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| Video game addiction | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 13 2008, 09:13 PM (731 Views) | |
| dataDyne | Jun 13 2008, 09:13 PM Post #1 |
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Forum Dinosaur!
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Has anybody here ever battled with an addiction to video games? I'm a former video game addict myself. In fact, I transcended addiction and into sick obsession. I was addicted to video games when I was 14 and didn't overcome the addiction until I was about 16 and a half. At the time, I was suffering incredibly low self esteem (something that I'm still battling with to this day) and video games offered an escape from the school life I hated so much. My addiction was specifically linked with Final Fantasy X (big surprise huh? :P). Just before my 14th birthday, I had saved up enough money to buy a PS2. So for my birthday my parents bought me a couple of games, one of these being FFX. I've always been a massive RPG fan and had played all the previous Final Fantasy games, so I had already concluded that this would be my dream game. When I began to play that game, at first I just thought it was really cool. Then I began to become immersed in the game. The addiction got so strong that I eventually fell in love with the game's main female characters: Yuna, Rikku and Lulu. When I wasn't playing the game, I would be on FanFiction.net, masturbating to erotic fiction about the characters (I know - repulsive right?). I also spent a great deal of time on the FFX message board on GameFAQs. At this age, I wasn't allowed to play video games on school days, so I eagerly awaited Friday nights, during which I would stay up all night and play the game right into the next day. Additonally I was extremely attatched to the game's world and its characters, to the point where I'd assume the role of the main character in my mind at all times. Even when I'd done absolutely everything there could be done in the game, I continued to make up new tasks just to keep myself excited about it. I clocked about 300 hours on a single file, and then around 100 additional hours on separate files. It wasn't until I was 15 when I came to terms with my addiction, but I honestly didn't want to overcome this addiction. I loved the game passionately and refused to let it go. For the next year and a half, my addiction evolved into a fully-fledged sickness. I had minor withdrawal symptoms from the game when out with friends or when doing homework. Miraculously I still managed to keep my grades up, but this was mainly because I could do assignments on Microsoft Word while simulteanously posting on the game's message board, or sometimes reading erotic fanfiction. I'm quite surpised my parents never had any suspicions about my problem. Bu then again, nobody I knew ever had any suspicions as I conducted my addiction in a very secretive manner. To everybody I was still the hyperactive, sport-obsessed youngster I had always been. When I was 16 and a half, I met my now girlfriend of 2.5 years. I realised that my addiction had to stop if I ever stood a chance at leading a more normal life. I started crying regularly and became severly depressed because I realised that I had missed 2.5 years of what should have been some of the best times of my life. In order to overcome my addiction, and attempted to regain my former love of sport and took up regular exercise. When I'd get home from school, instead of going straight to the PS2 I'd get changed and go for a run. I also did weights most nights to keep my mind off the game. I also got a part time job at a video store, which honestly was a life saver. I started going out with my girlfirend at this time, and surprisingly worked up the courage to tell her about my now-improving addiction (bar the disgusting details about the female characters of the game). Much to my surprise she was really understanding and helped me to keep my mind off the game. I was also surprised to find out that one of my friends was going through the same type of addiction, with Final Fantasy VII. Damn Final Fantasy, causing all the wars in the world.... Within about 3 months, I had completely overcome my former FFX addiction. I still love the game and play it from time to time, but I do so for the pure enjoyment of it, rather than my former emotional attatchment. I'd like to thing I'm finally a normal young adult again.
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Give this man a fish, and he can throw it up eleven times -alxbly PSN: LifeIsPreachy Mario Kart Wii: 0088 - 2869 - 9843 | |
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| dagoss | Jun 13 2008, 10:10 PM Post #2 |
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Smarty Pants
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... that's not an addiction! No really, it's not. The fact that you just sort of replaced it with other things speaks volumes. You were bored, lonely, and slightly hormonal, and thus did something to resolve all three. Working out sexual frustration and social isolation in games isn't really an addiction. Socially awkward teenagers have to do something to relieve that tension. Playing video games is no more of an out than the thinly veiled homoeroticism of high school sports. The notion that it is even possible to be addicted to games is wide-spread, and it is something games need to overcome if they are going to be taken seriously. Are we actually going to willfully characterize our hobby as a social vice with no psychological or sociological benefits? And another thing... *insert lengthy, boring, semi-incoherent diatribe here*
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| dataDyne | Jun 14 2008, 12:05 AM Post #3 |
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Forum Dinosaur!
