Yup, if you become addicted to MMO's then it's your fault, not the MMOs. Anything else is just a cowardly attempt to not take responsibility for your own actions. What about other addictions. Careful here... Because you lumped MMO addictions with all other addictions. Do please try to stay on topic. You made a choice and hence are responsible. If you're accepting that the basis of your argument is flawed, then You are one of those "I have to get the last word in" type of people huh? I'll choose to rise above the blatant flame-bait here. No, I have chosen this path because I am taking the higher road. I feel that I am right and you are wrong. And I feel that I'm right, and that you are entirely wrong. You made a statement that was clearly incorrect, offered no evidence to support it, then decided to defend it to the hilt regardless. This whole thread can be boiled down to: "Make me feel better by telling me it's not by fault" And I ain't the enabling kind.
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
MMOs PURPOSELY GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO LURE YOU INTO THE ADDICTION.
how do MMOs "go out of their way" to lure you?
do mmos give you free buffets like at Casinos ?
They're designed to do this. Although I don't agree with the OP about them being addictive because players long for social contact....I do agree that they are made to be as addictive as possible.
The constant follow up of level's, items, succeses, status, wealth, grind..this is no coincidence that's it's in almost every MMO.
Don't tell me you can't create other games, because I play street gears and it's not nearly as addictive as most MMO and doesn't rely on those succeses all that much. So yes, he's correct when he says they lure you into addiction, they do this right from the start by making you progress with stats and small succeses.
Do please try to stay on topic. You made a choice and hence are responsible. Oh so its okay for you to call me out on EVERYTHING I say, including nit picking by excluding words as the basis for your argument, but when I call you out I am off topic? lol Again, you play dirty.
And I feel that I'm right, and that you are entirely wrong. You made a statement that was clearly incorrect, offered no evidence to support it, then decided to defend it to the hilt regardless. So I am supposed to supply you with evidence that my original post was meant that ALL PEOPLE who are addicted are socially inept, when that is clearly NOT what I said? This whole thread can be boiled down to: "Make me feel better by telling me it's not by fault" And I ain't the enabling kind. YOU said that anyone can get addicted to anything. Answer this question or we are done. Does this always mean it is their fault? Answer the question.
Do please try to stay on topic. You made a choice and hence are responsible. Oh so its okay for you to call me out on EVERYTHING I say, but when I call you out I am off topic. Again, you play dirty.
More flamebait to be side-stepped. And I feel that I'm right, and that you are entirely wrong. You made a statement that was clearly incorrect, offered no evidence to support it, then decided to defend it to the hilt regardless. So I am supposed to supply you with evidence that my original post was meant that ALL PEOPLE who are addicted are socially inept, when that is clearly NOT what I said? Repitition. You generalised, end of debate on that score. This whole thread can be boiled down to: "Make me feel better by telling me it's not by fault" And I ain't the enabling kind. YOU said that anyone can get addicted to anything. Answer this question or we are done. Does this always mean it is their fault? Answer the question. Since you insist on demanding that I repeat myself; yes. Anyone can, by their own fault, become "addicted" to anything. If you're attempting to make the statement that MMO "addiction" is a pre-determined genetic/behavioural fault then I am going to laugh at you for being utterly ridiculous and demand supporting evidence.
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
MMOs are nothing but a Pavlovian Experiment to Addict the Socially Inept
s.
You see, the thing is, I don't want to play with you people. Not at all. I generally do not like anyone I do not know.
I'm just the opposite. I like to play in PuGs in MMORPGs. That's really wehre the fun is at for me. IN a solo friendly game there's no reason for PuGs, which means nothing for me to do in the game really.
Pick up groups are fun because I like interacting with people I haven't met before. I don't mind the fact that some of them are nice, some of them are jerks, some of them are good players, and some fo them are incompetent and get the party wiped.
