Well look at that, most gamers who are “addicted” to gaming aren’t addicted at all. That’s the conclusion of the first clinic set up to help gaming addicts get off the smack, Amsterdam’s Smith & Jones Center . One problem: 90 percent of the people who are labeled addicted are merely socially weird.
Let me explain. Clinical addiction makes you go into withdrawal after prolonged separation from the drug/substance/whatever. (See Tropic Thunder for a humorous take on drug addiction.) Take away World of Warcraft from the average kid and, at worst, the kid will be bored to tears. (I fit into this category. I play the game a lot for lack of anything better to do.) So rather than treat this 90 percent as addicts, it would be better to give them social support: make sure the players aren’t isolated or being bullied or otherwise intimated; make sure they have useful hobbies—reading things other than message board flame wars—that improve their lives; give these people an outlet where they can feel “accepted” (one kid said he plays games all day because it was his only “accepted” place); and so on.
So all these stories you see of kids being “addicted” to video games, they’re largely a load of bunk.
“90 percent of the people who are labeled addicted are merely socially weird.”
I would prefer addicted :P
Comment from http://www.aabtraining.co.uk/aid.htm
Well I normally suffer from pre-game addiction…the idea of finally getting my hands on the long awaited game, and then the usual dissappointment once having it in my hands, the worst thing is the fact that these days we have much knowledge on the developement of a game than ever before, we can track its status sometimes for years…powerful market tool that is, so it over hypes the thing and then dissappoints.
There are always exceptions…heres hoping flashpoint 2 is one of em!
Otherwise theres always First aid training courses for appointed person and first aid at work is now being run across the uk to aid companies with compliance issues.
There are several factors why some prefer living in the virtual world, they don’t feel secure nor enjoy the reality around them. Playing the game is their way to feel confident and find a better social life compared to the real world.
That is fine if you can “support” your habit? (And all of your living expenses?)
If not, then I truly hope you have a sugar-daddy or some sort of trust fund…