revslow

Name: revslow
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11/23/08 Return to main blog

THEY CAN'T MEAN US CAN THEY?

So, there's a game to quit smoking, but is there a game to quit gaming? An Italian boy was recently rushed to the hospital after experiencing stroke-like disorientation that a local politician later said doctors attributed to "a strange kind of mental detachment connected to his Playstation," Ananova news service reports.

AP Photo | Blizzard EntertainmentRapid druggies looking for a fix, or just enthusiastic gamers? Fans wait in line to purchase copies of the second expansion World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King at a midnight video game launch on Thursday, Nov. 13

WebMD defines addiction by two criteria:

1. The person needs more and more of a substance or behavior to keep him going.
2. If the person does not get more of the substance or behavior, he becomes irritable and miserable.

Umm... I think I have a problem. And so does poor Lorenzo Amato.

Ananova: At first doctors at southern Italy's Lecce hospital thought Lorenzo Amato was suffering from a stroke or a severe brain disorder.
The teenager couldn't speak and didn't seem to understand anything going on around him. Then doctors discovered he'd just finished a marathon session on his new Playstation.

Video game addiction may well be a serious problem, but the images it conjures up are anything but: Even-more-emaciated geeks "shooting up" with used games, buying bootleg games in the back alleys of comic book shops, pulling out their DS in public for a quick hit.

I doubt video game addiction is any more prevalent than amongst World of Warcraft gamers and their sweatshop-like equivalent, farmers. As I blogged earlier this week, Times Online reported that a 16-year-old Swedish boy collapsed and was rushed to the hospital after a 24-hour-marathon session with the Wrath of the Lich King expansion pack.

Of course, fear over video game addiction is nothing new. A few years ago, several major news outlets picked up the story that a Dutch addiction treatment center began treating game addicts.

CBS, July 3, 2006: At an addiction treatment center in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, teenagers and young adults begin detox by admitting they are powerless over their addiction. But these addicts aren't hooked on drugs or alcohol. They are going cold turkey to break their dependence on video games. ...
At an addiction treatment center in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, teenagers and young adults begin detox by admitting they are powerless over their addiction. But these addicts aren't hooked on drugs or alcohol. They are going cold turkey to break their dependence on video games.

So, is a game addiction ruining your life or the life of a friend? Or are you, like many, a functioning addict?

Posted by revslow on Sun Nov 23, 2008 @ 9:37 am EDT | 6 Comments

J-Cat says:

Addiction... not sure... Abuse? yup video game abuse does exist. Case in point? The kids you mentioned above. I mean how many of us have sort of shook awake and realised it's 2AM and we are still gaming!

I have rules for my gaming, they are to ensure that family comes first. I have a no gaming on Friday night rule, and I rarely game on Saturday nights. I don't game when Erica is awake. I also have a commitment to work out Sunday Monday and Wednesday, Thursday nights: which eats into gaming time.

It's alla bout balance: gaming is entertainment and should bring joy into life, not squeeze out other amazing experiences....

great blog today!

Posted by J-Cat on Sun Nov 23, 2008 @ 9:42 am EDT

ATC_1982 says:

great blog, but that is funny over all.

Posted by ATC_1982 on Sun Nov 23, 2008 @ 10:20 am EDT

FireWtr96 says:

1: Where the hell are the kids parents?

Detox for gaming Come the F**k on..... Smack these people around a bit and tell them to get over it, All consoles and computers have a power button.... its easy

Posted by FireWtr96 on Sun Nov 23, 2008 @ 11:06 am EDT

LuxDevil67 says:

hah! my pre-ordered copy of lich king still sits at gamestop!

Posted by LuxDevil67 on Sun Nov 23, 2008 @ 11:18 am EDT

Guardian says:

You can't blame the games, but the people. Anything can become addictive for someone with an addictive personality. And really, is television any different? How many people get home from work and immediately turn on the TV and don't turn it on until they go to bed, if then? This, however, has become an acceptable addiction in our society.

I suppose we all have our addictions, whether it be gaming, TV, reading, exercise, working, eating, even family and/or friends... anything that brings you pleasure can become addictive. We just have to learn to recognize it and step away sometimes.

Detox for gaming, though? Rediculous. It's not a chemical dependency.

Posted by Guardian on Sun Nov 23, 2008 @ 12:09 pm EDT

CrypticCat says:

You're referring to the Jellinek Clinic, which treats all kinds of addictions, like alcoholism, drug-abuse and gambling. They call addictions 'compulsory behavior', which is perfectly treatable. Jellinek focusses on adults mainly, believing that kids should be parentally guided, or be monitored by Child-services first.

Posted by CrypticCat on Sun Nov 23, 2008 @ 12:16 pm EDT

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