I find this all very entertaining, and it's the reason I play MMORPGs. Without that feature, I will just play Fallout 3, which is a fun game. Not as fun as a good grouping games with PUGs, but it's fun.
btw I should also note that, when a new mmo launches I usually play only during the 1st month
for the 1st 30 days, I get similar entertainment as if I spent the same cash on stand alone PC game
if MMO devs were truly "luring you in to get addicted" Id be playing many of these games beyond the first month after my Retail purchase
QFT, if MMORPGs are geared more towards getting people addicted then giving people enjoyment, then i would i would have alot more game subscriptions.
Playing: EVE Online Favorite MMOs: WoW, SWG Pre-cu, Lineage 2, UO, EQ, EVE online Looking forward to: Archeage, Kingdom Under Fire 2 KUF2's Official Website - http://www.kufii.com/ENG/ -
If you're attempting to make the statement that MMO "addiction" is a pre-determined genetic/behavioural fault then I am going to laugh at you for being utterly ridiculous and demand supporting evidence.
Back in the forbidden caverns of hard science, addiction is usually attributed to genetic factors and dopamine. The National Institute of Health states that genetic factors are significant in addiction. Some brains are just more susceptible to the neurotransmitter dopamine, a type of chemical in the brain. The research of neuroscientists Depue and Collins reflects this in stating that individual differences in dopamine processing can predetermine individuals as more or less likely to develop addictions. They also assert that motivation is based on two major factors, “the availability of reward, and the effort required to obtain it…”
It has also been proven that dopamine is stimulated while having sex, gambling and playing video games. And dopamine stimulation levels are genetic.
Here endith the lesson.
My work is done here. I have also blocked you on this forum.
btw I should also note that, when a new mmo launches I usually play only during the 1st month
for the 1st 30 days, I get similar entertainment as if I spent the same cash on stand alone PC game
if MMO devs were truly "luring you in to get addicted" Id be playing many of these games beyond the first month after my Retail purchase
Not all people get addicted. You are an example.
Keep in mind people, I am talking ONLY about the super hard core gamer. Most likely a Wow vet, who spends 4 hours a night raiding. Must of us do not fit into this category.
Would someone mind reposting to Donjn the following:
"To revisit part one: so far research has simply suggested that at most, people are becoming addicted to games, not that games themselves are actually responsible for addicting people. Some people do seem to be addicted, yet games may not be the real culprit"
Since he has apparently chosen to "block" me, I'm regrettably denied the pleasure of drawing his attention to the above passage which is actually contained in the article that he himself referenced in his above post.
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
Ya know i have thought about this topic a lot but rengeg'd on posting cause i didnt want the rookies flaming hard but hey 7 pages of replys maybe they are gone.
I personally think that calling it a Pavlovian Experiment to Addict the Socially Inept is way offboard, MMO's are more like the government adding additives into cigarettes that are extremly harmful and kill people faster, yet at the same time raising prices on them.
My point is its not our fault.
When you play a mmo EVERYONE rp's to an extent. The least extent of role playing is the fact that the companies make it tedious and time consuming to get gear and weapons to give you an edge.
2things can happen with this situation
1: People dont care ab out it, dont try to attain it, quit the game shortly after it comes out. All you have done is waste $15 a month <on average for most games> to sit around and go find someones ring or kill 10 monsters so u can return for praise for something an infant could accomplish.
2:people wish to attain these items for the edge in the WAR fought in game. Like war in real life u need the goods to back up the service, you wouldnt go pick a fight with your neighbor because his dog does his buisness on your lawn if he was a professional fighter. That being said if your neighbor was 5'2 90 pounds wearing shoes with his glasses on you would most likely do something about it and succeed.
I dont feel like getting into the whole thing because i could write a book on this.
If you actually break it down to all the different levels and different situations people play these games do you think it could be put into any classifacation other than addiction you are nieve. If you troll the forums still after quitting the game <whichever it was> .....YOU ARE ADDICTICTED ALSO.
