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General: "Dangers of Internet Gaming"
Szark
News ManagerMember Posts: 4,420
Philadelphia's 6-ABC has posted a video report titled "Dangers of Internet Gaming" covering the topic of game addiction. The report begins on the sensationalist end of the spectrum with a few stories of gaming obsession, but toward the end offers some reasonable advice for gamers and parents on how to moderate behavior and avoid the pitfalls of addiction.
But Elizabeth Woolley says a game similar to World of Warcraft, called Everquest, didn't just cause her 21 year-old son to become a recluse. She believes it contributed to his suicide. "He was sitting there in front of the computer on his chair with the Everquest game on it and he had a rifle," said Woolley.
Woolley says her son, Shawn, played Everquest constantly, stopped taking his ADD and epilepsy medicine, quit his job and cut off his phone, basically ending all communication with his friends and family. "I guess my big thing is my anger towards the gaming companies because they are using this as a drug and they're getting their own customers addicted for money," said Woolley.
But Dudley is skeptical video games could cause anyone to commit suicide. "Millions of people play these games every day and they don't have a problem, but some are missing that connection with real life," said Dudley.
Dudley says children or adults who become obsessed with video games often have a history of struggling with depression or anxiety. The game, she says, is simply a catalyst, similar to drugs, alcohol or gambling.
Dudley says parents can help prevent problem playing by setting boundaries. Limit the amount of time per day a child is in front of the computer or TV.
Read more and watch the report here.
Comments
They have taken something fun like games and turned it into a disease. Its not the video games, its your parenting. L2Parent plix
That line right there I totally agree with. I have seen it in friends of mine, and I see it in myself.
I will agree that there is an addiction problem when it comes to video games, but the responsibility of recognizing it in someone and then addressing falls solely on the shoulders of the gamer and friends/family. Blame can't be rightfully placed on the game companies for doing their job and making a good/great game.
Wierdos will do wierd things. Just because a wierdo has a hobby doesn't mean the hobby is bad.
Sounds like that wierdo had social issues, and retreated into fantasy. If games didn't exist and they read scifi novels, would scifi novels be to blame? If the family saw a problem, why didn't they address it earlier?
Yeah, certainly the mother in that article wouldn't consider poor parenting as a contributing factor.
Quoting people doesn't make you clever, in fact, it makes you all the more stupid for not bothering to read the quotes you post in the first place.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=The best bash.org quote ever=
Curt teh Juggler: our graduation ceremony was today, and right when some gamer nerd got his diploma, someone in the audience played the zelda "get item" music and he did the zelda spin-hold-out-item stance
Curt teh Juggler: it was quite possibly the most amazing thing ever.
I have no remorse for someone who kills themself. especially over a game like EQ. but yet i cant help to think why?
"awwww.. i had a million plat to get the manastone i always wanted and some dorf got it before me...it was the only one in the bazaar too! wheres my rifle?"
HAHAHAHA, O MAN!! These articles are so great. Insurance covers medication, when you turn 18 unless you still are enrolled in school or you have a job he wouldn't be able to afford his medicine. 2) he quit taking it, lives with his mom, has depression, quit his job, blah blah... that is NOT video games fault!!
example:
O gee golly, look at everquest yay (and yes i personally owned/played this game for 2 years) omg so cool, can't quit cybering with these hot elf girls (in rl they are actually 46 yr old dudes). chaper 2, yes! i got got teh uber sword of norrath death lightening +76!! chapter 3, nuuuuuu I lost teh sword!!! *pulls out shotgun and blasts head off*
yeah ok everybody out there playing vids, reality check, ding ding come back. quit being morons and quit making the gullible people of this world believe everything they hear/see. good nite
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Quoting people doesn't make you clever, in fact, it makes you all the more stupid for not bothering to read the quotes you post in the first place.
ROFL
I love it when everytime someone dies they blame EVERYONE ELSE OTHER THAN THE PERSON WHO DID IT!
The kid was obviously a little crazy this kinda stuff happens. Don't blame the gaming companies for the kids death blame the kid and his parents not the game for driving him to suicide.
