us any less than for those who throw their lives away.

Humans even in the deepest core are just built-up biological substances, objects if you will. A fly deserves to live as much as we do, even though it's not as smart. Weapons or violence don't deserve to exist by human morals, yet they do.


I confuse myself when I try to explain my thoughts on more philosophical matters, but I hope you guys undertand my point. Summed up: No one deserves to live or exist more than anyone or anything else. We just Are. Keep that in mind.

haha so true :lol:

[7ty714]

Thanks Sersoft =] To Max: My point is also that you can't blame anyone for being addicted to something. It's out of their hands. I belive in destiny, that the whole universe is like a domino effect that none of us can do anyhting about. We live in the illusion of choice. People who get addicted to something or do a crime that makes everyone hate them even and think they should burn in hell, (not like I'm comparing them, just examples), well there's a reason to why they are addicted or why they did this crime, how obscure it even may be. One reason if someone goes on a killing spree is that he/she's sick in the head, which he/she can't do anything about so ultimately, it's not their fault. And your aunt who drinks thirty pepsi a day and is dieing, there is a reason behind all this, and it's nothing she could change.

[Kester]

So essentially I can go out of work tonight and kill everyone I see on the way home and it wouldn't be my fault, as I have been predisposed by destiny to do that?

Personally, I can't accept that.

I can't accept that my entire life is already laid out infront of me, and I'm just walking along it's already defined path.

[Kaze]

Kester one-upped me here. I totally agree.

[MaxTheLimit]

So what I'm hearing is you think the person playing video games can't stop because he's destined to spend his life playing? That seems pretty dismal thinking we have no choice in what we do.

[7ty714]

You all misunderstand me O_O Of course I wouldn't accept people killing others, but it's not like they deserve to burn in hell (not like there is such a thing either but) either because they were innocent babies once too, what they did was the result of a series of events throughout their life. Some people may just be genuinely evil from the birth, but is that something they chose? No. I do think that it may be best to just excecute criminals if they're beyond recovery, but I don't hate them either because they didn't chose their lives. Do you get me?
So what I'm hearing is you think the person playing video games can't stop because he's destined to spend his life playing? That seems pretty dismal thinking we have no choice in what we do.
Umm, NO. Think outside the ****ing box. I'm saying that the choices we make are infuenced by other things, therefore making us a part of a domino effect without us knowing. I make choices all the time, but I know that every choice I make is infuenced by OTHER THINGS because it's the other things that turn us into whom we are, what preferences we have and what choices we make. Your aunt is going to die, she is beyond help if I understand right. If she hadn't been affected by her addiction to pepsi, would she chose to die that way? No, I'd suppose. So you can't blame her, just feel sympathy for her because of the outcome of her life.

[MaxTheLimit]

No she's had 8 years of chances and she's had pure medical aid about it but it's something she just couldn't muster up the will to overcome.
She was told she would die if she continued to act in such a way and for 8 years she continued the same. So in a way she did make the choice.
I grant that there is a life you are born into that predisposes you to the possibility of a specific type of life. But no given the same set of circumstances one person will still choose a different path than the other no matter how exactly the same their experience. So you can't really say it's not at all the fault of the choices of an individual. You DO influence your own destiny, at the very least to a moderate degree. There ARE things that you can't control, but choice does exist as humans are not static we change. Crack addicts do recover in some cases, and game addicts do go on to change their lives and end up joining the world. The ones who don't despite obvious ability to do so are the ones that are a big waste.

[7ty714]

You still don't understand do you.
I wonder how many times I should repeat this? You still don't seem to understand. Oh, if I didn't have such a hard time expressing myself... Pffffhhh.

