MMO Addiction

I don't know I really like my myspace and my facebook... plus I'm being honest about who I am and what I look like on my myspace, it's pretty clear that none of the people in world of warcraft are actually ridiculously in shape dragon fighters or whatever... they're hiding behind their characters aren't they?

QUOTE:
I've been reading a lot of the comments from the Kotaku post, and I get so frustrated when people talk about MMO's as being horrible for you. MMO's saved me from some much worse addictions.

like wut?

could prevent you from smoking or drinking.

But then again, sitting in front of a computer for 14hours, is just as bad for your health as smoking 10-15 times a day or drinking softly every night.

Since the computer part, doesn't get you out, the others you can do by getting out.

I feel lucky, that my only addiction now is 3D, Web design and Education. Get me a book of C++ ANYDAY!

I heard a story about a guy who quit heroine with the help of wow. He said it helped him more than methadone helped all his junky friends.

I thinks its just a case of when most people think of an addicted gamer, they will picture somone that will sint infont of the screen 24 hours a day, never leave the house and barely talkes to family or friends. Other than online.

MMO's are ok with restrictions to play time in my opinion though.. without it being monitored it can get out of hand.

QUOTE:
I thinks its just a case of when most people think of an addicted gamer, they will picture somone that will sint infont of the screen 24 hours a day, never leave the house and barely talkes to family or friends.

Like Micah

QUOTE:
I thinks its just a case of when most people think of an addicted gamer, they will picture somone that will sint infont of the screen 24 hours a day, never leave the house and barely talkes to family or friends.

Like Micah

I have a problem when it directly, negatively affects others around you. My boyfriend's computer got completely wiped by his brother's girlfriend because she needed the space to hold all the shit for her stupid WoW gaming addiction. That laptop had ALL of his school work on it. Now he has to start his entire thesis research work over again because of her lack of common awareness of those around her.

Everyone I've known to be an obsessive gamer doesn't give a rat's ass about the people who are actually REALLY around them... you know, the ones actually working for a living to pay for the internet cable to keep them hiding from the real world. I posted some links explaining the scientific studies done on the negative impacts of this kind of gaming. I really think it's important the people read them to educate themselves so that if we can't help those who are addicted now as adults, maybe we can start working to curb the future young children being allowed to engross themselves in this type of activity instead of actualy developing their brains and social skills for the world they actually live in.

I'm afraid that you're not going to find a sympathetic ear here for blaming all of your ills on gaming. (well, maybe Dan, but that's a given)

If it weren't gaming, it would probably be TV, if it wasn't TV it would probably be alcohol...see where I'm going with this?

People who are addictive by nature are going to find something to fixate on, whether it be escapism in a virtual world or escapism thru chemical substances.

MMORPG's provide a viable venue for todays youth to learn valuable skills such as teamwork, networking and computer use. Sure there's the extreme cases, and you can argue that they don't pay attention to those around them. You can also argue that they are developing a global viewpoint and learning now how people will be interacting in 20 years.

We're going towards a global society, brought about by all those pipes and tubes that comprise the intarwebs. Kicking and screaming in some cases.

Look, I work in a very fast paced, research environment that collaborates daily with multiple molecular systems biology lab all over the world. The difference is that we are interacting through the web about REAL things... not mystical quests to destroy the evil lord and thus increase our stamina or armour strength. I know LOTS about addiction as I am an addict myself. It's true, once an addict, always an addict. The key to addiction is accepting that and finding life healthy ways to tunnel those addictive behaviors. I changed my addiction to alcohol into an addiction to spending time with people I care about. It was harming my relationships with those around me, so I switched from one to the other. Now, instead of having a drink, I snuggle up on the couch with my boyfriend to work on papers or talk about our days. How about this, instead of turning on your computer, call up a friend, go for a walk, go bowling... do SOMETHING.

I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm just hoping that maybe, someday, someone will slap some sense into some of your people who've apparently never had REAL life bite you on the ass hard enough to make you realize and appreciate the good in the world around you. That's kind of hard to ever experience when you've locked yourself inside to such a limited scope though. Can't know the really good until you've ever been through the really bad.

QUOTE:
Look, I work in a very fast paced, research environment that collaborates daily with multiple molecular systems biology lab all over the world. The difference is that we are interacting through the web about REAL things... not mystical quests to destroy the evil lord and thus increase our stamina or armour strength.

Reality is based in perception. Things that you place value on are different from what others place value on. There's a reason that MMO accounts can sell for thousands of dollars. Also, remember, not everyone wants the same things out of life that you might want. Believe it or not, there are people who would probably be perfectly happy making a mediocre wage and living it up in a virtual world. (personally I'm not one of those people, but I digress) It's not up to you or I to judge them.

