Being Addicted to a Video Game? Yeah Right…
As I mentioned in Previous posts & pages, I would be discussing some of my real life issues on the blog. One of my most serious issues was being addicted to a online video game. Now, As some, or most of you may be thinking right now, “How can that be?” Well, that was my exact thought when I began playing the online video game, Secondlife. Secondlife is a virtual world where you can make nearly all your fantasies come true. I started playing this game in Septemeber of 2006, after seeing an article about it in the very popular “Wired” magazine. After only a day of playing Secondlife or SL, I felt the urge to discover more about this virtual universe. In the upcoming weeks, I found myself spending up to seven or eight hours a day on this game, perfecting my avatars look ( Avatar is your person, or character.) making friends from around the world, and discovering ways to earn money. Within the next couple years I would spend a minimum of nine to ten hours a day on SL, living my real life vicariously through Secondlife, I would gain over 30lbs, and become a binge eater. By January of 2008, I was dependant on Secondlife. Or for a better example, It was the oxygen I breathed. After months of therapy, and different therapists, fighting with myself and who I thought I was, virtually and in the flesh, I stopped playing Secondlife, realizing that it had consumed me for the past few years of my life. After realizing that I had become addicted to this online “virtual world” I struggled to find information or centers that actually specialized in Online Gaming Addiction, After hours of searching the web, I found an article about the fact that the American Medical Association met in June 2007 to discuss the topic of Gaming Addiction, but determined that further research was needed before video gaming addiction could be considered an actual diagnosis. Although the American Medical Association is still unsure of weather or not gaming is an addiction, other countries have begun taking action. Amsterdam was the first treatment facility in Europe to cater to those with gaming addiction, and in 2005 China introduced an Anti-Online gaming addiction system, inteded to reduce gaming addiction by diminishing in-game rewards after 3 hours. The chinese goverment has also launched a campaign to limit the number of hours teens spend on online games. Although it may be hard to believe, Online gaming is becoming a wide spread issue across the world, with Secondlife’s 6.1 Million registered users and 1000+ Signing up Per day, Not to mention the also popular, World of Warcraft’s 9 Million Registered Users, and more signing up per day, video game addiction is growing by the minute. This is My true story, and Facts that I have gathered from sites I have found on the web. If you know of anyone who might be addicted to gaming or becoming dependant on a game, seek help before it becomes life threatening. Feel free to post me questions, TY. -Loren
2 Responses to "Being Addicted to a Video Game? Yeah Right…"
August 25, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Ok, First, About the Non-Violent video games, these kids have already played them, despite the fact they arn’t in their own home, they do have friends ( I am assuming) and if they do, most of them will have violent video games. And usually that would be my biggest concern in a post, is violent video games at a young age, in my opinion create a dangerous mind set for a child in their teens, and young adult years, but, from reading this post, my main concern is the fact that these kids have absoloute and total control over their parents. When these kids get their games taken away, and throw tantrums, it wont last forever. The parents should be aware of this, were they not a child once too? These kids realize what they can get away with, how long their chain is, and from what im reading, the sky is the limit. As far as the 12 or 13 year old throwing a tantrum over the video game, its because he knows he can, if he knew it would put him into a deeper hole, he wouldnt do it. Personally, If it were my child, and he started throwing a tantrum over the game, after I punished him for it, I would then give him a reason to cry, by removing it from the household. These kids don’t have problems, its really the parents, they need to grow up, and take control of their kids, and stop leting their kids control them, another thing is, atleast these games arn’t online video games, ( And if they are, you might want to have a talk with the family.) Regular games you buy in the store can be defeated, or for a better term, you can finish them and after over coming the “challenges” in the game, the child will become bored with this game, vs. online video games only continue, and never really have an ending. Therefore, Its more likely to become drawn to it, hooked on it, and maybe even in your case, more tantrums. Either way, it seems to me that these kids need a good whack across the bottom, and a serious withdrawal from the electronics for atleast a week.
