Earlier today I was reading a blog http://netaddictionrecovery.blogspot.com/ that was talking about Pathological computer use. Which basically just describes obsessive computer usage as an addiction with all of the same symptoms. Symptoms like withdrawal. This got me to thinking that maybe the gaming addiction itself isn't the games themselves but the computer instead. Maybe the games are just a way to justify spending more time with the computer. The games give people goals and tasks to complete so that they don't feel poorly about spending hours at a time glued to their monitors. They can say to themselves "Hey I accomplished something." While it is easy to get lost surfing the web it is even easier to get lost in a mystical game world.
In our society today there are little ways to escape the Internets hold on us. It control and is part of so much of every ones daily lives. I personally spend 2 hours on the computer mandatory every day, if not more. I check email, read stories, visit blogs, play games, write papers and whatever else I need to do. The computer has become the new Swiss army knife and has some gadget for every last situation. I would like to say I could go without the computer for a year and be fine with it, but I don't really know how I would survive. How would I get my news? How would I entertain myself? How would I communicate? How would I write my papers?
I suppose I would have to begin watching television and reading the newspaper to get my news. To entertain myself I suppose I would have to get up and move.... but who wants to do that. To communicate I suppose I would have to write letters, which is something I rarely ever do, I occasionally send mail to relatives thanking them for gifts. Email is so much faster, easier, cheaper and better. The only thing you lack with email is the physical piece of paper and you can always just print out the email. As for writing papers I guess I would have to use a type writer... only problem with that is I make so many errors while typing by the time I was done I 'd have gone through fifty sheets of paper, which would hardly be helping the environment.
So after realizing all of that I have to admit that I don't think I could go without the computer, I just use it for too many things. It is also clear if I was forced I could find a way to make do. I think a lot of people are the same way. The computer has entered almost every ones life and is now a integral part of it. Anyone out there think they would want to try and manage a whole entire year without computers, living the life they are living?
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
There Could Be Worse Things
I was thinking today about all of the different addictions people have. Such as alcohol, tabacco, marijuana, cocain, caffine, painkillers, gambling and even sexual addictions. I put things into perspective, I realize that while gaming addiction harms friends, family and one self, there are worse things out there. Not to diminish from my cause here, but things really could be alot worse. At least with a gaming addiction a person is fairly well safe in the it own home and doesn't run the risk of killing themselves instantly with a overdose or a bad mix of drugs and or alcohol. None the less I fell there should be a greater sense at freeing people from their addictions, as the addictions themselves have no positive aspects to them.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
WoW Detox
I thought I would make a post purely devoted to this site - http://www.wowdetox.com/. This is a site people post there stories of WoW addiction on. It is fairly interesting to read about how these people have destroyed or just saved aspects of their lives by quitting. There are also stories of people how can stop and want a way out. I encourage anyone reading this to follow the link and read a few of these peoples stories, as it will give you a far greater perspective on what I've been talking about for the past few weeks.
These people that are posting here have taken the first step to quitting, they have admitted there is a problem, most people wont even do that. It sounds silly to say really, " I'm addicted to a computer game." I don't really no how much a site like this helps people considering there are 27670 posts today and currently 10 million people playing the game. That's not to say that everyone who plays is addicted, in fact its quite the opposite. What is true is the fact that many people are addicted, don't realize it and need help. At least this is a step in the right direction.
These people that are posting here have taken the first step to quitting, they have admitted there is a problem, most people wont even do that. It sounds silly to say really, " I'm addicted to a computer game." I don't really no how much a site like this helps people considering there are 27670 posts today and currently 10 million people playing the game. That's not to say that everyone who plays is addicted, in fact its quite the opposite. What is true is the fact that many people are addicted, don't realize it and need help. At least this is a step in the right direction.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
More Evidence
This morning as i was combing over some of my regular sites I happened across a link to the TechNewsWorld site. The article that I was referred to talks in depth about the effects of video game addiction and refers to a real story about a 11 year old boy named William. It talks about his transition to becoming addicted and doing anything he possibly could to continue playing the games. It talks of the violent out bursts he would have when he was denied access to games, such as hitting his mother during tantrums. He also at one point pushed his elderly grandmother down a flight of stairs.