QUOTE:
I know LOTS about addiction as I am an addict myself. It's true, once an addict, always an addict. The key to addiction is accepting that and finding life healthy ways to tunnel those addictive behaviors. I changed my addiction to alcohol into an addiction to spending time with people I care about. It was harming my relationships with those around me, so I switched from one to the other. Now, instead of having a drink, I snuggle up on the couch with my boyfriend to work on papers or talk about our days. How about this, instead of turning on your computer, call up a friend, go for a walk, go bowling... do SOMETHING.

People who are playing an online game are doing something...they're enjoying themselves, usually without harming anyone else around them. USUALLY.

QUOTE:
I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm just hoping that maybe, someday, someone will slap some sense into some of your people who've apparently never had REAL life bite you on the ass hard enough to make you realize and appreciate the good in the world around you. That's kind of hard to ever experience when you've locked yourself inside to such a limited scope though. Can't know the really good until you've ever been through the really bad.

Most of us have been thru the bad (a fairly bad drug problem when I was younger myself). Almost everyone has seen the ugly side of the world. We see it in the world around us every day. For some, virtual worlds are the only escape that they can find from the ugly side. Is escaping into these virtual worlds a healthy thing? Yes, no, I don't know...I do know that you cannot hide from your problems infinitely. However I do know that some people need to get away from the ugly things in life.

I enjoy talking point/counterpoint like this, I sincerely hope you are aware I'm doing no more than having an (semi) intellectual debate with you.

Oh of course! I learned a very long time ago to never take offense to anything said about or to me on the internet. It's kind of like trying to bite your own ear or lick your elbow, it never really gets you anywhere except the looney bin.

I think one of my main difficulties with the whole engrossed gaming community come into play when you've got some young kid in high school or even younger who hasn't even really experiened enough of what's out there to have anything to base a comparison on. Hiding from the evils of the world never makes them go away, it just makes you less aware and almost naive of what's REALLY going on in the things that directly effect the world around you. An example: I'm in my mid twenties, and out of all the people I have met in my life, the only ones who don't donate at least a little to ANY charities are those who are so lost in the make-believe worlds on gaming that it's almost as if they don't even realize the horrors that others less fortunate are suffering through. Just because you close your eyes and ears, doesn't make reality go away.

I don't think it's right that some 16 year old kid will shut himself off so completely to real experiences because "it's too hard and mean and cruel out there." That's bull and in no way can you argue that develops a conciencious, contributing member of soaciety. You say it teaches people to build long, lasting relationships, but it doesn't. There's no work for it. REAL lasting relationships take a LOT of work. I've had both. I "dated" someone for 4 years that I only knew online and it was easy! I didn't have to change my life at all for this person. Then I realized that's exactly what you're supposed to DO when you build a significant relationship with someone. It's significant BECAUSE it changes your life.

I don't think gaming is completely evil or like it's the creator of all problems. However, I do think it is highly detrimental to the developmental stages and years of our young people. It's the time of their lives when they're supposed to be expanding their brains, trying many new things to experience what all is out there, not to limit themselves at such an early age an irreversably miss out on key steps and lessons on the way.

Yes, I am still friends with that person I dated online, but we hardly talk now because we both realized how good the real sun felt and how good it felt to really touch a person while they smiled at you. Out of all the people in the world, he has some of the most stark reasons to want to "disappear" into an imaginary world. He lives in a country that has been torn apart by constant battle since before he was born, he developed a physically dibilitating disease, he has watch friends and family killed or leave for a better life, and always been left behind. Then one day, he understand what he had been doing to himself by locking himself into his games. Ignoring his problems wasn't going to make them go away. So, he turned off, tuned in, and went back to school. He still physcially hurts, but now his life is in his control and he doesn't have to read it offa screen t know that.

Greets, all, and thanks to Juan, Victor, etc. for this forum:

Everyone is different, and every person has h/er own situation, personality, life experiences, etc. There are truths to be found in every post on this thread, and I'm pleased to see this kind of discussion.

As for me, I'm going through a season of non-MMORPG playing in an attempt to assess my priorites in life and whether I could still engage in MMORPG's in such a way that my life is not affected in negative ways. I am on the road to perhaps being accepted to a guild I have followed for many years and have found the people to be wonderful, but my reaction to WoW and gaming in general to be less-than-stellar: spending too much time on something I've found to be waaay too much fun.

As enjoyable as the gaming it, if it were not for this particular guild (Victor and Juan know to which one I refer) and the incredibly-wonderful social interaction it offers (I am over thirty, btw and did not (thank God) spend my teen years in front of a computer, as much as I would have liked to), I would not do online gaming, and I've told my new online pals in this guild that very thing.