I'm not saying your aunt, didn't have the choice or anything. I'm saying... Gah I'm tired... I'm saying that she didn't chose her life, she didn't choose before she was born, that she wanted to be a coke addict and die of it. That's the choice she made while she couldn't stop drinking it. Maybe she could, but maybe she didn't feel like it enough to do it. I don't think she wanted to die, she just wanted her precious pepsi, her drug. When you're addicted to something you can do things you wouldn't want to otherwise. You've got to accept other peoples state of mind because not everyone thinks the same way as you do. Not everyone is as smart either. Or as strong mentally. People don't need to be mentally weak to make stupid choices either I know that, they may just be stupid or distracted or sometinng else, you know. You don't blame someone for being stupid do you? They didn't chose to be stupid did they?

And don't accuse me for thinking an addict can't stop with their addiction, because I've never said that. In fact, I think the quite opposite.

[TheTaxidermist]

Did she really drink 30 pepsi a day or is that just a dramatization?

[MaxTheLimit]

No Dramatization at all. It has been more on many days. Very pathetic watching it own her life

[TheTaxidermist]

Dang, more than a 24 pack a day? I thought I was bad because I frequent 5 cans a day. I bet she's got no teeth...

[MaxTheLimit]

She has teeth. If you call black festering clumps of infected repulsiveness teeth, then she's got 'em.

Imagine: translate that over to video game addiction. Spend your entire life playing video games wake up playing games go to sleep playing games eat playing games **** playing games. Your eyes would sink begin changing shape to adapt to the light giving a bug eye effect, skin would turn sallow from lack of sunlight. Sores and infections would occur due to lack of bathing or hygiene. It really would be a waste I think. and I don't think it's anything but the individual to blame. It's a weakness of character.

[Manbearpig]

When it comes to video games I would let the world pass me by and devote my life to it, well that and the internet and TV. I would be a hedonist, however life doesn't work that way so I will work hard,I will have a life, I will conntribute to society. But once I have suffieciently outlived my usefullness I will do nothing but play as I have had a life, I have had many expierences and by then life will be close to an end so then I can embrace apathy, I can embrace my utter useless existence and let it consume me. However if the need for me rises again, I shall rise to the occasion.

[Sersoft.corp]

Imagine: translate that over to video game addiction. Spend your entire life playing video games wake up playing games go to sleep playing games eat playing games **** playing games. Your eyes would sink begin changing shape to adapt to the light giving a bug eye effect, skin would turn sallow from lack of sunlight. Sores and infections would occur due to lack of bathing or hygiene. It really would be a waste I think. and I don't think it's anything but the individual to blame. It's a weakness of character.

at the last stage you would kinda start to look like me..

[bu11eTJuNkiE]

I go to gamestop so often that the clerk there and I on a first name basis, lol. I mean when i reserve a game there now he just pulls my name right up on the computer without me telling. All of this from small talk from time to time.

Bad a clerk knows me this well? Well, says i visit gamestop too often :P

Truthfully, yes i am addicted to video games, but like kaze said....2 months ago.....I can easily stop for something more important. I am addicted on my free time.

Personally, two things attribute to this. The first is video games kickass and are a lot of fun. The second is, i have irritable bowel syndrome and lots of times i just don't feel like going out, games on the otherhand let me have fun without irritating my stomach. So naturally, getting me friends contact info for games is what i prefer.

I still go out, but a lot of the times i just feel to sick to go out, or am afraid of how i might feel if i go out.

[Manbearpig]

I thinkm its nice that you are on a first-name basis with the clerk, I sorta know the ones at mine but I wouldn't mind if we were a bit more personable. Any way about the whole "feeling ill" I think you might suffer from mild Hypercondria, possibly due to your love of the games or something else.

[Atomic Waffle]

Maybe people don't have anything else to do, and older generations label it as an addiction. Have you ever heard of "Reading Addiction"? Exactly.

[bu11eTJuNkiE]

Any way about the whole "feeling ill" I think you might suffer from mild Hypercondria, possibly due to your love of the games or something else.

I have never heard of Hypercondria, so i looked it up. Fancy word for fear of becoming ill, okay.