It really isnt our fault because lets be real here. You got a job that isnt being a spy so it lacks excitment, I'm not saying you hate your job btw. You got a life with nothing but rules and bills to account for, WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Life sounds fun so far eh.......<again i will clarify im not EMO and not saying that life isnt fun but i mean c'mon you gotta realize that as long as you are not living at home in your parents basement with no responsibilities, that life is repetative and there are a lot of aspects that dont cause joy in it as well.
I like to win when i play mmo's and not lose.....it is how i live life and most of you know and are the same.
Hello I am an addict and so are you because you are reading it.
Would someone mind reposting to Donjn the following: "To revisit part one: so far research has simply suggested that at most, people are becoming addicted to games, not that games themselves are actually responsible for addicting people. Some people do seem to be addicted, yet games may not be the real culprit" Since he has apparently chosen to "block" me, I'm regrettably denied the pleasure of drawing his attention to the above passage which is actually contained in the article that he himself referenced in his above post.
I just had to byte.
"Some people do seem to be addicted, yet games may not be the real culprit"
And later the article mentions genetic reasons. You wanted proof and I gave it to you. Didn't I say earlier that people who have social issues or are socially inept can get addicted? MMOs contain addictive elements, but ultimately it is up to that person. But it is not a cognitive issue as the article explains. It is genetic. No one chooses to be an addict. You laughed at me for this statement and I gave you proof.
I want to come to an understanding here that we can agree on.
But you seem to think that even people with a genetic tendency for addiction are still to blame. Do you also think people choose to be gay?
Another thing Ilvaldyr. Lets keep this civil. I know you have "resisted" flaming me, but the condescending tone is not appreciated. Lets do away with this "your losing the argument" talk and have an intelligent debate.
You seem like a smart guy so lets both act that way. I mean, if we both keep this childish banter going aren't we all proving my point that we are socially inept ourselves?
And yes, we can disagree on something without saying X person lost the argument. But in this forum many posters are reading what we write, and the tendency to entertain them is hard to resist.
MMO's are more like the government adding additives into cigarettes that are extremly harmful and kill people faster, yet at the same time raising prices on them.
Another thing Ilvaldyr. Lets keep this civil. I know you have "resisted" flaming me, but the condescending tone is not appreciated. Lets do away with this "your losing the argument" talk and have an intelligent debate. You seem like a smart guy so lets both act that way. I mean, if we both keep this childish banter going aren't we all proving my point that we are socially inept ourselves? And yes, we can disagree on something without saying X person lost the argument. But in this forum many posters are reading what we write, and the tendency to entertain them is hard to resist. I will call a truce. Peace?
Make no mistake, I harbour no ill-feeling towards you; however I don't believe that we can have an intelligent debate on this topic as it is being continually derailed by side-tracks and condescension (on both sides).
I think it's probably best if I end my involvement in this thread with a final statement and summation of my thoughts on this topic.
We've discussed the topic of MMO addiction; (which has yet to be proven to conclusively exist). We've both presented evidentiary articles; both support my argument that gaming is not proven to be addictive, and neither specifically single out MMO games as either more or less "behaviour forming" than other forms of gaming.
So; the OP's statement was:
"We log on to MMOs because there is possibly something socially that is lacking on our lives, at least for those who are addicted."
My opinion is thus:
Firstly, we have no evidence that MMO addiction exists and
Secondly, we have no evidence that MMO games attract people who are socially inept.
So, it's no real suprise that the thread devolved into off-topic tangents, because there is no real issue to debate. Until evidence can be produced to support the OP's statement, it doesn't carry enough weight to be worthy of in-depth discussion.
This thread is destined to become opinion-vs-opinion and those seldom (if ever) reach an accord.
So on that note, I'll leave the rest of you to it. Good luck!
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
I don't think it is specifically about MMO addiction, rather that some people can get addicted to anything.
People can potentially get addicted to anything that they find enjoyable, or even painful for some. It doesn't matter what it is, just anything that takes their mind of whatever else is really bothering them.