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I see your point, but I'll argue to the death that video game addiction is a reality. After going through all that, I can safely say it was an absolute addiction. Sure, I used it as an escape and as a means of exploring my sexuality, but I was addicted to the game. The withdrawal symptoms I experienced are a testament to this. That's like saying alcoholism isn't an addiction, it's just a method of avoiding more pressing issues in your life. I'm not trying to say that video games are bad, because of positives far outweigh the (lack of) negatives. However, when played to the point of pure obsession, they can become dangerously addictive. The same can be applied to...well...anything. |
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Give this man a fish, and he can throw it up eleven times -alxbly PSN: LifeIsPreachy Mario Kart Wii: 0088 - 2869 - 9843 | |
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| dagoss | Jun 14 2008, 09:03 AM Post #4 |
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Smarty Pants
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It's impossible to experience withdrawal symptoms without consuming a chemical substance. Feelings of sadness or grief aren't withdrawal symptoms, otherwise you could say that anyone grieving at a funeral is depressed because they were addicted to the person that died. I have no doubt that it's possible to have a psychological dependence on video games, but to characterize that phenomena as an addiction in the same sense as alcoholism or tobacco addiction is mildly ludicrous. |
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| Deleted User | Jun 14 2008, 11:04 AM Post #5 |
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Deleted User
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The world isn't as clear cut as you'd like to think, Dagoss. What about addictions which don't involve a chemical interaction? Gambling for example; that doesn't fit within the parameters of addiction you'd like to set out. People with an emotional dependance exhibit exactly the same symptoms as those with a chemical addiction. This shouldn't be surprising becasuse the two generally go hand in hand; anyone with a chemical addition will usually have mental dependance issues as well. And, for many people overcoming a chemical dependance, they will find overcoming the the psychological dependence to be the toughest part of an addiction to defeat. For example, someone who gives up smoking will be over their chemical addiction to nicotine within a few days but could be fighting the metal dependance for a long time afterwards... days, months, maybe even years. Same applies to alcohol or drugs. For many people addiction to drugs or alcohol is based around a need for escape from the problems they need to deal with in their lives. Videogames can fill this void in much the same way, allowing the user to escape their lives and live that of another. I don't see what's "ludicrous" about comparing or confusing the two when the symptoms and the effects are so similar. Personally, I've never felt truly addicted to any game. I allow myself to be drawn into certain games and perhaps exhibit some signs of addiction. Recently I've been playing Oblivion for ridiculous amounts of time. I get home and I want to play it, and sometimes I'm up until 4am playing it (despite being at work the next again day). But I know I can stop at any point... I just like pushing myself, I guess. |
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| dagoss | Jun 14 2008, 12:01 PM Post #6 |
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Smarty Pants
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Except there is a clear cut difference and the symptoms are very different. I'm not denying that there isn't a psychological component to chemical addictions because that's true and it's often part of one's treatment, but the two (physiological and psychological) have different diagnosis criteria -- and as far as I know, psychological dependence is not in the DSM-IV. The reason should be obvious: if someone went to a psychiatrist and recited a story like dataDyne's, they would be treated for depression and stage of life issues (i.e. problems that every single teenager on the planet endures) and not because they have an addiction to a a specific activity. To claim that depression and loss felt when video games are no longer played is "withdrawal" is just flat out not true; those are stages of grief. It's a symptom of withdrawal as much as the depression and loss that results from a break-up. Equating that to the withdrawal of chemical dependence is not only not true, it's insulting to crack addicts! "Addiction" in the psychological sense is really a misappropriation of the word. The key prerequisite for psychological dependence is that the activity has to have some social stigma attached to it. Claim that a university professor who reads all the time has an addiction to books and you'll get laughed at; claim that your friend who plays games all the time is addicted to them and suddenly you hit the nail on the head. The only reason that we can even say "video games" and "addiction" in the same sentence is because of their long standing reputation as being detrimental to social growth (whether or not they are detrimental is another issue entirely). |
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| Deleted User | Jun 14 2008, 01:16 PM Post #7 |
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Deleted User
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Okay, I see your point, although I still don't completely agree. I guess what really promted me to post was that your post perhaps came across in the wrong way. Data's been really open and honest with us about something that obviously caused him a lot of frustration, so I hope he understands that your trying to make a point about the details of addiction and not belittle his own experiences. |
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| dataDyne | Jun 15 2008, 02:32 AM Post #8 |
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Forum Dinosaur!