Let me rephrase what i said before. I am not so much afraid to go out, but most of the time i seemed to get invited to go somewhere after i eat and it is not so much the fear of what might happen. It is the fear of what will happen. I mean everytime i eat i get really bad pain. A bowel movement is required to relieve the pain and if i am out and about it can just be worse if i can't get to a restroom. While at home or at least at somebodies house i know there is a bathroom readily available. Just easier.

I mean i have just learned to live this way because in the past i would go out and at that time i had no idea what was wrong with me, but everyday pain would come more and more and worse and worse. Eventually, i just naturally stopped going out less and less.

If i eat, have a bowel movement, then go out, i don't think about my stomach at all and can have a great time as long as i avoid food. So, more than anything it is just a pain in the ass that catches me at bad times.

If i find something to relieve the pain permanently then i will be back to my old self. I have been trying different meds and various things to drink, eat, etc. to help relieve the pain, no luck yet, but i see it as trial and error. Hopefully i will run across something that will work very soon. If not, i have been living this way for 3+ years, I'm used to it by now.

[Manbearpig]

No offense but hypercondria means constantly saying or thing your sick when you are not.

[Atomic Waffle]

No offense, but you are wrong.
Hypochondria refers to an excessive preoccupation or worry about having a serious illness.
http://forums.massassi.net/html/emot-eng101-good.gif

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factitious_disorder

This is what you are looking for.

[Manbearpig]

Oh OK, thanks Waffle so what I meant to say is that you have Factitious disorder.

[Atomic Waffle]

But I don't... That original comment wasn't even directed at me.

[Manbearpig]

I know that silly, that comment was directed at Bullet.

[Kester]

I think you're being rather ignorant to sufferers of IBS Manbearpig.

[Manbearpig]

I do not mean to sound like an idiot but what is IBS?

[Flarty]

irritable bowl syndrome, as for video game addiction, its non existent except in your head, the cure get another hobby.

[MaxTheLimit]

addictions of the mind are usually the ones that turn out to be most fatal. The mind has a lot of control over the body. Also anything that is an addiction of the mind is also an addiction of the body.

For gaming however I totally agree with you.

[Manbearpig]

I just realized it, we've been looking at this in the wrong light. There is no such thing as video game addiction, but there is such a thing as video game obsession.

[Kester]

Care to explain that?

[Manbearpig]

Well addiction is defined as "compulsive drug use, psychological dependence, and continuing use despite harm. Addiction is frequently and incorrectly equated with physical dependence and withdrawal. Physical dependence, not addiction, is an expected result of opioid use." A video game is not a substance and one can not be physically dependent on it.
However one can become obsessed with video games as it is an action. Obsession is defined as "An influence, notion or fixed idea, which persistently assails or vexes so as to discompose the mind; the uncontrollable desire to dwell on an idea or emotion, frequently involving an urge toward some form of action." I'm not saying it is any less dangerous than addiction, it is just diffrent.

[RabidMonkey]

No, addiction is a tendency or compulsion to do a particular thing, and is not strictly related to drugs or substances. People are addicted to gambling, but that's not a substance, among other things.

Video game addiction is potentially a valid problem. Again, people are addicted to gambling, but the stakes are simply a little more serious with gambling, as people tend to get into financial trouble and the like, while the consequences of video game addiction could involve becoming unhealthy or obese, or poor or lost productivity at a place of work or school, which could turn out to be serious consequences in the end. It's all dependent on the individual, though; some people are probably more susceptible to becoming addicted to video games; perhaps people who are less active in real-life socially and find it easier to communicate online, for example, while other people play video games on occasion or in their spare time. Still, I don't think it's too serious of an issue; curing substance addiction is a much more serious and difficult matter.

[Blairyfairy]

Okay i admit to being so addicted to cs that i lost friends ... I have people that wont talk to me any more because i seirously didnt leave my pc i just orderd bawls online and sat in my own filth untill my parents felt it was time to switch to aol .. this was a few years back and i still have people pissed at me .. i have strayed away from games on the pc because i find myself too comfortable and i dont get anything done ... So if its on a console i feel less obligated to get addicted or whatever you want to call it >.<

[TheTaxidermist]

You should have put the first definition on dictionary.com for addiction:

"the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, such as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma."

