Playing MMO's is not the problem. The problem is not knowing when to give it a break. If you carry on playing even though its not fun anymore or if its starting to have bad effects on your life then it gets worse and worse until you suffer burn out.
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Playing MMO's is not the problem. The problem is not knowing when to give it a break. If you carry on playing even though its not fun anymore or if its starting to have bad effects on your life then it gets worse and worse until you suffer burn out.
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
False,
Physical and Psychological Addiction are VERY different animals.
Tell me when somebody whose "addicted" to video games breaks out into a flop sweat because they haven't played wow in the last couple hours.
Its a problem, but its NOWHERE near the same
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
All the best Matt! Yours was a voice on these boards that was always enjoyable to hear.
As has been mentioned, most, if not everyone, eventually reach a crossroads in their lives. Whether it be gaming, or the loss of a close relative/friend, or loss of a job, or whatever the case may be, we do need to evaluate what is really important in life.
Happiness isn't achieving what you don't have, it's removing everything that's unnecessary.
All the best to you Matt. Like in games, just as in life: go hard, or go home. Hit that real life with all the abilities in your arsenal!
Ps. Ester-Chan: GREAT video. I've not seen a more humble, open-hearted video on gaming addiction. I've added it to my bookmarks, because undoubtedly it will have future use.
That is exactly right, and we're not saying NO to save WoW, because it is already a lost cause. We are saying NO to dissuade the next group of greedy suits who decide to emulate Blizzard and Cryptic, etc. We can prevent some of the future games from spewing this crap, but the sooner we start saying no, the better the results will be. So - Stand up, pull up your pants, and walk away. - MMO_Doubter
Playing MMO's is not the problem. The problem is not knowing when to give it a break. If you carry on playing even though its not fun anymore or if its starting to have bad effects on your life then it gets worse and worse until you suffer burn out.
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
False,
Physical and Psychological Addiction are VERY different animals.
Tell me when somebody whose "addicted" to video games breaks out into a flop sweat because they haven't played wow in the last couple hours.
Its a problem, but its NOWHERE near the same
But so what?
If you are missing work, not taking care of your hygeine, not taking care of your responsibilites then regardless of your lack of "flop sweat" there is an issue.
Just because someone doesn't suffer from physical effects it doesn't minimize the life problems it causes.
And since there are some alcoholics in my family I can at least speak from some personal experience.
If you are not watching your children because you are flopped out drunk on the couch or if you are not watching your children because you just can't leave your computer (I believe a couple was actually charged with child endangerment because of this) then in the end...
You still aren't watching your children!!!
Therefore it's not a "joke addiction".
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
There is a difference between responsibility and addiction.
So what is the difference between someone who is compelled to play video games over being compelled to gamble?
One can ignore their responsibilities with either of those.
Do gamblers break out in a cold sweat when they can't gamble? If so then why? Can't another form of gaming then take that place? Even though money is not involved?
And now that I think about it, we are chemical creatures. Participating in something we like causes our bodies to secrete various chemicals. Is it not possible to feel adverse affects when those chemicals are not present that causes us to then seek out the very activities that produce those chemicals?
There is a difference between responsibility and addiction.
So what is the difference between someone who is compelled to play video games over being compelled to gamble?
One can ignore their responsibilities with either of those.
Do gamblers break out in a cold sweat when they can't gamble? If so then why? Can't another form of gaming then take that place? Even though money is not involved?
And now that I think about it, we are chemical creatures. Participating in something we like causes our bodies to secrete various chemicals. Is it not possible to feel adverse affects when those chemicals are not present that causes us to then seek out the very activities that produce those chemicals?
May as well give it up. Trying to convince a bunch of addicts that their activity of choice may have negative consequences and an impact on their 'life' (or lack thereof) is a lost cause.
Playing MMO's is not the problem. The problem is not knowing when to give it a break. If you carry on playing even though its not fun anymore or if its starting to have bad effects on your life then it gets worse and worse until you suffer burn out.
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
False,
Physical and Psychological Addiction are VERY different animals.
Tell me when somebody whose "addicted" to video games breaks out into a flop sweat because they haven't played wow in the last couple hours.
Its a problem, but its NOWHERE near the same
But so what?
If you are missing work, not taking care of your hygeine, not taking care of your responsibilites then regardless of your lack of "flop sweat" there is an issue.
Just because someone doesn't suffer from physical effects it doesn't minimize the life problems it causes.
And since there are some alcoholics in my family I can at least speak from some personal experience.