There is no evidence that people can be genetically predetermined for MMO addiction, probably because the idea is basically very silly. On the other hand there is a lot of evidence to suggest that some people have 'addictive personalities' so if they weren't addicted to MMOs they would probably find something else.
Why do some people chew gum all the time, or others bite their nails? I very much doubt there are genes specifically for those either & in reality they are just manifestations of other issues. When someone develops problems with an activity that others can keep in proportion it does not automatically mean that they were biologically programmed to become addicted to that particular thing, but neither does it mean that they directly chose to be like that.
Psychological addictions can be just as difficult to deal with as physical ones, but they are usually a sign of problems elsewhere rather than a suggestion that almost everything should be considered harmful.
Just my opinion.
If you can't "Have your cake & eat it too", then how can "The proof of the pudding be in the eating"?
Another thing Ilvaldyr. Lets keep this civil. I know you have "resisted" flaming me, but the condescending tone is not appreciated. Lets do away with this "your losing the argument" talk and have an intelligent debate. You seem like a smart guy so lets both act that way. I mean, if we both keep this childish banter going aren't we all proving my point that we are socially inept ourselves? And yes, we can disagree on something without saying X person lost the argument. But in this forum many posters are reading what we write, and the tendency to entertain them is hard to resist. I will call a truce. Peace?
Make no mistake, I harbour no ill-feeling towards you; however I don't believe that we can have an intelligent debate on this topic as it is being continually derailed by side-tracks and condescension (on both sides).
I think it's probably best if I end my involvement in this thread with a final statement and summation of my thoughts on this topic.
We've discussed the topic of MMO addiction; (which has yet to be proven to conclusively exist). We've both presented evidentiary articles; both support my argument that gaming is not proven to be addictive, and neither specifically single out MMO games as either more or less "behaviour forming" than other forms of gaming.
So; the OP's statement was:
"We log on to MMOs because there is possibly something socially that is lacking on our lives, at least for those who are addicted."
My opinion is thus:
Firstly, we have no evidence that MMO addiction exists and
Secondly, we have no evidence that MMO games attract people who are socially inept.
So, it's no real suprise that the thread devolved into off-topic tangents, because there is no real issue to debate. Until evidence can be produced to support the OP's statement, it doesn't carry enough weight to be worthy of in-depth discussion.
This thread is destined to become opinion-vs-opinion and those seldom (if ever) reach an accord.
So on that note, I'll leave the rest of you to it. Good luck!
First off the word "addiction" is thrown around too much and IMO this is a result of the currently popular trend of thinking being a "victim" is somwhow cool or special and deserving of attention.
Heroin or Alcohol addiction has a phsyical component. Taking away either one from an addict will cause withdrawl. In fact both these have such strong and deleterious withdrawls that they can potentially kill you. Many people do not realize that alcohol withdrawl is one of the worst withdrawls. This is partially because of how entranched drinking alcohol is and the fact most people don't even call it a drug. And partially due to the fact that it is actually fairly hard to get addicted to alcohol. You really have to drink like a fish. Yet its withdrawls cause comas, halluicnations, seizures and possibly death.
But with that being said there is such a thing as addictive and/or obsessive behavior. And there is such a thing as reinforcing behavior. It is pretty clear that many MMO do both of these things.
Does that mean someone is addicted to MMORPGs? Not really. If we take MMOs away do they get the shakes? Not exactly however they will most likely feel the abscence.
Nicotine is extremely addictive (incidentally it is also one of the most potent poisons known to man). Its addicts people quite quickly, unlike alcohol, and is hard to get off of. However one of the biggest obstacles to quitting cigarettes is not so much the nicotine itself but the fact that smokers tend to ritualise and reinforce the habit. The smoke a cigarette regularly. They reward themselves after meals with one or after sex or when they go out for a break. Almost every little reward is enhanced with a cigarette. Some people have said stopping smoking is harder than stopping heroin. This is partially because every single thing in their lives is colored by their habit. Thus quitting becomes a monumentous effort because temptation is literally around every corner. It is like cancer that has matatistized and is all over your body. Heroin or some other drugs are often like a larger tumor you can cut out. But smoking is insidiously hard because its all over the place in little tiny bits pecking away at you. And 80% of it is psychological rather than physical.