Needless to say, had this film been done a year before, it would have been very timely in that it would probably be distributed to where I could actually see it. But I've gotten a lot out of just the trailer and these forums, as sparely populated as they are, and to Victor, Juan, and the third guy whose name escapes me, I give my great thanks and kudos for a job well-done.

jeffrags

:)

After reading all of the posts above, it's just really made me want to post something. I warn you, it's long.

I have to agree with almost everyone here.

Gaming, in all forms of it, is a huge discussion. I've been invovled in many discussions, some good and some bad. You can never have everyone agree with you on something.

There will always be someone who will find something to disagree with. Which in all honesty, is more than fine, because that's their thoughts and opinions. Which leads me to these topics...

QUOTE:
I don't think gaming is completely evil or like it's the creator of all problems. However, I do think it is highly detrimental to the developmental stages and years of our young people. It's the time of their lives when they're supposed to be expanding their brains, trying many new things to experience what all is out there, not to limit themselves at such an early age an irreversably miss out on key steps and lessons on the way.

This really doesn't have to do with gaming in particular or your post, but it just came to me..

We live in a different time. Not saying that young kids/teens should stop playing outside, going out and having sleepovers with friends, having a cruise around town, or just enjoying and experiencing themselves out in the real world safely... but you have to really see how our world is now. When we use to be in lower/elementary school, we weren't made to type everything on the computer, there weren't any CDs out there for learning how to do maths properly, or teaching you languages. In my case that is, it was unheard of. So it's easy to see why we did what we did. Why we went outside and rode our bike, or went to the pool or beach. Played with dolls, watched movies. But now, practically everything has to do with being behind a screen.

If you don't know how to use a computer, it's like not knowing how to use the phone.

Everything is now being built so people can use it on their computers. Virtual Reality, console games. It's the thing.

QUOTE:
I think one of my main difficulties with the whole engrossed gaming community come into play when you've got some young kid in high school or even younger who hasn't even really experiened enough of what's out there to have anything to base a comparison on. Hiding from the evils of the world never makes them go away, it just makes you less aware and almost naive of what's REALLY going on in the things that directly effect the world around you. An example: I'm in my mid twenties, and out of all the people I have met in my life, the only ones who don't donate at least a little to ANY charities are those who are so lost in the make-believe worlds on gaming that it's almost as if they don't even realize the horrors that others less fortunate are suffering through. Just because you close your eyes and ears, doesn't make reality go away.

I think it's b.s. to believe that if you spend most of your time online, that you haven't experience what's out there. That is not true at all.

In my case, because it's my opinion, and this isn't for a sob story, but

I've experienced being surrounded by drug addicts.
I've experienced being arrested, which had nothing to do with me.
I've experienced being in a SWAT raid.
I've had my mother die when I was 12, due of cancer.
I've had my dad go to jail and I don't know when he'll be out.
I'v been held at gun point.

I would think these would be pretty traumatizing experiences.

But for the good part,

I've traveled more than any person I've known.
I've found love, and I'm in a healthy relationship.
I've moved across the country by myself.
I'm healthy.
I see myself having a good future, and I have goals.
I'm not a lunatic, and I don't need any counseling because of what I've gone through.

But I do have to say, throughout what I went through, I was behind a computer screen. I have played games. I've met loads of people online, I've seen things, I've learned.

No matter what your age, or what bad/good things you have gone through, it doesn't mean that just because you choose to spend your time playing games instead of getting high or pissed off your face, that you don't know what living outside of your room is.

I would be more at peace in my mind, if my daughter/son spent their time in their room, doing what they chose, instead of being out, doing things they shouldn't, or more so, invovoled in something terrible. If they enjoy and have fun in being on WoW, or playing FPS games, or even playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band; which can actually help you out a bit with the real instrument, then that's fine with me.

Everytime I go out, I juse see how these group of young people are, and it disgusts me at what they are becoming. More of them are smoking at a younger age, more are drinking. Don't even get me started on what they wear or how they wear it.

With the whole charity thing, I don't donate to any charity's. I do watch the news. I do know what's going on in the world. Yes, it's sad. But just because I don't give out my money doesn't make me an ignorant person. Just because these people are so enthralled in their games, that they don't give money to charity's, doesn't make them any worse then the next guy.

I am positive that there are people out there who DON'T give any money to charity, know what's going on in the world and have never touched a game in their life.

There is NOTHING wrong with gaming. At all. It goes with anything! If you spend your whole life reading, yeah, it's going to cause something to go downhill in your life. If you spend your whole time watching TV, eating, hell, even working out. You can't work out all the time. You can't work 24/7. There has to be a balance to everything. You can't go out all the time either. If you have a balance, then that's fine. If you want to be on MySpace/Facebook any of those type of things, because that's what entertains you, makes you happy, then go for it. Same as if you want to log into a game behind a name that will never be heard of in RL, and wear armor, and fly on bat's. If this is what makes people happy, what is ever so wrong about that?