Yeah, that describes most WoW gamers.

[Garcian Smith]

Firstly, as Rabid has pointed out, video game addiction exists as addiction by it's very definition can be attributed to almost any activity, and not simply the standard drug addiction, therefore - I believe that video games can be addictive.

Secondly, I do think it's a problem. Again, it's not the content of the video games (for example World of Warcraft), but the fact that we as human beings often get attached - sometimes dangerously - on a subconscious level with, as stated previously, any activity.

However, what irritates me about video game addiction is that, as I am sure it must be with gamblers, television viewers, and hell - recreational drug users - that we seem to be tarred with the same brush by the media.

Take, for example, an episode of Tonight With Trevor McDonald (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonight_with_Trevor_McDonald) entitled "Are Video Games Killing Our Kids?" - the investigative journalist took a very familiar route. Basically, the whole video game fanbase was exactly how the few people who were addicted to video games acted. It was, quite frankly, sickening - and I lost all respect for Sir Trevor.

That's my concern. We have to help the addicted, of course, but it's impractical and backward-thinking to say that we are all like that and video games are, for the lack of a better word, 'evil'.

[Blairyfairy]

Yeah there are alot of people that are addicted to games. I admit myself being addicted. but there is also the point of addicting personalitys ... Like i now know what i can and can't do because i have one of those addicting personalitys. I can lock my self away from human interaction for 3 months and feel 100% accomplished. I have heard from a ton of people many a times on games like wow or ragnarok online etc that They feel like their lives are menial and that they cant accomplish **** in their daily life and those games give them a false sence of acomplishment, I am no where near knocking anything for those games its .. the players its the people who pick up the game and think that they are realy acomplishing something that make it a fine line between addiction and entertainment.

[Manbearpig]

They are not addicted to gambling, they are obssessed which is just as dangerous and just as much of a problem. I never said if its an obssession its any better, its not.

[RabidMonkey]

No, an addiction is something that someone becomes so fixated on that it becomes habit-forming, and people addicted to something will generally put themselves at harm in one way or another or make sacrifices to do or get what they are addicted to, whether it's gambling, drugs, whatever. An obsession is still a fixation on something or someone, but it's generally within one's head and generally under control by an individual. An addict will generally 'cross that line' to get what they want, while someone with an obsession will not.

Not to get into semantics here, but they're different terms, and should be used appropriately.

I agree with Garcian, though; the news media often sensationalizes such things to get more people to watch. Some particular news networks sensationalize things more than others, though (*cough*fox*cough*) but it's all just cheap knocks to get views for the most part, like that whole Anonymous thing they did. Most people who are somewhat intelligent will look past it.

[Manbearpig]

Lives have been ruined by obsession, people have spireled into uncontrolable depression. A lot of people cannot help themselves, they are forced to do it.

[Blairyfairy]

I wouldn't go so far as saying forced as much as compelled >.<

[cowfish13]

Video Game addiction, no such thing. Games like wow are just long and repeditive, while trying to be rewarding. Evil unsatisfying, unforigiving, time consuming wow! That why my MMO is free and short, right Guild Wars?

Other video games that aren't really at all addicting. They aren't time consuming and people can stop whenever they want to. Most likely when it gets repetitive or unoriginal.

[intooblivion]

So how do you beat WOW anyway?

:P

[Viktor Berg]

I'm addicted. Pronto.

What else do you call the almost constant urge to sit hours upon hours at the PC, be it playing games, reading the internetz, wtching movies, or reading manga. I simply cannot live without it. This thread makes me depressed and angry at myself.

[BahamutBBob]

So how do you beat WOW anyway?
Kill Ragnaros.

http://wow.allakhazam.com/images/mobs/Ragnaros.jpg


But not really.

[Mercer]

So how do you beat WOW anyway?