If you are not watching your children because you are flopped out drunk on the couch or if you are not watching your children because you just can't leave your computer (I believe a couple was actually charged with child endangerment because of this) then in the end...
You still aren't watching your children!!!
Therefore it's not a "joke addiction".
No, you're missing the point. Shrugging off your responsibilities, and dieing 30 years earlier, being in total non-control of you're body and having physical addiction symptoms are VERY different.
One has a very large success rate of cold turkey, with no long term effects, and very management lifestyle changes. The other has life altering long term effects.
The guy playing wow isn't going to beat his wife because he is physically impared. The guy playing wow isn't going to be more prone to anger, nor is he going to have physical symptoms that need medical help to realistically manage.
I bet you if you asked ANY alcoholic, they would gladly take a video game "addiction" over an alcohol addictiong.
Sure you have find a few parallels, but the differ GREATLY in key areas such as effect on the body, effect on the mind, the psycological effects.
Its not even close, and to call them the "same end result" is a slap in the face to people battling real addictions.
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
There is a difference between responsibility and addiction.
So what is the difference between someone who is compelled to play video games over being compelled to gamble?
One can ignore their responsibilities with either of those.
Do gamblers break out in a cold sweat when they can't gamble? If so then why? Can't another form of gaming then take that place? Even though money is not involved?
And now that I think about it, we are chemical creatures. Participating in something we like causes our bodies to secrete various chemicals. Is it not possible to feel adverse affects when those chemicals are not present that causes us to then seek out the very activities that produce those chemicals?
May as well give it up. Trying to convince a bunch of addicts that their activity of choice may have negative consequences and an impact on their 'life' (or lack thereof) is a lost cause.
Oh well, I'll just leave with this then...
Definition
Addiction is a dependence on a behavior or sub-stance that a person is powerless to stop. The term has been partially replaced by the word dependence for substance abuse. Addiction has been extended, however, to include mood-altering behaviors or activities. Some researchers speak of two types of addictions: substance addictions (for example, alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking); and process addictions (for example, gambling, spending, shopping, eating, and sexual activity). There is a growing recognition that many addicts, such as polydrug abusers, are addicted to more than one sub-stance or process.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
There is a difference between responsibility and addiction.
So what is the difference between someone who is compelled to play video games over being compelled to gamble?
One can ignore their responsibilities with either of those.
Do gamblers break out in a cold sweat when they can't gamble? If so then why? Can't another form of gaming then take that place? Even though money is not involved?
And now that I think about it, we are chemical creatures. Participating in something we like causes our bodies to secrete various chemicals. Is it not possible to feel adverse affects when those chemicals are not present that causes us to then seek out the very activities that produce those chemicals?
Do gamblers break out in a flop sweat because they can't gamble? Can you perscribe them methadone to help with the addiction symptoms? Is there physical addiction?
Nope, nope, nope.
Gambling is a psychological addiction, and albeit it can be bad; it has no long term side effects, no physical harm to the body and is very well understood and manageable.
A gambling addiction is another addiction I would never compare to alcoholism or drug addiction.
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
There is a difference between responsibility and addiction.
So what is the difference between someone who is compelled to play video games over being compelled to gamble?
One can ignore their responsibilities with either of those.
Do gamblers break out in a cold sweat when they can't gamble? If so then why? Can't another form of gaming then take that place? Even though money is not involved?
And now that I think about it, we are chemical creatures. Participating in something we like causes our bodies to secrete various chemicals. Is it not possible to feel adverse affects when those chemicals are not present that causes us to then seek out the very activities that produce those chemicals?
Do gamblers break out in a flop sweat because they can't gamble? Can you perscribe them methadone to help with the addiction symptoms? Is there physical addiction?
Nope, nope, nope.
Gambling is a psychological addiction, and albeit it can be bad; it has no long term side effects, no physical harm to the body and is very well understood and manageable.
A gambling addiction is another addiction I would never compare to alcoholism or drug addiction.
No I get the point. You are trying to say that having physical side effets trumps everyone else's problems. And you know I can see where that might be the greater hell.
But saying that someone's shopping addiction which is causing them to spiral deeper and deeper in debt is not a "real" addictioin is just too dismissive.
So ok, ms./mr. shopaholic is not going through physical issues. It doesn't make their life issues any less to them that they are going through some hard ship.
so if you want to tell of greater hells, ok, I'lll admit that having to fight physical as well as mental issues is probably the greater hell.
But if in the end Person X's wife leaves him because he has a gamblign addiction and he has lost their life savings and they divorce and he can't see his children, I'm not going to look them in the eye and say "man up nancy boy your problems aren't real".