I think Children are the most susceptible to video gaming addiction because they lack willpower. They often see nothing wrong with playing games all day and skipping school. The article states that the main reason for the addiction to occur is the reward based nature of the games. This mirrors what I hav said in previous posts, in these game worlds it becomes easy to accomplish monumental goals, ones that cannot be achieved by going to school or playing a game of basketball. In many of these games you have something to show for playing hours on end. Xbox 360 is a perfect example of this, every game they have for that console has something called achievements. They special goals that are often difficult to complete, but make the games that much more rewarding. So instead of just having the drive to beat the game, they have now introduced something that keep players coming back for more once they have beat it. These goals can be as simple as completing the game on a harder difficulty or as complex as figuring out a pattern of jumping through hoops to unlock a item.
I think Children are the most susceptible to video gaming addiction because they lack willpower. They often see nothing wrong with playing games all day and skipping school. The article states that the main reason for the addiction to occur is the reward based nature of the games. This mirrors what I hav said in previous posts, in these game worlds it becomes easy to accomplish monumental goals, ones that cannot be achieved by going to school or playing a game of basketball. In many of these games you have something to show for playing hours on end. Xbox 360 is a perfect example of this, every game they have for that console has something called achievements. They special goals that are often difficult to complete, but make the games that much more rewarding. So instead of just having the drive to beat the game, they have now introduced something that keep players coming back for more once they have beat it. These goals can be as simple as completing the game on a harder difficulty or as complex as figuring out a pattern of jumping through hoops to unlock a item.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Gold From The Chinese Farm
This post wont exactly relate to gaming addiction, but instead what fuels the addiction and who is used to keep shoveling the coal into the MMORPG fire. MMORPG's are a huge industry today, if you have read my first post you know that Vivendi games makes roughly 150 million dollars a month from the game WoW alone. People that play these games are obsessed, some so driven to become the best that they use their own money to purchase gold online through private companies. These companies make there gold by what is called farming. These companies are often China based where there is a tons of cheap labor and these people are paid to sit at a computer for extremely long shifts and play MMORPG's with there only goal being to make gold. This gold is then stock piled and sold to people online via gold buying sites.
Wikipedia has a large compulation of the realities of gold farming. Some of the facts on there are sad and shocking.
While I have never done it I know people who have purchased gold online through sites like http://www.wowgold3000.com/ for large sums of money. As enthralled in the game as I was I could never justify putting out that kind of money for a leg up on my online competition, it just never seemed right. I had also heard of the conditions that the people worked in who farmed that gold. When I played WoW back in the day you could often find players who were unresponsive, played with no morals and spoke only Chinese. I in fact learned a little Chinese just to be able to somewhat communicate with them. These people were gold farms. They would say in one zone all day rapidly killing monsters in hopes of rare drops which could be sold so they could get their pay checks. All in all it was a rather sad ordeal, but as long as there are people out there willing to buy the gold for these high prices there will be people selling it.
Wikipedia has a large compulation of the realities of gold farming. Some of the facts on there are sad and shocking.
While I have never done it I know people who have purchased gold online through sites like http://www.wowgold3000.com/ for large sums of money. As enthralled in the game as I was I could never justify putting out that kind of money for a leg up on my online competition, it just never seemed right. I had also heard of the conditions that the people worked in who farmed that gold. When I played WoW back in the day you could often find players who were unresponsive, played with no morals and spoke only Chinese. I in fact learned a little Chinese just to be able to somewhat communicate with them. These people were gold farms. They would say in one zone all day rapidly killing monsters in hopes of rare drops which could be sold so they could get their pay checks. All in all it was a rather sad ordeal, but as long as there are people out there willing to buy the gold for these high prices there will be people selling it.
Time spent? What earned?
j from "Everquest Daily Grind: mmorpg infinity (no beyond)" typed a fascinating post about time spent in certain aspects of ones life.
"Let's face it: You are spending 10-20 hours a week on your MMOG of choice? Move along, you likely have little to worry about MMOGs impacting your well-being negatively. 30-50 hours a week? It's time to stop being such a fierce defender of your game existence and insist that it's yo choice to live your life, buddy. After all, you're not ACTUALLY fighting for the last tree on earth. Or trying to find the cure to save the world from Armageddon.
