You Want to Talk Addiction?

posted by papi blez

Thu Aug 23, 2007 at 10:48:43 PM EST

Remember a little while ago we had a long discussion about gaming addiction?  Well, check this story out.

Apparently World of Warcraft has turned many of these people's spouses into walking zombies who forget how to interact in the real world.  

This part is especially heartbreaking:

Jennifer Newberry sounds both discouraged and exhausted when she talks about her husband's addiction to "WoW," a game he has, at times, played up to 18 hours a day.

"Before he got into this game he had lots of other interests," she says. "He was into music and cars, he was active, outdoorsy, he used to hang out with friends. Now he's agoraphobic and won't go out of the basement."

Now it is interesting that in a story about gaming addicts, they didn't really talk to any of the people who are allegedly addicted.  I thought journalism was supposed to be fair and balanced?  I'm not denying that some people are ridiculously addicted to gaming and probably ignore all of their responibilities just for a few extra hours with their keyboard or controller.  But in these stories you just never know both sides of the story unless you ask.  I think they failed to do this here.

Trust me, I have a hard time sometimes because I work out of my house so the 360 is staring at me longingly wanting me to turn it on all the time.  But because I work from home, I have to be disciplined or my work would never get done and the company I own would never flourish the way I want it to.  I try and sneak in moments of gaming during my daughter's nap sometimes or when she is in daycare but only after I'm all done.

I don't know how people can get that addicted that they no longer care for their children or ignore their spouse.  It's just beyond my comprehension.  Then again, I'm pretty much planning on taking three full days off when Halo 3 releases 33 days from today.  But I don't plan on not feeding or bathing my child during that time frame.

There's being really into your hobby and then there's addicition.  I think I'm definitely in the former rather than the latter.


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Comments Disabled | 10 comments

  •  Areed (none / 0)

    There is room for addiction in anything you do...

    While I also will be deep in the depths of Halo land shortly, I still have responsibilities that have to come first.

    I look forward to the day when the only thing on my schedule is "Play Xbox Live with GearHeads"

    Until then...

    by SweetTea023 on Thu Aug 23, 2007 at 11:21:24 PM EST

  •  hgd (none / 0)

    I don't understand how people can get addicted to WoW, it's so fucking boring. I play it but never for more than an hour and a half at a time. I just go to a contested zone and sap lowbies until I'm tired of doing it.

    by Mel O Rama on Thu Aug 23, 2007 at 11:28:46 PM EST

  •  lol (none / 0)

    C u in azeroth N00bs!

    lawl!

    Not all who wander are lost

    by Zoso Fan on Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 12:00:38 AM EST

  •  WoW (none / 0)

    shouldn't even count as a video game addiction, it and Everquest should be their own separate category.

    I'm feeling California and looking Minnesota.

    by heeyoh2 on Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 12:23:39 AM EST

  •  addicts (none / 0)

    are people who don't have the willpower to stop or say no. doesn't make them bad people, they just never got that lesson somewhere in life that taught them when enough is enough. anything can be addictive and make you lazy if you let it. Games, alocohol, drugs, etc. even drugs that get a physical hold on you boil down to your mental capacity for willpower in the long run. take it from someone who's dealt with their share of vices and addictions, there comes a point where you have to decide that you are effing DONE.

    FTW=Fuck The World

    by McThud on Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 06:57:40 AM EST

  •  Strange (none / 0)

    As you know my doctor told me i was addicted.  But when i told him i haven't been playing much due to work and family, he stepped back.  He explained that gaming addition (like any other addiction) is an "escape" from your problems, not necessarily from reality, although some gaming addicts do so such as this article.  But if you play on weekends or us the gaming as a from of entertainment then it IS NOT an addiction, just like going to the movies a few hours isn't bad.  Just from the issues i have seen and discussed on here.  I'm in the clear now... Yeah!

    I got Bioshock today, yeah i know late... but i cannot wait to jump in soon and then take a break later for some Gears.

    Poland....

    You will meet your maker, the "chainsaw" and POLANDSTYLE

    by Polandstyle on Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 05:56:48 PM EST

    •  i game for fun but also to forget about problems (none / 0)

      in my life.  they arent major problems but they are still things that bother me.  that isnt to say that i dont play games for fun either because i do.  i would do something else to remove myself if i didnt like games.  but i still feel addicted.  i have been trying to quit playing as much as i used to but bioshock has brought me right back into it.  maybe because i dont have live anymore it wont play as much (it is broken and i have been trying to fix it)  i think that i might start playing more when school starts.  at least that will limit my time too... what do you know, 18 hours a day ;)

      by OG LOC 619 on Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 07:53:00 PM EST

      [ Parent ]

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