Gaming Addiction.

[Straiffi]

In my opinion you shouldn't just blindly count the hours.

As long as it doesn't restrict your other activities, you don't neglect your school/friends/work because of it and you can stop when ever needed, it is not an addiction.

 

[jamesworkshop]

Gaming addiction is blowing off everything else


Sir, gaming was a social activity looooong before the wii.

yes but not to those who don't play video games

So...
Friends=Social
Video games= Not social

Friends+Video games= Not social?

Please explain.

I mean the idea of gaming being anti-social being held by the masses who don't play videogames

 

[marfoir(IRL)]

*snip*

So just beacuse many believe it's true it is true?

EDIT: I'm probably being pedantic here but you did call my favourite recreation anti-social which just isn't true

 

[Madrak the Red]

Addiction:
being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming

an abnormally strong craving

In medical terminology, addiction is a state in which the body relies on a substance for normal functioning and develops physical dependence. When this substance is suddenly removed, it will cause withdrawal, a characteristic set of signs and symptoms.

You sir, are not addicted. Do you suffer withdrawal syptoms? Does anyone suffer withdrawl symptoms from gaming here? Gaming is a hobby we share. We are not addicts, as we CAN put it down. We are not dependant on it. We can find other things to do. It does not make us utterly dependant. We can put it down for 8 hours a day for work and so on.

So blerrrgh to your dad.

 

[Count_de_Monet]

Addiction:
being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming

an abnormally strong craving

In medical terminology, addiction is a state in which the body relies on a substance for normal functioning and develops physical dependence. When this substance is suddenly removed, it will cause withdrawal, a characteristic set of signs and symptoms.

I really hate it when this topic comes up because someone always does what you just did...

You can be addicted to something that doesn't leave you with a chemical dependence. If you use anything as a form of escapism then sure, it can become addictive because it allows you to step away from the life which you don't enjoy into a life that you do enjoy. It may not cause the shakes if you go without for a period of time but there can certainly be emotional reactions.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

I would only define a game as an addiction when it interferes with other things. If you cancel a date with a girl friend, are late to work, cancel plans with friends etc all in the name of playing a game just a little longer you might just have a problem. Playing a game for a long period of time is not, in and of itself indicative that anything is wrong - though it should be noted that such behavior will usually have some form of impact on your social standing with your meatspace counterparts.

 

[ScAR_TiSsUE]

Funnily enough. My dad used to say I spent too much time in my schoolbooks.

 

[AnotherFineMess]

Funnily enough. My dad used to say I spent too much time in my schoolbooks.

If I may say... Your father is a weird creature.

Anyway, most of my spare time is spent playing and I played a lot more than now.
Its not the amount of hours you spend playing IMO, its what you do when you are not.
If you can't stop thinking about the current game you are playing, if all you want is to go play, etc. That's more of an addiction.

Now just in the: "I haven't got nothing to do, lets burn up time" Its not being addicted. "I'm bored of doing X thing, I think I'll go play" that's not being addicted. "I'm not in the mood to go out (or something like that). Gonna stay playing" If not a recurring episode, its not being addicted...

I just think there's a whole lot of talk about games being addictive. So people snap at gaming really quickly.

 

[TheButtonMashEffect]

My Dad recently told me that it was acceptable to play games for no longer than 30mins/week. I said that was ridiculous. He stated that anybody who played games for longer was addicted.

As people who know 'a little more' about gaming. I would like to know if you have ever been truly addicted to gaming, how you found out, and what you did. What game/games affect you the most, etc. Stuff like that.

By the way, my gaming play time averages at around 6-10hrs/week. I'm selling some of my consoles to buy a digital slr camera. No doubt my dad will say something inspired like: "You shouldn't take more than a few pictures/week, anymore and you're a pervert!"

Your dads a grade A retard.

 

[ffxfriek]

im addicted to monster,walking,dressing,eating,videogames, the escapist, yahtzee, water,abd using the computer/internet (school requires im onit 6 hours a day) etc..

 

[LaxLuster]

There probably are real psychological addictions to gaming. I wouldn't consider anybody an addict unless, like a lot of other people have mentioned on here, they start acting negatively when gaming is withheld.

People who beat their mothers with tacos or shoot them in the face are extreme cases and I wouldn't blame that so much on addiction as I would 'waste-of-semen syndrome.'

 

[Jav3lin]

that guy who assaulted his mum with a Taco for turning off his Xbox is a great way to describe "addiction"

 

[Valiance]

Even if he meant 30 minutes a day, it's still ridiculous.

I don't know, do what you think is right. How much time do you wanna waste doing nothing? 2-3 hours a day sounds good to me, because it always makes me happy.

 

[Matsamu]

For me, addiction means forgetting to sleep on a regular basis. Forgetting your friends. I would much rather go to the mall with some of my friends than sit and play FF11 or something at home alone. When you'd rather be alone with your game than someone of the opposite sex, then it's an addiction...

isn't there a shirt somewhere that has something like this?

~Matsamu

 

[TheHorizon]

Some people would think (me) that 30 minutes a DAY would be pretty limiting. Mostlly because that's like reading a page of a book once every day.
You really don't get much done, or into it really.

And your dad is an idgit, OP.
Bodatious idgit. (if you don't know what that means already, you never will)

 

[geldonyetich]

"Addiction" is a tricky word. I think the way shrinks look at it, it has to do with whether or not you'll skip things that are more important to do in order to engage in the "addictive" ehavior. E.G. Work or school.

I've been probably pretty close to that definition for decades. No social life, no real work contacts, neglecting my homework, ect. However, I have gone to school, and I had worked for some 7 years, so I have a hard time saying I'm that addicted.

I guess it goes to show that everything exists in degrees, especially psychological things. We're all a little [insert psychological disorder here], but the question is if we're enough that it's a problem.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Hmmm. I think I'm addicted. I spent 8 hours on Fallout 3 yesterday and didn't want to do anything else during that time because it was making me feel happy and I could escape into another world for a while.

Is it really any different to reading a book or watching tv for the same length of time? Why as a form of entertainment do people feel is it a negative pursuit??

At least with gaming you are using your grey matter and exercising your mind, unlike slowly rotting away in front of the goggle box.

 

[Specter_]

And your dad is an idgit, OP.
Bodatious idgit. (if you don't know what that means already, you never will)

This and exactly this.
It's like saying if you go faster than 1km/h over speed-limit, it's irresponsible driving.