At best, you are only harming yourself. At worst, you are causing some heavy-duty damage on others who rely on you being in this world.
P.S.: And before you start thinking that it is "only" time that is the difference here, think again... time is limited and at the same time pervasive in all aspects of our lives - the length (and sure, the type) of your commitment to a particular aspect of your life and the combination of those commitments shapes who you are as a person."
This post really started me thinking about time allotment in my life. While I did once play computer games at the rate of which it was harming me and the people around me, today I do not. I do though spend copious amounts of time doing other things that aren't productive. It's really just me being lazy in my life. When I got done playing a MMORPG I would have a sense of accomplishment. I would gain some in game money, gain a level or get some new fancy sword and that would keep me going. The MMORPG allows for instant satisfaction every time. Nothing in the game world can ever really be that bad, it has it's minimal highs and minimals lows. This is very different from the real world in which great things can happen instantly and change your life in a flash, or on the other hand terrible things can occur and do just the opposite. The Game world is safe, it's comfortable. There is little to no risk in playing a MMORPG, little to gain little to lose if you look at it from a players perspective. If you turn the table though and look at the broader picture this is a huge amount that is lost. You spend countless hours doing something that doesn't get you anything but minor entertainment and lose all of the experiences you could have had interacting with the real world.
There is always the risk of getting hit by a bus or getting struck by lightening, but are those risks so great that it is justified to sit inside and play a mindless computer game for 30-50 hours a week? I think not. Like j said if one is playing the game for 10-20 hours a week it is just a fun hobby and there is little to worry about. Though if someone is playing for 30-50 there is a problem and in my opinion way too much is lost.
"Let's face it: You are spending 10-20 hours a week on your MMOG of choice? Move along, you likely have little to worry about MMOGs impacting your well-being negatively. 30-50 hours a week? It's time to stop being such a fierce defender of your game existence and insist that it's yo choice to live your life, buddy. After all, you're not ACTUALLY fighting for the last tree on earth. Or trying to find the cure to save the world from Armageddon.
At best, you are only harming yourself. At worst, you are causing some heavy-duty damage on others who rely on you being in this world.
P.S.: And before you start thinking that it is "only" time that is the difference here, think again... time is limited and at the same time pervasive in all aspects of our lives - the length (and sure, the type) of your commitment to a particular aspect of your life and the combination of those commitments shapes who you are as a person."
This post really started me thinking about time allotment in my life. While I did once play computer games at the rate of which it was harming me and the people around me, today I do not. I do though spend copious amounts of time doing other things that aren't productive. It's really just me being lazy in my life. When I got done playing a MMORPG I would have a sense of accomplishment. I would gain some in game money, gain a level or get some new fancy sword and that would keep me going. The MMORPG allows for instant satisfaction every time. Nothing in the game world can ever really be that bad, it has it's minimal highs and minimals lows. This is very different from the real world in which great things can happen instantly and change your life in a flash, or on the other hand terrible things can occur and do just the opposite. The Game world is safe, it's comfortable. There is little to no risk in playing a MMORPG, little to gain little to lose if you look at it from a players perspective. If you turn the table though and look at the broader picture this is a huge amount that is lost. You spend countless hours doing something that doesn't get you anything but minor entertainment and lose all of the experiences you could have had interacting with the real world.
There is always the risk of getting hit by a bus or getting struck by lightening, but are those risks so great that it is justified to sit inside and play a mindless computer game for 30-50 hours a week? I think not. Like j said if one is playing the game for 10-20 hours a week it is just a fun hobby and there is little to worry about. Though if someone is playing for 30-50 there is a problem and in my opinion way too much is lost.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Where Does The Negativity Stem From?
What makes a MMORPG player so different from everyone else? Why has soceity shunned these people and are they partially responsible? Where were the negative ideas formed?
