Video games - A psychological addiction or a simple misunderstanding? - General

Video game addiction is becoming a huge problem and countries should either prohibit or begin to regulate the use of games. Most gamers just waste their lives and hide from society.

The addiction of video games is a big problem, but it is not the video game's fault. It's like blaming tobacco companies for people smoking or blaming alcohol companies for drunk driving. It's how people use the product and how these people never vary their life styles. For the violence, it is sort of the same thing. People let these games effect them, but also look at TV shows were crimes are committed. People may watch those shows and plot up a scheme with these ideas. It's their problem and their choices. The one instance it is not your fault, however, is when you would be a child. Your parents make many influential decisions at this time, so it would be their fault if you had these ideas at such a young age when you really took your parent's actions to heart.

[QUOTE=GerardV2;27637917]Video game addiction is becoming a huge problem and countries should either prohibit or begin to regulate the use of games. Most gamers just waste their lives and hide from society.[/QUOTE] This is very true. Video games are taking over the lives of many people.

[QUOTE=ytr191;27638199]This is very true. Video games are taking over the lives of many people.[/QUOTE] Quick ban ban ban.

[QUOTE=Mkadeshkode;27626569] Black Ops sold seven million copies on release day, gained over six-hundred-fifty dollars total revenue.[/QUOTE] $650? That's not as much as i expected :downs:

[quote=op]black ops .... Gained over six-hundred-fifty dollars total revenue.[/quote] whoa.

OP is pretty dumb.

i can stop whenever i want :colbert:

[QUOTE='Rain [Amber];27626685']How are you going to do any activity and not lose time doing it[/QUOTE] I doubt they'd be that stupid. It's probably referring to significant or unforseen loss of time - to the point where it stops you doing your homework or revising for an exam.

[QUOTE=shatteredwindow;27626684]Heightened reflexes? So if I play enough video-games, I can get spidey-senses?[/QUOTE] No, you simply react faster.

TF2 made me get into hat-collecting.

[QUOTE=LarparNar;27626807]I commented a bit.[/QUOTE] who cares __________________________________________________________________ im addicted to skooma

I can stop playing and start playing videogames. Sure I dont want to stop playing videogames but I can if I have to unlike people who use drugs.

It's not an addiction. If I suddenly lost the ability to play games, I would simply do something else. I play games because there is nothing better to do.

[QUOTE=Joazzz;27627306]Normally I play for maybe six hours without breaks, sometimes even for eight hours, and my mother keeps nagging about how I "have nothing else in my life but that worthless computer" and I guess she thinks I'm addicted. I haven't been able to play [I]any[/I] games for like... two months now, and I haven't felt the slightest urge to play. Addiction my fucking ass.[/QUOTE] What the fuck? I can't play any game for more than two hours, three hours MAXIMUM without getting bored.

I am addicted to Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

People think i never want to come out, When in actual fact i never get told anything and when i do it's always after or "Oh sorry, we was going to invite you but then forgot" response, it really does depress me.

[QUOTE=gazzy_GUI;27639257]People think i never want to come out, When in actual fact i never get told anything and when i do it's always after or "Oh sorry, we was going to invite you but then forgot" response, it really does depress me.[/QUOTE] This, exactly this. If I get called for by my friends I drop my games right away to go out with them. Too bad they all just 'ignore' my house 99% of the time.

No matter how pale, emaciated/obese or ugly you are, it's clear you two are dealing with douchebags. Go out on your own time and make some different friends.

[QUOTE=Marnetmar;27639408]No matter how pale, emaciated/obese or ugly you are, it's clear you two are dealing with douchebags. Go out on your own time and make some different friends.[/QUOTE] I literally described my entire year group pretty much. They don't understand what friendship means, and they just drop each other as required.