Because if he can't find some sort of respite from his problems where is that going to leave him?
I suppose I can't get behind the "my problems are better than yours" mode of thinking because in the end they are problems and they are problems within the scope and context of one's own life. So if someone can't stop playing video games and it causes issues because of it I'm not goiing to tell them that they need to grow up if indeed it is an actual addiction over just being an irresponsible child.
To clarify I'm not saying that a person who spends all their life playing video games is not just irresponsible. I AM saying that they might just NOT be able to "logout".
And quite frankly anything that keeps one from savoring all that life has to offer is a hell.
In some ways it's like saying people with a sex addiction are just nuts because sex is great and if one is to have any type of addiction THAT is the addiciton to have!
Maybe when I was young I would say that but as I get older and I see that this actually causes people real problems I've had to alter my thinking.
In any case I can't offer anything more as I am not an actual psychologist/psychaitrist.
I can (on topic) congratulate the OP for recognizign that he was having issues and taking steps to put his life right.
Rock on Man!
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Playing MMO's is not the problem. The problem is not knowing when to give it a break. If you carry on playing even though its not fun anymore or if its starting to have bad effects on your life then it gets worse and worse until you suffer burn out.
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
False,
Physical and Psychological Addiction are VERY different animals.
Tell me when somebody whose "addicted" to video games breaks out into a flop sweat because they haven't played wow in the last couple hours.
Its a problem, but its NOWHERE near the same
But so what?
If you are missing work, not taking care of your hygeine, not taking care of your responsibilites then regardless of your lack of "flop sweat" there is an issue.
Just because someone doesn't suffer from physical effects it doesn't minimize the life problems it causes.
And since there are some alcoholics in my family I can at least speak from some personal experience.
If you are not watching your children because you are flopped out drunk on the couch or if you are not watching your children because you just can't leave your computer (I believe a couple was actually charged with child endangerment because of this) then in the end...
You still aren't watching your children!!!
Therefore it's not a "joke addiction".
No, you're missing the point. Shrugging off your responsibilities, and dieing 30 years earlier, being in total non-control of you're body and having physical addiction symptoms are VERY different.
One has a very large success rate of cold turkey, with no long term effects, and very management lifestyle changes. The other has life altering long term effects.
The guy playing wow isn't going to beat his wife because he is physically impared. The guy playing wow isn't going to be more prone to anger, nor is he going to have physical symptoms that need medical help to realistically manage.
I bet you if you asked ANY alcoholic, they would gladly take a video game "addiction" over an alcohol addictiong.
Sure you have find a few parallels, but the differ GREATLY in key areas such as effect on the body, effect on the mind, the psycological effects.
Its not even close, and to call them the "same end result" is a slap in the face to people battling real addictions.
Just checked both GearScore and Elitist Jerks....and the baggage that comes with gaming addiction and alcoholism works out to be pretty even.
No I get the point. You are trying to say that having physical side effets trumps everyone else's problems. And you know I can see where that might be the greater hell.
But saying that someone's shopping addiction which is causing them to spiral deeper and deeper in debt is not a "real" addictioin is just too dismissive.
So ok, ms./mr. shopaholic is not going through physical issues. It doesn't make their life issues any less to them that they are going through some hard ship.
so if you want to tell of greater hells, ok, I'lll admit that having to fight physical as well as mental issues is probably the greater hell.
But if in the end Person X's wife leaves him because he has a gamblign addiction and he has lost their life savings and they divorce and he can't see his children, I'm not going to look them in the eye and say "man up nancy boy your problems aren't real".
Because if he can't find some sort of respite from his problems where is that going to leave him?
I suppose I can't get behind the "my problems are better than yours" mode of thinking because in the end they are problems and they are problems within the scope and context of one's own life. So if someone can't stop playing video games and it causes issues because of it I'm not goiing to tell them that they need to grow up if indeed it is an actual addiction over just being an irresponsible child.
To clarify I'm not saying that a person who spends all their life playing video games is not just irresponsible. I AM saying that they might just NOT be able to "logout".
And quite frankly anything that keeps one from savoring all that life has to offer is a hell.
In some ways it's like saying people with a sex addiction are just nuts because sex is great and if one is to have any type of addiction THAT is the addiciton to have!
Maybe when I was young I would say that but as I get older and I see that this actually causes people real problems I've had to alter my thinking.
In any case I can't offer anything more as I am not an actual psychologist/psychaitrist.
I can (on topic) congratulate the OP for recognizign that he was having issues and taking steps to put his life right.
Rock on Man!