As long as you aren't ignoring your friends, family, missing out on work/school. If you are intelligent enough to write a thought provoking sentence, and know the difference between right and wrong, I see no problem in spending your time where you wish to be.

Oh and another thing, yes, sometimes people don't give a crap about what's around them. But that doesn't only involve gamers. That can go with people who are drunks, druggy's, come home only to eat and sleep, etc, etc. If the parents or whom ever allows that, then let it be. They'll learn soon enough.

Playing video games, also helps with imagination. A lot of people don't have that, and the ones that do, suprisingly enough, it's because they HAVE been something other than themselves. Their second skin. It can't always be fulfilled in the real world.

Didn't get into the guild, and since that time, I've tried to play MMO's but it just hasn't been the same. Oh, yes, I had a scare with too-much-playing having a really adverse effect on my Real Life, but fortunately I had not let things go so far bad that a month of catching up couldn't cure.

Since that time and until my quasi-guild life ended, I have played quite a bit, but I was able to better-handle my playtime, and I never again let things get as bad as they were before.

I might go back to online gaming: I've some real-life friends on various MMOs with whom it would be fun to do stuff, but the WoW people play Alliance and I've had too much fun playing Horde - lol. Also, I've learned to remind myself when I play of the hours to do other things I will never have again. This has kept me away to a certain extent, but the chief thing that dulls my desire to get back into WoW was that the particular guild I hung out with (but was never a member of) was so exceptional that the thought of playing WoW without them has little appeal to me, even with my real-life friends playing.

I am a former gamer, had to quit because it was effectively taking over my life. While not everyone suffers from a compulsion of this nature related to gaming, I think it would be false to assume I am on “the fringe” or a rarity. I knew too many people just like me.

I found far too many others who spent as much or more time playing than I did, and I knew many, many people who after each expansion played their hearts out in order to max level their character as quickly as possible. I was one of these. I also knew plenty of folks who played *more* than I did, who were in Top 100 guilds.

I think to assume that the type of gamers shown in the film are some sort of rarity is to be a little bit self-deluded. While things changed immensley with the introduction of WotLK and the surge of “casuals” in WoW specifically, if you haven’t noticed people willing to play 6+ hours a night multiple times a week I’m not sure you are looking hard enough.

What I do find completely fascinating as someone who has quit and is pursuing ongoing treatment for what I feel comfortable calling a gaming addiction, is that there seem to be quite a few folks in the gaming addiction recovery camp who felt the movie didn’t high light the dangers and addictive nature of MMOs more clearly!

So perhaps, if we have gamers and those in the camp of gaming addiction recovery both feeling the movie didn’t present a fair picture of things–is it possible the movie might actually be balanced?

I actually liked the film myself, although I found myself filled with questions. Perhaps most poignant of all was the commentary by those who were in wheel chairs, about how virtual worlds are a great freedom for them.

As a gaming addict who used to buy gold, I also found myself feeling very sad for the working conditions the gold farmers endure–and wondered if any of the gold farmers ever find themselves “addicted”?

My comments aren’t meant to suggest that everyone who plays an MMO will be addicted. I don’t believe that to be true. But I also know I am not alone. I also don’t believe games are bad or evil, or anything silly like that. I just know that I can’t play without losing control of my life, and I sincerely wish that no one else finds the same to be true about their game play.

Industrial Engineering Diploma
associate degree Music
bachelors degree journalism
associate degree journalism
sociology diploma

Greets, all, and thanks to Juan, Victor, etc. for this forum:

Everyone is different, and every person has h/er own situation, personality, life experiences, etc. There are truths to be found in every post on this thread, and I'm pleased to see this kind of discussion.

As for me, I'm going through a season of non-MMORPG playing in an attempt to assess my priorites in life and whether I could still engage in MMORPG's in such a way that my life is not affected in negative ways. I am on the road to perhaps being accepted to a guild I have followed for many years and have found the people to be wonderful, but my reaction to WoW and gaming in general to be less-than-stellar: spending too much time on something I've found to be waaay too much fun.

As enjoyable as the gaming it, if it were not for this particular guild (Victor and Juan know to which one I refer) and the incredibly-wonderful social interaction it offers (I am over thirty, btw and did not (thank God) spend my teen years in front of a computer, as much as I would have liked to), I would not do online gaming, and I've told my new online pals in this guild that very thing.

Needless to say, had this film been done a year before, it would have been very timely in that it would probably be distributed to where I could actually see it. But I've gotten a lot out of just the trailer and these forums, as sparely populated as they are, and to Victor, Juan, and the third guy whose name escapes me, I give my great thanks and kudos for a job well-done.

jeffrags

:)
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