The word addiction is used in multiple ways and of often jumbled together.
But no matter what. Word to the wise be very careful what habits you cultivate. Breaking a bad habit is far far harder than creating a new habit. This is a well known fact in Martial Arts for example. If you practice with bad basics and then have to recorrect it will take you twice as long than if you had simply learned it right the first time.
Comments
how do MMOs "go out of their way" to lure you?
do mmos give you free buffets like at Casinos ?
EQ2 fan sites
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
how do MMOs "go out of their way" to lure you?
do mmos give you free buffets like at Casinos ?
They're designed to do this. Although I don't agree with the OP about them being addictive because players long for social contact....I do agree that they are made to be as addictive as possible.
The constant follow up of level's, items, succeses, status, wealth, grind..this is no coincidence that's it's in almost every MMO.
Don't tell me you can't create other games, because I play street gears and it's not nearly as addictive as most MMO and doesn't rely on those succeses all that much. So yes, he's correct when he says they lure you into addiction, they do this right from the start by making you progress with stats and small succeses.
depends whats a carrot for you
personally I get bored of any mmo as soon as I reach level cap -- and then look for a different game
- thats supposed to be addicting?
Guild Wars being the only exception, I still have fun in GW at level 20
EQ2 fan sites
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
btw I should also note that,
when a new mmo launches I usually play only during the 1st month
for the 1st 30 days,
I get similar entertainment as if I spent the same cash on stand alone PC game
if MMO devs were truly "luring you in to get addicted"
Id be playing many of these games beyond the first month after my Retail purchase
EQ2 fan sites
I'm just the opposite. I like to play in PuGs in MMORPGs. That's really wehre the fun is at for me. IN a solo friendly game there's no reason for PuGs, which means nothing for me to do in the game really.
Pick up groups are fun because I like interacting with people I haven't met before. I don't mind the fact that some of them are nice, some of them are jerks, some of them are good players, and some fo them are incompetent and get the party wiped.
I find this all very entertaining, and it's the reason I play MMORPGs. Without that feature, I will just play Fallout 3, which is a fun game. Not as fun as a good grouping games with PUGs, but it's fun.
QFT, if MMORPGs are geared more towards getting people addicted then giving people enjoyment, then i would i would have alot more game subscriptions.
Playing: EVE Online
Favorite MMOs: WoW, SWG Pre-cu, Lineage 2, UO, EQ, EVE online
Looking forward to: Archeage, Kingdom Under Fire 2
KUF2's Official Website - http://www.kufii.com/ENG/ -
Not all people get addicted. You are an example.
Keep in mind people, I am talking ONLY about the super hard core gamer. Most likely a Wow vet, who spends 4 hours a night raiding. Must of us do not fit into this category.
Would someone mind reposting to Donjn the following:
"To revisit part one: so far research has simply suggested that at most, people are becoming addicted to games, not that games themselves are actually responsible for addicting people. Some people do seem to be addicted, yet games may not be the real culprit"
Since he has apparently chosen to "block" me, I'm regrettably denied the pleasure of drawing his attention to the above passage which is actually contained in the article that he himself referenced in his above post.
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
Ya know i have thought about this topic a lot but rengeg'd on posting cause i didnt want the rookies flaming hard but hey 7 pages of replys maybe they are gone
.
I personally think that calling it a Pavlovian Experiment to Addict the Socially Inept is way offboard, MMO's are more like the government adding additives into cigarettes that are extremly harmful and kill people faster, yet at the same time raising prices on them.
My point is its not our fault.
2things can happen with this situation
1: People dont care ab out it, dont try to attain it, quit the game shortly after it comes out. All you have done is waste $15 a month <on average for most games> to sit around and go find someones ring or kill 10 monsters so u can return for praise for something an infant could accomplish.