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Wow, didn't see this coming. <_< For and foremost, I am not trying to say video games are socially detrimental. But I am saying that they can be nothing less than destructive, depending on the situation. Just like, you know, everything.
Not when emotional attatchment is involved. When detached from the game for prolonged periods of time, I began to feel violently ill, shake, become irrationally distressed and lose my sex drive. Yes, this was all due psychological issues, but they were withdrawal symptoms nonetheless.
If somebody is withdrawn from alcohol when addicted to the substance, they experience withdrawal symptoms. When somebody is withdrawn from a video game after a period of addiction to the game, they experience withdrawal symptoms. I don't give a **** what any text book says, I know what I experienced and it sure as hell wasn't depression. In fact, I only became depressed after coming to terms with the effect the addiction had on my life, not during my period of dependence on the game. Look, you've made a number of factual points, but I feel as though your defensive nature towards video games is clouding your view of the situation. Video game addiction does exist, and I find it nothing less than offensive that people can try and say otherwise. Especially after I've been through the addiction, not to mention one of my closest friends went through exactly the same thing and experienced exactly the same situation. But that doesn't count, because we were just angsty kids with a void to fill, right? What about teenagers who turn to drug use when attempting to find something to fill a void in their life? Is that different, just because chemicals are involved? Is every teenage addiction just a symptom of depression and sexual exploration? Psychological addiction...chemical addiction...they're both addictions. What next, are you going to tell me that sex addicts don't really have an addiction, they're just depressed?
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Give this man a fish, and he can throw it up eleven times -alxbly PSN: LifeIsPreachy Mario Kart Wii: 0088 - 2869 - 9843 | |
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| dagoss | Jun 15 2008, 09:42 AM Post #9 |
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Smarty Pants
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I didn't mean use facts instead of subjective judgment. Look, I did not intend to personally attack you but that is clearly how you took it. I thought that in this topic we were to discuss the issue of so-called video game addiction, but apparently we can only do so if we assume that it is a medical reality and show extreme pathos for those that endured it. There is pretty much no way I can even respond to the points of your last post without causing personal offense. |
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| <span style=Tokala</span> | Jun 15 2008, 03:49 PM Post #10 |
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Established Member
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I wasn't ever addicted to a videogame. I played pokemon on gameboy alot when I was younger, but I would always rather play baseball with my friends if they were playing. |
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| Witeout | May 30 2012, 07:38 AM Post #11 |
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Tony Hawk Legend
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Quite often we all wonder & think is playing video games bad? Good? Addiction? Nah? Yeah? Who cares? Well, To me, Video games are of our interest & some of us do it quite frequent so it is much like a hobby or a sport to most of us. I don't think there is an addiction, Were just extremely interested in doing so. Up to my standards, When someone has an addiction they stop eating for that certain something, Stop bathing, Stop brushing there teeth, Stop going do other humanly things that are needed in this such life. Things of that sort. I know in my life i've never missed a meal, bath, or proper brushing time. If you do intend or ARE doing so then you just may have a slight addiction problem & might want to reVamp what you enjoyed before playing video games, If any. Just my thought on this topic, Being i wanted to bring it back up but found this thread while researching.