I'm not saying its not a "real" addiction, but its simply a psychological addiction, which we understand very well. They are manageable, curable, and wont kill you 40 years pre-mature even after breaking the habit.
I won't deny that they can be bad, but the line between "video game addiction" and "enjoying Videogames" is one people overuse.
More often than not people will use "videogame addiction" as a crutch to make excuses for them not doing things. Often times the problem is completely separate; laziness, anti-social, depression, etc...
Therapists (ie people without PHD's in psychology who still practice) have been trying to make a label for video game addiction. Often times they say things like "plays more than 3 hours a day, often totaling more than 10 hours a week."
That's not an addiction, that's an enjoyable hobby.
Right now people are throwing around the addiction word way too liberally. If you actually have an addiction, I understand its not just being weak willed, but an actual problem.
My problem lies in the people calling laziness an addiction in hopes of getting sympathy.
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
I'm not saying its not a "real" addiction, but its simply a psychological addiction, which we understand very well. They are manageable, curable, and wont kill you 40 years pre-mature even after breaking the habit. I won't deny that they can be bad, but the line between "video game addiction" and "enjoying Videogames" is one people overuse. More often than not people will use "videogame addiction" as a crutch to make excuses for them not doing things. Often times the problem is completely separate; laziness, anti-social, depression, etc... Therapists (ie people without PHD's in psychology who still practice) have been trying to make a label for video game addiction. Often times they say things like "plays more than 3 hours a day, often totaling more than 10 hours a week."
That's not an addiction, that's an enjoyable hobby. Right now people are throwing around the addiction word way too liberally. If you actually have an addiction, I understand its not just being weak willed, but an actual problem.
My problem lies in the people calling laziness an addiction in hopes of getting sympathy.
Well, I can completely agree with that.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Good luck with your decision Matt. If you can keep yourself away from LinkRealms, I'd be very surpised
I will confess that I'll be disappointed not being able to find out which new obscure games are out there since you won't be posting anymore about them.
But just remember you can find a balance and play MMOs. If you find the right game, you should be able to properly manage your time. At the same time, however, you won't have any regrets later on in life like "I wish I'd spend MORE time playing MMOs". LOL. So no matter what, this decision has not real downside for you.
Playing MMO's is not the problem. The problem is not knowing when to give it a break. If you carry on playing even though its not fun anymore or if its starting to have bad effects on your life then it gets worse and worse until you suffer burn out.
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
False,
Physical and Psychological Addiction are VERY different animals.
Tell me when somebody whose "addicted" to video games breaks out into a flop sweat because they haven't played wow in the last couple hours.
Its a problem, but its NOWHERE near the same
But so what?
If you are missing work, not taking care of your hygeine, not taking care of your responsibilites then regardless of your lack of "flop sweat" there is an issue.
Just because someone doesn't suffer from physical effects it doesn't minimize the life problems it causes.
And since there are some alcoholics in my family I can at least speak from some personal experience.
If you are not watching your children because you are flopped out drunk on the couch or if you are not watching your children because you just can't leave your computer (I believe a couple was actually charged with child endangerment because of this) then in the end...
You still aren't watching your children!!!
Therefore it's not a "joke addiction".
No, you're missing the point. Shrugging off your responsibilities, and dieing 30 years earlier, being in total non-control of you're body and having physical addiction symptoms are VERY different.
One has a very large success rate of cold turkey, with no long term effects, and very management lifestyle changes. The other has life altering long term effects.
The guy playing wow isn't going to beat his wife because he is physically impared. The guy playing wow isn't going to be more prone to anger, nor is he going to have physical symptoms that need medical help to realistically manage.
I bet you if you asked ANY alcoholic, they would gladly take a video game "addiction" over an alcohol addictiong.
Sure you have find a few parallels, but the differ GREATLY in key areas such as effect on the body, effect on the mind, the psycological effects.
Its not even close, and to call them the "same end result" is a slap in the face to people battling real addictions.
Just checked both GearScore and Elitist Jerks....and the baggage that comes with gaming addiction and alcoholism works out to be pretty even.
Anyway....Good luck Matt, enjoyed your input.
littlemonkey
That it does, and they both fuel each other, quite often.
Good effort, Sov, but some will never see mental and physical issues in the same light. Many of those same people will die. There's not much that can be done about it, but keep trying.
Once one of their dear friends, who seemed perfectly fine, dies when they're 26, maybe they'll figure it out. Nah, why should I be so negative... I'm sure they'll find something else to blame it on... everyone wins, right?
Comments
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
False,
Physical and Psychological Addiction are VERY different animals.