:P

It never ends, it's like hell, torment, anguish and pain until the end of time :haha:

I could say that I've been borderline addicted at one point or another. I'm not very good socially so I really didn't do much for a time, and my grades in high school and Community college suffered. So it does exist, but it's no different from any other addictive activity.

[intooblivion]

Kill Ragnaros.

http://wow.allakhazam.com/images/mobs/Ragnaros.jpg


But not really.

May I ask why he's wearing a dress?

[Assigir]

Im addicted
And I dont care
I would do other stuffs IRL if I had enough money but I dont
I dont have any real friends that share my intressts exapt gameing
So I will just dedicate myself to it
And I dont think you or I will have any problem with that...

I hope

[intooblivion]

*starts gaming intervention for assigir*

[Assigir]

NoOOOOOoOO! *strugle* mOst have Computer!...*gets draged away*
NooOoOOooOOoOOOOOOOOOO!!

[Manbearpig]

Now,now this is for your own good,this is going to calm you down (Takes out an excessively long syrienge)

[BahamutBBob]

May I ask why he's wearing a dress?
He's not. He's the Fire Lord. Ruler of the elemental plane of fire, etc. He's made of magma.

Here is a video of 33 mages throwing ice at him.
n61G8w5DxPM

(I have the staff the person filming this has, in my bank, because it sucks now.)

[Manbearpig]

Ha, fire starter perfect choice

[BahamutBBob]

Smack my Bitch Up would have also worked, since they completely owned him. Usually the fight lasts closer to 5-6 minutes. (they completely skipped phase 2 which kicks in 90 seconds after he goes aggro)

[Manbearpig]

NOOOO http://nomoremoltencore.ytmnd.com/
Oh the nostalgia

[Atomic Waffle]

I tried WoW for a few days and just didn't like it at all. I really can't see the addiction factor.

[cowfish13]

Well thank god you didn't go dungeon running. It's the long entertaining way to keep people hooked besides pvp. The games only means of survival is through unpredictability and that what tries to keep people hooked.

[BahamutBBob]

NOOOO http://nomoremoltencore.ytmnd.com/
Oh the nostalgia
Pfft, n\my guild farmed Molten Core until the day it blew up. And we finished the dungeon after, (Blackwing Lair) and got more than half way through the dungeon after that. (Ahn'Quiraj sucks nuts by the way)

Also, we farmed MC a good 6 months before starting BWL. Then farmed that a while before AQ was released.
(AQ was the most ****ing annoying dungeon to enter ever)

I'll try to stop talking WoW addict now :P

[Manbearpig]

Do you need an intervention as well? (preps sappy speech and restraints)

[1337_Byte]

Kill Jack Thompson that's my opinion.

[BahamutBBob]

Do you need an intervention as well? (preps sappy speech and restraints)
I've been clean since February, so no.

[Kester]

I've been clean of EVE for about as long. Although I constantly have urges to subscribe again...

[BahamutBBob]

Same with me and WoW. I've got a few friends bugging me to play it again, but I don't want to be that guy that plays WoW for 40-50 hours a week again.

[Kester]

At least with Eve you could leave it running minimised whilst on a mining mission, and do something else, until your cycle had finished.

[jambo]

I think I'm more addicted to the Internet and chat programs than to games.

[intooblivion]

I'm addicted to both. Is that bad?

[intooblivion]

Heaven of pron eh? Well too bad I destroyed the computer while I was down there and already knew more magic than you.

Anyway, I think there's such a thing as online chat addiction as well.

[rtanger]

I've deleted the off-topic crap from the past couple of pages.

On topic or bust

[1337_Byte]

Many people call some things addiction, just because it is done a lot. I mean, if someone wants to use the computer all day, it doesn't mean they are addicted, some people do those things just for fun, and if you want them to do something else, you need to leave people alone and let them do what they want.

[YukoAsho]

Video game "addiction" isn't any more real than gambling addiction, or any of the other odd addictions people pick up. It's simply a manefestation of a larger issue, namely obsessive-compulsive disorder.