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| Alice Lawless | May 30 2012, 10:41 AM Post #12 |
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N64 collection completed 7/29/12
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I don't necessarily think an addiction is always a bad thing. Some people can be addicted to love (Robert Palmer), some people can be addicted to helping others. I feel that if your addiction is something that doesn't involve other people, then it shouldn't be anyone else's concern but your own. If your addiction makes you happy, then by all means roll with it- but only if it is not damaging to your health. This includes mental health as well. But I want to step back a bit and show off some good aspects of feeding your addiction: Your addiction will always be there for you. Your addiction will never say no. Your addiction will always have time, and will never get tired of doing what you want to do. Your addiction's strength is inversely proportional to your own. If anyone thinks their addiction is too strong, then that person's will is too weak. On that note, I want to bring up that I thought I was addicted to video games like everyone else my age at the time. The only difference between them and I was our ability to accept an addiction and make some good out of it. Everyone else stopped playing games altogether and boasted about beating their gaming addiction. I accepted my addiction and boasted about beating games. At one time in our lives, playing video games made you popular and associating with girls made you weird. Years later we found out that playing video games made you weird and associating with girls made you popular. I decided to try to find a balance between the two, and it worked! Do what makes you happy, and anyone who gives off a bad vibe about your hobbies have no place in your life. My friends love video games, my family loves video games, my girlfriend loves video games, and I love video games. It's what makes us happy, so why should we change? We're the ones who are happy. Don't ever let someone tell you to change because your hobbies are different from theirs. Be happy, be strong, and be true to your addiction- but be responsible and get your priorities straightened out first before you call for some leisure time. I hope my words can help others like these thoughts have helped me years back. |
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| Norcal | May 30 2012, 10:47 AM Post #13 |
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I used to be addicted to MMORPG's, from age 13-17. It really took over my entire life during those years and effected me in more negative ways than positive. I'm still getting over it right now (i'm 18), but I find that I'm hardly ever addicted to Console games, and only play in moderation. I was addicted to MMO's and the sense of community and competition that they provided. |
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| Matt | May 30 2012, 11:07 AM Post #14 |
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Kick, Punch, It's all in the mind
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Personally, I see nothing wrong with "Video Game Addiction", People sit and watch TV for hours on end but that isn't mentioned as TV addiction is it? |
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| Mk II | May 30 2012, 11:29 AM Post #15 |
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Elite
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Actually Matt, video game addiction does exist. MMORPG's in particular are finely tuned to keep you playing on and on. There's no defined end goal but plenty of little rewards to keep you coming back for more more more, just like crack cocaine and similar products. I wasted a year of my life playing Lord of the Rings Online and just couldnt stop. Had my own troop, lots of gold, the best armour and weapons. Prety soon i began to sleep less and play more; every waking moment was spent on the game Then my Mum died and I was forced to take a break to take care of the funeral etc. During that break it dawned on me that the game had totally taken over my life and wasnt doing my any good anymore. So I decided to quit and i have never been back to Middle-Earth since. Edited by Mk II, May 30 2012, 11:43 AM.
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| DeeMoney | May 30 2012, 04:51 PM Post #16 |
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Outback Adventurer
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There is a huge difference between addiction and something that is a hobby or a passion. I've worked with addiction for many years, in the lives of others and even in my own life. Addiction is classified as something that you have no control over and that you simply must do. Drugs, alcohol, sex, masturbating, gambling, stealing and yea video games. All addictions are based around the dopamine that is released in your brain when you are doing something that makes you feel better. That's why when you are not doing it, sometimes it can feel, like you are having a panic attack or your world is going to crumble around you if dont get that next fix, or game in, or what ever. Video game addiction is definatly real. I admit, I will play video games on a daily basis most days, some days I won't. But at the end of the day I don't have to. For me this is not my addiction but I just love doing it to kill the time. |
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| Brodieman | May 30 2012, 05:19 PM Post #17 |
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Senior Member
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People like to pick and choose what are good and what are bad addictions. Do you see people who are crazy about cars being labeled as addicts and given medication? Do you see sports fanatics being labeled as bad? The bottom line is all things should be used in moderation and if it isn't effecting your life or those around you negatively, then it really doesn't matter and should be considered something you enjoy. As far as masturbating to fan fiction goes, dude you were 15, cut yourself a break. I'm sure every guy on earth did that to something a little weird when they were 15. Like I said though society loves to label things and come up with a new fad all the time. Video games are booming and it's the perfect time to start on video game addiction. I play games every single day, I was in a top 100 U.S. WoW guild for 2 years and played for 4 years. Anyone who has played an MMO knows they are time consuming but I still managed to get everything done I needed too, spend time with friends, and spend time with my wife. Do I think there are people who are addicted to video games? Yes. Do I think it is as bad as it's made out to be? No. There will always be people who take things way farther then they should and with video games getting more and more popular it is more likely to happen and the press will latch onto things like this. In my opinion , this is something the press blew up for parents to latch onto and pharmaceutical companies to run with. Anywho, that's my rant on this
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10:54 AM Jul 13
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The world isn't as clear cut as you'd like to think, Dagoss. What about addictions which don't involve a chemical interaction? Gambling for example; that doesn't fit within the parameters of addiction you'd like to set out.










10:54 AM Jul 13