Tell me when somebody whose "addicted" to video games breaks out into a flop sweat because they haven't played wow in the last couple hours.
Its a problem, but its NOWHERE near the same
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
All the best Matt! Yours was a voice on these boards that was always enjoyable to hear.
As has been mentioned, most, if not everyone, eventually reach a crossroads in their lives. Whether it be gaming, or the loss of a close relative/friend, or loss of a job, or whatever the case may be, we do need to evaluate what is really important in life.
Happiness isn't achieving what you don't have, it's removing everything that's unnecessary.
All the best to you Matt. Like in games, just as in life: go hard, or go home. Hit that real life with all the abilities in your arsenal!
Ps. Ester-Chan: GREAT video. I've not seen a more humble, open-hearted video on gaming addiction. I've added it to my bookmarks, because undoubtedly it will have future use.
That is exactly right, and we're not saying NO to save WoW, because it is already a lost cause. We are saying NO to dissuade the next group of greedy suits who decide to emulate Blizzard and Cryptic, etc.
We can prevent some of the future games from spewing this crap, but the sooner we start saying no, the better the results will be.
So - Stand up, pull up your pants, and walk away.
- MMO_Doubter
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
False,
Physical and Psychological Addiction are VERY different animals.
Tell me when somebody whose "addicted" to video games breaks out into a flop sweat because they haven't played wow in the last couple hours.
Its a problem, but its NOWHERE near the same
But so what?
If you are missing work, not taking care of your hygeine, not taking care of your responsibilites then regardless of your lack of "flop sweat" there is an issue.
Just because someone doesn't suffer from physical effects it doesn't minimize the life problems it causes.
And since there are some alcoholics in my family I can at least speak from some personal experience.
If you are not watching your children because you are flopped out drunk on the couch or if you are not watching your children because you just can't leave your computer (I believe a couple was actually charged with child endangerment because of this) then in the end...
You still aren't watching your children!!!
Therefore it's not a "joke addiction".
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
There is a difference between responsibility and addiction.
So what is the difference between someone who is compelled to play video games over being compelled to gamble?
One can ignore their responsibilities with either of those.
Do gamblers break out in a cold sweat when they can't gamble? If so then why? Can't another form of gaming then take that place? Even though money is not involved?
And now that I think about it, we are chemical creatures. Participating in something we like causes our bodies to secrete various chemicals. Is it not possible to feel adverse affects when those chemicals are not present that causes us to then seek out the very activities that produce those chemicals?
and what about sex addiciton?
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/what-causes-sexual-addiction/
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
So what is the difference between someone who is compelled to play video games over being compelled to gamble?
One can ignore their responsibilities with either of those.
Do gamblers break out in a cold sweat when they can't gamble? If so then why? Can't another form of gaming then take that place? Even though money is not involved?
And now that I think about it, we are chemical creatures. Participating in something we like causes our bodies to secrete various chemicals. Is it not possible to feel adverse affects when those chemicals are not present that causes us to then seek out the very activities that produce those chemicals?
and what about sex addiciton?
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/what-causes-sexual-addiction/
May as well give it up. Trying to convince a bunch of addicts that their activity of choice may have negative consequences and an impact on their 'life' (or lack thereof) is a lost cause.
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
False,
Physical and Psychological Addiction are VERY different animals.
Tell me when somebody whose "addicted" to video games breaks out into a flop sweat because they haven't played wow in the last couple hours.
Its a problem, but its NOWHERE near the same
But so what?
If you are missing work, not taking care of your hygeine, not taking care of your responsibilites then regardless of your lack of "flop sweat" there is an issue.
Just because someone doesn't suffer from physical effects it doesn't minimize the life problems it causes.
And since there are some alcoholics in my family I can at least speak from some personal experience.
If you are not watching your children because you are flopped out drunk on the couch or if you are not watching your children because you just can't leave your computer (I believe a couple was actually charged with child endangerment because of this) then in the end...
You still aren't watching your children!!!
Therefore it's not a "joke addiction".
No, you're missing the point. Shrugging off your responsibilities, and dieing 30 years earlier, being in total non-control of you're body and having physical addiction symptoms are VERY different.
One has a very large success rate of cold turkey, with no long term effects, and very management lifestyle changes. The other has life altering long term effects.
The guy playing wow isn't going to beat his wife because he is physically impared. The guy playing wow isn't going to be more prone to anger, nor is he going to have physical symptoms that need medical help to realistically manage.
I bet you if you asked ANY alcoholic, they would gladly take a video game "addiction" over an alcohol addictiong.