2:people wish to attain these items for the edge in the WAR fought in game. Like war in real life u need the goods to back up the service, you wouldnt go pick a fight with your neighbor because his dog does his buisness on your lawn if he was a professional fighter. That being said if your neighbor was 5'2 90 pounds wearing shoes with his glasses on you would most likely do something about it and succeed.
If you actually break it down to all the different levels and different situations people play these games do you think it could be put into any classifacation other than addiction you are nieve. If you troll the forums still after quitting the game <whichever it was> .....YOU ARE ADDICTICTED ALSO.
It really isnt our fault because lets be real here. You got a job that isnt being a spy so it lacks excitment, I'm not saying you hate your job btw. You got a life with nothing but rules and bills to account for, WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Life sounds fun so far eh.......<again i will clarify im not EMO and not saying that life isnt fun but i mean c'mon you gotta realize that as long as you are not living at home in your parents basement with no responsibilities, that life is repetative and there are a lot of aspects that dont cause joy in it as well.
I like to win when i play mmo's and not lose.....it is how i live life and most of you know and are the same.
Hello I am an addict and so are you because you are reading it.
I just had to byte.
"Some people do seem to be addicted, yet games may not be the real culprit"
And later the article mentions genetic reasons. You wanted proof and I gave it to you. Didn't I say earlier that people who have social issues or are socially inept can get addicted? MMOs contain addictive elements, but ultimately it is up to that person. But it is not a cognitive issue as the article explains. It is genetic. No one chooses to be an addict. You laughed at me for this statement and I gave you proof.
I want to come to an understanding here that we can agree on.
But you seem to think that even people with a genetic tendency for addiction are still to blame. Do you also think people choose to be gay?
Another thing Ilvaldyr. Lets keep this civil. I know you have "resisted" flaming me, but the condescending tone is not appreciated. Lets do away with this "your losing the argument" talk and have an intelligent debate.
You seem like a smart guy so lets both act that way. I mean, if we both keep this childish banter going aren't we all proving my point that we are socially inept ourselves?
And yes, we can disagree on something without saying X person lost the argument. But in this forum many posters are reading what we write, and the tendency to entertain them is hard to resist.
I will call a truce. Peace?
I love this line. Kudos.
Make no mistake, I harbour no ill-feeling towards you; however I don't believe that we can have an intelligent debate on this topic as it is being continually derailed by side-tracks and condescension (on both sides).
I think it's probably best if I end my involvement in this thread with a final statement and summation of my thoughts on this topic.
We've discussed the topic of MMO addiction; (which has yet to be proven to conclusively exist). We've both presented evidentiary articles; both support my argument that gaming is not proven to be addictive, and neither specifically single out MMO games as either more or less "behaviour forming" than other forms of gaming.
So; the OP's statement was:
"We log on to MMOs because there is possibly something socially that is lacking on our lives, at least for those who are addicted."
My opinion is thus:
Firstly, we have no evidence that MMO addiction exists and
Secondly, we have no evidence that MMO games attract people who are socially inept.
So, it's no real suprise that the thread devolved into off-topic tangents, because there is no real issue to debate. Until evidence can be produced to support the OP's statement, it doesn't carry enough weight to be worthy of in-depth discussion.
This thread is destined to become opinion-vs-opinion and those seldom (if ever) reach an accord.
So on that note, I'll leave the rest of you to it. Good luck!
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
I don't think it is specifically about MMO addiction, rather that some people can get addicted to anything.
People can potentially get addicted to anything that they find enjoyable, or even painful for some. It doesn't matter what it is, just anything that takes their mind of whatever else is really bothering them.
There is no evidence that people can be genetically predetermined for MMO addiction, probably because the idea is basically very silly. On the other hand there is a lot of evidence to suggest that some people have 'addictive personalities' so if they weren't addicted to MMOs they would probably find something else.