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make it sound as they are some terrible people that won't quote on it because they are ashamed.
its crazy they re-hash the same shit over and over. any one that thinks for themselves can realize that parents should be held responsible for their children.
die.
I can't say enough about this, I agree with project8six as well.
They didn't hear back from wow, because wow knows how stupid this is. period
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Why can't people realize that parents raised their children, and that good parents will taught their children to know right from wrong(hence they are taught about controlling themselves to not engage in violent behavior), and help to mold their personalities and characteristics (which helps children to be better to fit into their peer, and have self-esteem, and be socially acceptable by people).
Of course, in the end it will all get complicated in trying to find who's at fault. But even if video games get ALL the blame, and is banned or heavily restricted, it won't change the society one bit. Because it is NOT the source of the core issue here, just a scapegoat that people used when things go wrong.
Current MMO: FFXIV:ARR
Past MMO: Way too many (P2P and F2P)
I read the article...it gets better!
The link included in the article to "Online Gamers Anonymous ( started by the late losers mom):
http://www.olganonboard.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=88409b0811b190691ed8b7899bfa281a&
Read the "12 steps", it's a scream!!!
"1. We admitted we were powerless over on-line gaming, and that our lives have become unmanageable"
Oh
My
God!!!
Pathetic
Parents that blames video games when it was their responsibility to raise their kids... that should be the issue.
I do agree that online gaming CAN be addictive, no doubt about it. But it is up to the individual to realize the issue. (I can say for certain that I'm addicted to MMO's, but I know for sure that I won't let it affect my daily live. I still go to school, meet friends outside, etc... It isn't that hard. Just have to realize that MMO worlds are NOT reality, and don't take it that seriously. It is entertainment after all, ENJOY it.)
Current MMO: FFXIV:ARR
Past MMO: Way too many (P2P and F2P)
What is more dangerous? the game Everquest or that rifle he had ? seriously ... stop allowing kids to get their hands on weapons ... they can't blame theirselves because of giving a kid a rifle .... noooo, they blame it on the game ...
one word: idiots
So the kid stopped daking the ADD and epilepsy drugs and the mother just left him there?
Ya, I'm sure gaming was the cause,
because he sure doesn't sound neglected.....
BAD PARENTING KILLS. Gaming DOESN'T
I myself when I was young started gaming because noone paid attention to me anyways,
and I stayed there when online gaming came as atleast people would notice me there.
Bad parenting kills. Gaming doesn't as it's the result of bad parenting.
But, ye, same old, we always desire to point the finger, blame the other...
Musical Quote:
There was a time that the pieces fit
But I watched them fall away
Mildewed and smouldering
Strangled by our coveting
I've done the math enough to know
The dangers of our second guessing
Doomed to crumble unless we grow
And strengthen our communication
Cold silence has
A tendency to
Atrophy any
Sense of compassion
Between supposed brothers
Between supposed lovers
Played so far: 9Dragons, AO, AC, AC2, CoX, DAoC, DF, DnL, DR, DDO, Ent, EvE, EQ, EQ2, FoMK, FFO, Fury, GW, HG:L, HZ, L1, L2, M59, MU, NC1, NC2, PS, PT, R:O, RF:O, RYL, Ryzom, SL, SB, SW:G, TR, TCoS, MX:O, UO, VG, WAR, WoW...
It all sucked.
Myself? I game for the enjoyment of it and also because I don't have much else to do, but it's not like I don't have a social life in the game, I have plenty of friends on MMORPG's some who I've met in real life and I have the friends that I know in real life closer to me as well, not only that but I find their opinions and beliefs much more sensible than some of the stuff my parents try and dump on me which quite frankly sound like a load of crap to me. I didn't have bad parenting, but I've been parented enough now to feel that I don't need to take their opinions literally anymore, especially when I've found a better source for opinions the internet literally the only piece of media I've found that is actually free of any government or privately owned organization.
Quoting people doesn't make you clever, in fact, it makes you all the more stupid for not bothering to read the quotes you post in the first place.