Sure you have find a few parallels, but the differ GREATLY in key areas such as effect on the body, effect on the mind, the psycological effects.
Its not even close, and to call them the "same end result" is a slap in the face to people battling real addictions.
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
So what is the difference between someone who is compelled to play video games over being compelled to gamble?
One can ignore their responsibilities with either of those.
Do gamblers break out in a cold sweat when they can't gamble? If so then why? Can't another form of gaming then take that place? Even though money is not involved?
And now that I think about it, we are chemical creatures. Participating in something we like causes our bodies to secrete various chemicals. Is it not possible to feel adverse affects when those chemicals are not present that causes us to then seek out the very activities that produce those chemicals?
and what about sex addiciton?
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/what-causes-sexual-addiction/
May as well give it up. Trying to convince a bunch of addicts that their activity of choice may have negative consequences and an impact on their 'life' (or lack thereof) is a lost cause.
Oh well, I'll just leave with this then...
Definition
Addiction is a dependence on a behavior or sub-stance that a person is powerless to stop. The term has been partially replaced by the word dependence for substance abuse. Addiction has been extended, however, to include mood-altering behaviors or activities. Some researchers speak of two types of addictions: substance addictions (for example, alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking); and process addictions (for example, gambling, spending, shopping, eating, and sexual activity). There is a growing recognition that many addicts, such as polydrug abusers, are addicted to more than one sub-stance or process.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
So what is the difference between someone who is compelled to play video games over being compelled to gamble?
One can ignore their responsibilities with either of those.
Do gamblers break out in a cold sweat when they can't gamble? If so then why? Can't another form of gaming then take that place? Even though money is not involved?
And now that I think about it, we are chemical creatures. Participating in something we like causes our bodies to secrete various chemicals. Is it not possible to feel adverse affects when those chemicals are not present that causes us to then seek out the very activities that produce those chemicals?
and what about sex addiciton?
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/what-causes-sexual-addiction/
Do gamblers break out in a flop sweat because they can't gamble? Can you perscribe them methadone to help with the addiction symptoms? Is there physical addiction?
Nope, nope, nope.
Gambling is a psychological addiction, and albeit it can be bad; it has no long term side effects, no physical harm to the body and is very well understood and manageable.
A gambling addiction is another addiction I would never compare to alcoholism or drug addiction.
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
Take care Matt. Best of luck to you in what ever you do.
I'm gonna miss you Matt Q.Q
It was nice talking to you.
So what is the difference between someone who is compelled to play video games over being compelled to gamble?
One can ignore their responsibilities with either of those.
Do gamblers break out in a cold sweat when they can't gamble? If so then why? Can't another form of gaming then take that place? Even though money is not involved?
And now that I think about it, we are chemical creatures. Participating in something we like causes our bodies to secrete various chemicals. Is it not possible to feel adverse affects when those chemicals are not present that causes us to then seek out the very activities that produce those chemicals?
and what about sex addiciton?
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/what-causes-sexual-addiction/
Do gamblers break out in a flop sweat because they can't gamble? Can you perscribe them methadone to help with the addiction symptoms? Is there physical addiction?
Nope, nope, nope.
Gambling is a psychological addiction, and albeit it can be bad; it has no long term side effects, no physical harm to the body and is very well understood and manageable.
A gambling addiction is another addiction I would never compare to alcoholism or drug addiction.
No I get the point. You are trying to say that having physical side effets trumps everyone else's problems. And you know I can see where that might be the greater hell.
But saying that someone's shopping addiction which is causing them to spiral deeper and deeper in debt is not a "real" addictioin is just too dismissive.
So ok, ms./mr. shopaholic is not going through physical issues. It doesn't make their life issues any less to them that they are going through some hard ship.
so if you want to tell of greater hells, ok, I'lll admit that having to fight physical as well as mental issues is probably the greater hell.
But if in the end Person X's wife leaves him because he has a gamblign addiction and he has lost their life savings and they divorce and he can't see his children, I'm not going to look them in the eye and say "man up nancy boy your problems aren't real".
Because if he can't find some sort of respite from his problems where is that going to leave him?
I suppose I can't get behind the "my problems are better than yours" mode of thinking because in the end they are problems and they are problems within the scope and context of one's own life. So if someone can't stop playing video games and it causes issues because of it I'm not goiing to tell them that they need to grow up if indeed it is an actual addiction over just being an irresponsible child.
To clarify I'm not saying that a person who spends all their life playing video games is not just irresponsible. I AM saying that they might just NOT be able to "logout".
And quite frankly anything that keeps one from savoring all that life has to offer is a hell.