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- chooseyourvice: Ok, First, About the Non-Violent video games, these kids have already played them, despite the fact they arn't in their own home, they do have friends
- Diana: There is no doubt in my mind that children as well as adult are addicted to video games. I’d like to focus my response on the children who are addic
- chooseyourvice: Ty, No, I did not photograph this, although I did decide to put this photo up for this post because I thought it to be rather calming, Some of my favo
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August 25, 2008 at 1:16 pm
There is no doubt in my mind that children as well as adult are addicted to video games. I’d like to focus my response on the children who are addicted. They start very young these day-often in the steps of an older sibling. I call it “monkey see, monkey do”. I have no children of my own, but as an aunt, and an outside observer I watched 3 intelligent boys ages 7, 10, and 13 succumb to the “video game”. Right now these games don’t have violence. Their parents do not permit these games-now. In brief, I must provide you with a backgroud from their upbringing. Their father travels over 50% of the year for 1-2 weeks at a time. It has been like this since Day 1. He likes to bring back the latest gadget he finds in Asia and as a result each boy has at least 2 gameboys. Considering the surplus, they throw a tantrum if they find me tyring to play one of them. I see their father has not yet had the discussion about supplly and demand with them. If NONE of the 6 gameboys are in use, then a person, such as a 30 year old should be able to use it without having it turn into a cry baby drama from a boy who is 10 years of age.
Next on the list. For some reason those damn xboxes, Wiis, PSIIs….lord knows what….show up again so quickly after being “removed”. Let me just tell you—confiscating these devices can lead to a hysterical drama by all 3 boys: door slamming, screaming, name calling, floor kicking. You are usually ready for Child Endangerment Service to be at your door in know time.
When these children must stop playing, and ultimatum is given. “Put the games away now. You have 2 minutes”. 5 minutes later they are still engrossed. They choose to hear nothing and still complain that they have to stop and God forbid eat Thanksgiving dinner that my my mother, their grandmother slaved all day cooking. Usually one of them says he doesn’t want what is served. Another looks like his pet rock just died and he’s lost his appetite…munches the food around to look like its eaten and comes back in 5 minutes to get dessert. Somehow, he always gets it, too. How my sister does the math in her brain, I have no clue. The eldest will wolf his food down so fast to be excused and then when he leaves the table he leaves a terrible mess, taking not one plate to the kitchen to show any respect for the meal that was given to him. Finally, they return faster than speeding bullets to their game and the fighting begins over things I care not know, because I’m sure they are stupid such as: “He took my controller”. I think to myself: Yeah…..but while you’re in bed I’m going to not only take the controller, but every last game cube, xbox PS station and game….dump it in the nearest body of water and film it for you to see in the morning. Hate me forever, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m a good aunt, but they feel entitled for some reason. Their arrogance is annoying especially since I don’t think the ability to play a viideo game well is worth any praise.
Their father travels a lot. He was adopted and I think his parents thout that he shit gold because he sure acts like it. He feels entitled and now his sons do. My sister can’t get through and also has a hard time following through because her husband doesn’t back her at tmes like this. It’s as if he ignnores there is a problem and might even bring back a game to “surpise them”. You don’t see them for the next 2 days. the 10 year old doesn’t even know ohw to to ties his own shoes for crying out loud.
Otherwise, their family is well off. The husband takes care, go brings in the money, but my sister is expected to tend to him after his long trip. For dinner, she asks her sons what they wasnt to eat. Wierd stuff like carrots and dip and some bread. 3-4 different meals often times with complaints it just doesn’t taste good and they want to be excused. I’m sorry, but if I could something for the family and 1) not asking them what they feel like for dinner and 2) cooking 1 meal and if you don’t like it-tough. Go to bed hungry.
The minute the leave in the morning all they can talk about is playing again when they get home. I think it is completely abnormal for a 12 year old boy to cry because his video games were taken away. 12 years old????
I know kids have wild imaginations, but the need to play or else the world will crumble is a little hard for me to accept. I see fault from the father who makes his sons feel entitled in many ways and faults in my sister beacuse she can’t stick to threat and has lost her balls when it comes to telling her slave, I mean husband to support her on issues such as this.
I have video games. I’ve played them. Fun…Whoohoo, but there’s more to life. There’s a lot of denial of the problem and false hope that it will “take care of itself”, but I don’t see this happening. I see 3 self-centered young men who come from well-to-do families but are by no means entitled to playing at all. I don’t even think it should be returned to them for good behavior or for earning “points” I think they need to learn about losing something you care about….and realizing its not coming back, and that might shock their little asses into reality more.