Video game addiction, fact or myth?

[Moosashi]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

The inability to quit anything, from heroin to video games, stems from lack of willpower. True, you probably need more willpower to quit heroin, especially since you'll have to overcome a lot of physical pain, but it's qualitatively the same thing.

I actually agree with Dondrei too. The difference between heroin and video games is not that it's possible to become addicted to one and not the other, but that it's practically impossible for anyone not to become addicted to heroin if they use it for any length of time, whereas propensity to get addicted to video games is probably more variable. Once your hooked, it's an addiction either way. Heroin is just more extreme.

 

[Tanooki]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

Can't heroin withdraw be fatal?

Oxygen addiction is the same way. We never should have started breathing...

 

[Moosashi]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

There is the descriptive definition of addiction, and there is the normative judgment of whether addiction is good or bad. I think the latter question hinges on what you're addicted to. I'm addicted to caffeine and have been for years, but that doesn't mean I need to try to quit. If my addiction had a negative affect on my health or finances, it would be bad. But as it stands, it's just a reminder to drink coffee, which is 100% good.

 

[Johnny]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

Coffe with milk tastes good.

Black coffe tastes like boiled piss.

 

[SnickerSnack]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

Coffe with milk tastes good.

Black coffe tastes like boiled piss.

So, you're big on boiled piss if there's some milk in it?

 

[Johnny]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

So, you're big on boiled piss if there's some milk in it?

Hell yes. Takes the edge off.

 

[Dondrei]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

You should never boil piss, ruins the bouquet. It's supposed to be a gentle simmer.

 

[Johnny]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

Speaking of boiled piss. That reminds me of back in 8th grade after gym me and some other guys pissed on the saunas heater (the thing with the hot stones) then we locked a guy inside the sauna. That placed smelled nasty!

 

[stillman]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

I'd say video game addiction is the lesser of all evils. Think about it: when little Junior is sitting on his butt playing Pokeman, here are all the things he is NOT engaging in:
-gang activity
-premarital sex (sicne girls and video games don't mix)
-drugs
-vandalizing the school
-bullying or being bullied
-social activities where Junior would only be subject to peer pressure, rejection, isolation, struggling to fit in, etc. At least playing Pokeman in his room is 'controlled' isolation.
-high school relationships (which almost always fail anyway).
-motor vehicle accidents

Hell, when I have kids, they better get their 4 hours of gaming in each night. I'll be chekcing their levels too.

 

[Dirty_Zulu]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

Only certain flavor of games are addicting for me. i.e. D2, Starcraft, and Guildwars. Can't picture myself addicted to anything Mario or anything made for Wii.

I wasted so much time of my life on D2. Somehow I do wish I could get it back. I went cold turkey and let my characters expire. Was the best thing to happen to me. I basically renewed my passport and took lots of vacations.

 

[Tanooki]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

Were you aware that as long as no one has taken your name you can unexpire your old characters?

Bwa haha! You haven't broken free after all!

 

[SnickerSnack]

Re: Video game addiction, fact or myth?

Hell, when I have kids, they better get their 4 hours of gaming in each night. I'll be chekcing their levels too.

When I have kids, they're going to play video games, but with me. They're going to play basketball and frolf and go camping with me too. Video games are only bad when that's all you do. I hope my kids enjoy rpgs, since it does help to demonstrate the value of saving/preparing.

Were you aware that as long as no one has taken your name you can unexpire your old characters?

Bwa haha! You haven't broken free after all!

:grin: I'm happy whenever someone has a good reason to say "bwa haha."