In some ways it's like saying people with a sex addiction are just nuts because sex is great and if one is to have any type of addiction THAT is the addiciton to have!
Maybe when I was young I would say that but as I get older and I see that this actually causes people real problems I've had to alter my thinking.
In any case I can't offer anything more as I am not an actual psychologist/psychaitrist.
I can (on topic) congratulate the OP for recognizign that he was having issues and taking steps to put his life right.
Rock on Man!
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Hmm, considering a big bunch of gamers are of the age of 12 and in general gaming is for kids your post makes no sense, no offense intended.
Hmm, considering a big bunch of gamers are of the age of 12 and in general gaming is for kids your post makes no sense, no offense intended.
You're both wrong. The average gamer is age 35 with 40% of them being female. Source
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
False,
Physical and Psychological Addiction are VERY different animals.
Tell me when somebody whose "addicted" to video games breaks out into a flop sweat because they haven't played wow in the last couple hours.
Its a problem, but its NOWHERE near the same
But so what?
If you are missing work, not taking care of your hygeine, not taking care of your responsibilites then regardless of your lack of "flop sweat" there is an issue.
Just because someone doesn't suffer from physical effects it doesn't minimize the life problems it causes.
And since there are some alcoholics in my family I can at least speak from some personal experience.
If you are not watching your children because you are flopped out drunk on the couch or if you are not watching your children because you just can't leave your computer (I believe a couple was actually charged with child endangerment because of this) then in the end...
You still aren't watching your children!!!
Therefore it's not a "joke addiction".
No, you're missing the point. Shrugging off your responsibilities, and dieing 30 years earlier, being in total non-control of you're body and having physical addiction symptoms are VERY different.
One has a very large success rate of cold turkey, with no long term effects, and very management lifestyle changes. The other has life altering long term effects.
The guy playing wow isn't going to beat his wife because he is physically impared. The guy playing wow isn't going to be more prone to anger, nor is he going to have physical symptoms that need medical help to realistically manage.
I bet you if you asked ANY alcoholic, they would gladly take a video game "addiction" over an alcohol addictiong.
Sure you have find a few parallels, but the differ GREATLY in key areas such as effect on the body, effect on the mind, the psycological effects.
Its not even close, and to call them the "same end result" is a slap in the face to people battling real addictions.
Just checked both GearScore and Elitist Jerks....and the baggage that comes with gaming addiction and alcoholism works out to be pretty even.
Anyway....Good luck Matt, enjoyed your input.
littlemonkey
Hmm, considering a big bunch of gamers are of the age of 12 and in general gaming is for kids your post makes no sense, no offense intended.
hmm considering the average age of gamers is now 35 he may have more of a point. And gaming is not for kids anymore at all.
http://www.theesa.com/facts/index.asp
No I get the point. You are trying to say that having physical side effets trumps everyone else's problems. And you know I can see where that might be the greater hell.
But saying that someone's shopping addiction which is causing them to spiral deeper and deeper in debt is not a "real" addictioin is just too dismissive.
So ok, ms./mr. shopaholic is not going through physical issues. It doesn't make their life issues any less to them that they are going through some hard ship.
so if you want to tell of greater hells, ok, I'lll admit that having to fight physical as well as mental issues is probably the greater hell.
But if in the end Person X's wife leaves him because he has a gamblign addiction and he has lost their life savings and they divorce and he can't see his children, I'm not going to look them in the eye and say "man up nancy boy your problems aren't real".
Because if he can't find some sort of respite from his problems where is that going to leave him?
I suppose I can't get behind the "my problems are better than yours" mode of thinking because in the end they are problems and they are problems within the scope and context of one's own life. So if someone can't stop playing video games and it causes issues because of it I'm not goiing to tell them that they need to grow up if indeed it is an actual addiction over just being an irresponsible child.
To clarify I'm not saying that a person who spends all their life playing video games is not just irresponsible. I AM saying that they might just NOT be able to "logout".
And quite frankly anything that keeps one from savoring all that life has to offer is a hell.
In some ways it's like saying people with a sex addiction are just nuts because sex is great and if one is to have any type of addiction THAT is the addiciton to have!
Maybe when I was young I would say that but as I get older and I see that this actually causes people real problems I've had to alter my thinking.
In any case I can't offer anything more as I am not an actual psychologist/psychaitrist.
I can (on topic) congratulate the OP for recognizign that he was having issues and taking steps to put his life right.
Rock on Man!
I'm not saying its not a "real" addiction, but its simply a psychological addiction, which we understand very well. They are manageable, curable, and wont kill you 40 years pre-mature even after breaking the habit.