Why do some people chew gum all the time, or others bite their nails? I very much doubt there are genes specifically for those either & in reality they are just manifestations of other issues. When someone develops problems with an activity that others can keep in proportion it does not automatically mean that they were biologically programmed to become addicted to that particular thing, but neither does it mean that they directly chose to be like that.
Psychological addictions can be just as difficult to deal with as physical ones, but they are usually a sign of problems elsewhere rather than a suggestion that almost everything should be considered harmful.
Just my opinion.
If you can't "Have your cake & eat it too", then how can "The proof of the pudding be in the eating"?
Take the Hecatomb? TCG What Is Your Doom? quiz.
how do MMOs "go out of their way" to lure you?
do mmos give you free buffets like at Casinos ?
I would sub to one that gave complimentary drinks.
Make no mistake, I harbour no ill-feeling towards you; however I don't believe that we can have an intelligent debate on this topic as it is being continually derailed by side-tracks and condescension (on both sides).
I think it's probably best if I end my involvement in this thread with a final statement and summation of my thoughts on this topic.
We've discussed the topic of MMO addiction; (which has yet to be proven to conclusively exist). We've both presented evidentiary articles; both support my argument that gaming is not proven to be addictive, and neither specifically single out MMO games as either more or less "behaviour forming" than other forms of gaming.
So; the OP's statement was:
"We log on to MMOs because there is possibly something socially that is lacking on our lives, at least for those who are addicted."
My opinion is thus:
Firstly, we have no evidence that MMO addiction exists and
Secondly, we have no evidence that MMO games attract people who are socially inept.
So, it's no real suprise that the thread devolved into off-topic tangents, because there is no real issue to debate. Until evidence can be produced to support the OP's statement, it doesn't carry enough weight to be worthy of in-depth discussion.
This thread is destined to become opinion-vs-opinion and those seldom (if ever) reach an accord.
So on that note, I'll leave the rest of you to it. Good luck!
First off the word "addiction" is thrown around too much and IMO this is a result of the currently popular trend of thinking being a "victim" is somwhow cool or special and deserving of attention.
Heroin or Alcohol addiction has a phsyical component. Taking away either one from an addict will cause withdrawl. In fact both these have such strong and deleterious withdrawls that they can potentially kill you. Many people do not realize that alcohol withdrawl is one of the worst withdrawls. This is partially because of how entranched drinking alcohol is and the fact most people don't even call it a drug. And partially due to the fact that it is actually fairly hard to get addicted to alcohol. You really have to drink like a fish. Yet its withdrawls cause comas, halluicnations, seizures and possibly death.
But with that being said there is such a thing as addictive and/or obsessive behavior. And there is such a thing as reinforcing behavior. It is pretty clear that many MMO do both of these things.
Does that mean someone is addicted to MMORPGs? Not really. If we take MMOs away do they get the shakes? Not exactly however they will most likely feel the abscence.
Nicotine is extremely addictive (incidentally it is also one of the most potent poisons known to man). Its addicts people quite quickly, unlike alcohol, and is hard to get off of. However one of the biggest obstacles to quitting cigarettes is not so much the nicotine itself but the fact that smokers tend to ritualise and reinforce the habit. The smoke a cigarette regularly. They reward themselves after meals with one or after sex or when they go out for a break. Almost every little reward is enhanced with a cigarette. Some people have said stopping smoking is harder than stopping heroin. This is partially because every single thing in their lives is colored by their habit. Thus quitting becomes a monumentous effort because temptation is literally around every corner. It is like cancer that has matatistized and is all over your body. Heroin or some other drugs are often like a larger tumor you can cut out. But smoking is insidiously hard because its all over the place in little tiny bits pecking away at you. And 80% of it is psychological rather than physical.
The word addiction is used in multiple ways and of often jumbled together.
But no matter what. Word to the wise be very careful what habits you cultivate. Breaking a bad habit is far far harder than creating a new habit. This is a well known fact in Martial Arts for example. If you practice with bad basics and then have to recorrect it will take you twice as long than if you had simply learned it right the first time.