I think all of these questions are personal. By that I mean it is different for every individual. Certainly there are more productive hobbies, but that can be said about most of the passtimes we have in our world today. If you went surfing for 50 hours a week you might become very good at it and eventually be able to call yourself a professional surfer. But what if you play WoW for 50 hours a week. You could then say you are a profession mmorpg player. I dont think it has quite the same charming ring to it. Sure with surfing you are out in the world, being physical, getting exercise even perhaps a nice beach tan. With WoW though you are trapped inside sitting at a computer eating cheetos and packing on the pounds, trying to hide from the sun like a vampire. At first glance this comparison seems very one sided, most people would clearly say that 50 hours of surfing, while it is alot is far more acceptable that 50 hours of playing a computer game. Why the double standard though? Saying you are addicted to surfing or sports of that nature has a postive stigma tied with it. While from my own personal experience being addicted to computer game doesn't score you any points.
I think alot of this has to do with lack of understanding. If you meet a woman or a man depending on your preference or gender you would probably be far more likely to tell them about your surfing obsession than your WoW obsession. While it is probably true that just from basic appearance a avid surfer will have a superior physically than that of a avid WoW player there is more to it than that. Almost everyone in the world knows the general idea of surfing, WoW on the other hand even as popular as it is and with it's constant adds and commercials is something more mysterious, but not in a good way. People that dont play computer games probably haven't heard of the game and if they have they probably relate it to that nerdy pimple covered fellow that breifly referenced it in highschool. So with that said I think it is a utter lack of understanding. I personally would never strike up a conversation with someone I didn't know about playing a computer game such as WoW, most because it has a large chance of falling flat on it's face. By that I mean if the person doesn't know what it is then explaining it will be a boring drawn out plea of acceptance. They also might have an idea, maybe a friend plays the game or maybe they get that image of the pimply guy from highschool. If they do know a bond can be formed, but this is a rare occurance.
From my own personal experience I have seen a negative attitude toward people that play computer games, more specifically MMORPG's and I wonder where that started. I have been playing games like WoW when a relative, friend or anyone comes over, the person usually feigns interest and it ends up forming into a long drawn out on conversation about something I dont want to explain and something they really dont care about in the first place. Though due to the politeness of the guest they countinue to try and understand eventually, usually awkwardly the subject gets changed. So where does the
I think all of these questions are personal. By that I mean it is different for every individual. Certainly there are more productive hobbies, but that can be said about most of the passtimes we have in our world today. If you went surfing for 50 hours a week you might become very good at it and eventually be able to call yourself a professional surfer. But what if you play WoW for 50 hours a week. You could then say you are a profession mmorpg player. I dont think it has quite the same charming ring to it. Sure with surfing you are out in the world, being physical, getting exercise even perhaps a nice beach tan. With WoW though you are trapped inside sitting at a computer eating cheetos and packing on the pounds, trying to hide from the sun like a vampire. At first glance this comparison seems very one sided, most people would clearly say that 50 hours of surfing, while it is alot is far more acceptable that 50 hours of playing a computer game. Why the double standard though? Saying you are addicted to surfing or sports of that nature has a postive stigma tied with it. While from my own personal experience being addicted to computer game doesn't score you any points.
I think alot of this has to do with lack of understanding. If you meet a woman or a man depending on your preference or gender you would probably be far more likely to tell them about your surfing obsession than your WoW obsession. While it is probably true that just from basic appearance a avid surfer will have a superior physically than that of a avid WoW player there is more to it than that. Almost everyone in the world knows the general idea of surfing, WoW on the other hand even as popular as it is and with it's constant adds and commercials is something more mysterious, but not in a good way. People that dont play computer games probably haven't heard of the game and if they have they probably relate it to that nerdy pimple covered fellow that breifly referenced it in highschool. So with that said I think it is a utter lack of understanding. I personally would never strike up a conversation with someone I didn't know about playing a computer game such as WoW, most because it has a large chance of falling flat on it's face. By that I mean if the person doesn't know what it is then explaining it will be a boring drawn out plea of acceptance. They also might have an idea, maybe a friend plays the game or maybe they get that image of the pimply guy from highschool. If they do know a bond can be formed, but this is a rare occurance.
From my own personal experience I have seen a negative attitude toward people that play computer games, more specifically MMORPG's and I wonder where that started. I have been playing games like WoW when a relative, friend or anyone comes over, the person usually feigns interest and it ends up forming into a long drawn out on conversation about something I dont want to explain and something they really dont care about in the first place. Though due to the politeness of the guest they countinue to try and understand eventually, usually awkwardly the subject gets changed. So where does the
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