I won't deny that they can be bad, but the line between "video game addiction" and "enjoying Videogames" is one people overuse.
More often than not people will use "videogame addiction" as a crutch to make excuses for them not doing things. Often times the problem is completely separate; laziness, anti-social, depression, etc...
Therapists (ie people without PHD's in psychology who still practice) have been trying to make a label for video game addiction. Often times they say things like "plays more than 3 hours a day, often totaling more than 10 hours a week."
That's not an addiction, that's an enjoyable hobby.
Right now people are throwing around the addiction word way too liberally. If you actually have an addiction, I understand its not just being weak willed, but an actual problem.
My problem lies in the people calling laziness an addiction in hopes of getting sympathy.
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
Well, I can completely agree with that.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
good luck OP you obviously were huge into MMO's with almost 3000 posts here in 3 years. Hopefully you find happiness somewhere else.
Playing: Fallen Earth
Waiting for: Earthrise, Guild Wars 2 and Secret World
"Whats a Canadian? He's like an American, but he doesn't use alot of dangerous adjectives"
"Part of loving a woman is accepting Sting"
"They never find a dead person on Antique Road Show"
"Isn't Unix made by fat people?"
Good luck with your decision Matt. If you can keep yourself away from LinkRealms, I'd be very surpised
I will confess that I'll be disappointed not being able to find out which new obscure games are out there since you won't be posting anymore about them.
But just remember you can find a balance and play MMOs. If you find the right game, you should be able to properly manage your time. At the same time, however, you won't have any regrets later on in life like "I wish I'd spend MORE time playing MMOs". LOL. So no matter what, this decision has not real downside for you.
It's not a question of "knowing", though.
Alcoholics "know" what they are doing is bad for them, and they know that NOW is the time to quit. They just don't. Alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar in this respect.
When anything starts having a negative impact on your life, it's a perfectly good idea to get rid of it, altogether. If you feel you have become addicted to such a thing, the best way to deal with it is to nip it in the bud altogether or the negative aspects will keep coming back.
I applaud the OP for acknowledging a problem in his life. Good luck!
Don't downplay Alcoholism by even comparing it to a joke addiction like video games.
100% of real addicts would LOVE to switch out for a "video game" addiction.
An addiction is an addiction. Regardless of what it does to your body it can still have similar effects to one's life.
Whether it be alcohol, drugs, games, sex or gambling.
If it adversely affects your life and you can't stop then that is a problem.
False,
Physical and Psychological Addiction are VERY different animals.
Tell me when somebody whose "addicted" to video games breaks out into a flop sweat because they haven't played wow in the last couple hours.
Its a problem, but its NOWHERE near the same
But so what?
If you are missing work, not taking care of your hygeine, not taking care of your responsibilites then regardless of your lack of "flop sweat" there is an issue.
Just because someone doesn't suffer from physical effects it doesn't minimize the life problems it causes.
And since there are some alcoholics in my family I can at least speak from some personal experience.
If you are not watching your children because you are flopped out drunk on the couch or if you are not watching your children because you just can't leave your computer (I believe a couple was actually charged with child endangerment because of this) then in the end...
You still aren't watching your children!!!
Therefore it's not a "joke addiction".
No, you're missing the point. Shrugging off your responsibilities, and dieing 30 years earlier, being in total non-control of you're body and having physical addiction symptoms are VERY different.
One has a very large success rate of cold turkey, with no long term effects, and very management lifestyle changes. The other has life altering long term effects.
The guy playing wow isn't going to beat his wife because he is physically impared. The guy playing wow isn't going to be more prone to anger, nor is he going to have physical symptoms that need medical help to realistically manage.
I bet you if you asked ANY alcoholic, they would gladly take a video game "addiction" over an alcohol addictiong.
Sure you have find a few parallels, but the differ GREATLY in key areas such as effect on the body, effect on the mind, the psycological effects.
Its not even close, and to call them the "same end result" is a slap in the face to people battling real addictions.
Just checked both GearScore and Elitist Jerks....and the baggage that comes with gaming addiction and alcoholism works out to be pretty even.
Anyway....Good luck Matt, enjoyed your input.
littlemonkey
That it does, and they both fuel each other, quite often.
Good effort, Sov, but some will never see mental and physical issues in the same light. Many of those same people will die. There's not much that can be done about it, but keep trying.
Once one of their dear friends, who seemed perfectly fine, dies when they're 26, maybe they'll figure it out. Nah, why should I be so negative... I'm sure they'll find something else to blame it on... everyone wins, right?