[Bigspfan]

I can't believe some people would call wanting to play a game for a couple hours a day during the week and maybe 10 or 20 hours during the weekend an addiction. Lets compare 1 hour of gaming to 1 pack of cigarettes, which is more harmful a pack of cigarettes or an hour of gaming? Sorry if I repeat whats already been said but this topic really ticks me off. The definition of an addiction is this - (The state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.) Personally, I believe that an hour or two a weeknight and even 30-40 hours of gaming on the weekend isn't bad, and if you think that games create habits then you are somewhat right but the habits they give you is more of an increase in habits you already have, so it wouldn't really hurt anyone. Sure you can go hours on end without rest of body or mind while playing games, but thats stupid and some people actually CAN go on and on and on not paying attention to their body while they play a game. If this occurs, its only because the game is either REALLY good, or said person has a stubborn personality and doesn't want to quit the game until they have MASTERED it.

[YukoAsho]

What amuses me is that the people who decry our gaming habits probably spend twice as much time watching TV.

Hypocrisy at its finest.

[JTower]

What amuses me is that the people who decry our gaming habits probably spend twice as much time watching TV.

Hypocrisy at its finest.
QFT

[Brendon]

What amuses me is that the people who decry our gaming habits probably spend twice as much time watching TV.

Hypocrisy at its finest.


Everyone is "addicted" to something in the general sense. (I don't remember enough about psychology classes for the literal sense... Eddie?)

The thing people always say, though, is "At least what I do is good/stimulating/healthy!" I don't know about you, but I've played plenty of games with better writing and narratives than Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code. Yet a teenager who reads those has a better head on their shoulders and is spending their time doing something more worthwhile than one who masters difficult games?

[Manbearpig]

i play video games a lot and I (unfortunately) have a better head then some of my teachers. Then again I live in the South so it's really not that surprising.

[Atomic Waffle]

The whole issue will blow over as high amounts of Crysis-like realism in games gets more commonplace. Just like all of the other things like it in the past (Rock and Roll, for instance) it'll blow over and be overshadowed by something else.

Or not, but who knows?

[Psyborg]

That is until someone remakes Carmageddon in said Crysis-like graphics.

Or not, but who knows?

[Bigspfan]

Naaaah, it will blow over when someone invents a candy that has druglike qualities but is still legal and gives little kids a huge high.

Or not, but who knows?

[Atomic Waffle]

I've started a new trend...

Or not, but who knows?

Just a question for anyone who has any insight, because i'm too lazy to look it up...

What's the most common non-drug/alchohol/tobacco addiction?

[Brendon]

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Stat-Shot-Most-Common-Addic.jpg

[Atomic Waffle]

O_o

[Wasabi]

"I didn't do this assignment sir/ma'am/wife/husband. I was too busy participating in Digital Team-Building and Hand-Eye Coordination Exercises, that involve finding solutions to sensitive predicaments, coupled with the threat of environmental hazards, heavy ordnance and/or firearms."

The perfect excuse for not investing time into work, school and/or marriages!

[Kaze]

That's gold.

[zelmar]

It depends,if I`m playing one of my favorite games (like zelda)I usally get lost in a trance.But if I`m playing somthing old that I`ve already beaten (like super mario 64) I dont loose my mind.

[Atomic Waffle]

Music tends to have the same effect on me... listening to it, I go into a weird trance after a while.

[Bigspfan]

Watch out waffle, you may become addicted to music! I however think addiction is a silly word and we can all agree to disagree that the only thing addiction can have any connection to is drugs of some or any kind and shape.

[rtanger]

we can all agree to disagree that the only thing addiction can have any connection to is drugs of some or any kind and shape.

Not really.

Any behavior or action that provides a level of gratification can become addicting.

Games, internet, shopping, television, gambling, sex, and all those other things you'd like to believe can't be addicting, can most certainly be. It hinges entirely on your own personality and mindset.
Some people, for whatever mysterious reasons their brain decides it's so, can become easily and hopelessly addicted to just about any activity that gives them some strange, perhaps even perverse, sense of gratification.