The heightened reflex thing I noticed over the years become something of an incredible ability I developed and I really do attribute it to video games. I can't tell you how many times I grabbed something seemingly priceless that was in mid air, as everyone else stood there stupefied with mouths hanging open as they watched in horror at the item hurling toward the ground instead of reacting. And then before anyone can even react, it's in my hand. And everyone's like "how the fuck did you do that?". It just happens so quickly. I've gotten into the mindset of when something serious, or dangerous, or important is happening and it requires a quick action, just react, don't think. Thinking is why the majority of people don't prevent something seemingly easy from occuring I believe. It also helps hand and eye coordination. Having these abilities, I wouldn't give up gaming if it meant I got to keep them. I'm surprised at the amount of dumbs the OP received. It's a really well written piece and definitely needs more scientific research. I really do believe it can be an addiction when in the wrong hands (someone who is looking to invest themselves into something else because they don't like real life enough, I.E. WoW, Second Life etc). It is a problem that is growing every day and to completely dismiss it is outright ignorant and childish. Jack Thompson on his crusade of banning things on the other hand, is a whackjob. Then again, this is Facepunch where "MY OPINION IS RIGHT SO FUCK YOU, UR GETTIN' DUMB'D LOL FEGGIT"

Black Ops made me dive like a dolphin. :D

[QUOTE=gazzy_GUI;27639257]People think i never want to come out, When in actual fact i never get told anything and when i do it's always after or "Oh sorry, we was going to invite you but then forgot" response, it really does depress me.[/QUOTE] I'd remember :unsmith:

[QUOTE=Mkadeshkode;27626569]What is a psychological addiction? Addiction, by definition, "is the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming..." Now, not only does it include narcotics and alcohol, there's a psychological branch in there. These include networking sites, texting and videogames. How many of you use Facebook? [B]Rarely, because to much shit gets started on that website.[/B] Do you think you can live without it? [B]Yes, its just a toy a materialistic joy.[/B]. Video game addiction is not an official diagnosis, but studies show that eight percent of all children and teens are affected. There are "symptoms" that follow this; Preoccupation, loss of time, misuse of money, lack of control, to name a few With preoccupation, the gamer may seem distracted, irritable, or may talk about the game constantly; take Call of Duty for example. Loss of time, that's an interesting one. I'm sure a few of you sat down on the couch, turned the XBox, grabbed a soda and before you know it, it's morning. Misuse of money, I'm a culprit for that one. Misuse of money is constantly upgrading or buying the latest new toy/game. Black Ops sold seven million copies on release day, gained over six-hundred-fifty dollars total revenue.[B]That's because this ones about JFK mostly and Fidel Castro.[/B] The average age of the average gamer is nowadays is regrettably between eight and twenty-one. Why regrettably? Personally, I feel that eight-year-olds should be outside playing, not inside collecting fat.[B]When I was that age I was riding my bike.[/B] Four to seven hours a day, does that sound like a bit much to you? That's roughly between 24 and 48 hours a week straight. Luckily for me, I'm not "hardcore" enough to pass 30. I'm sure you are all familiar with the different types of games. First Person Shooters such as Call of Duty, Casuals such as Farmville, strategic such as Dragon Age, or the infamous M-M-O-R-P-G, Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games. Don't even get me started on "World of War-Crack."[B]I have a guy at work that's like that. Stayed up for 10 hours straight on WOW.[/B] This might sound all scary and threatening, and a few of you might be having second thoughts about the weekend, but the benefits match, of not outweigh the scare-factor. All that I stated earlier was isolated and magnified by the media.[B]Fox 2 News.[/B] Benefits such as heightened brain activity, and improved reflexes; improved memory and motor skills to name a few, think of it: a pencil is rolling towards the edge of a table and before you know what happened, you caught it. Honestly, I'd be willing to trade occupation for preoccupation if it meant that I could have better memory and reflexes, wouldn't you? There are many activists out there, one of the most famous being Jack Thompson; (You've heard of Jack Thompson, right?) Now get this, Jack Thompson states that games are "Murder Simulators" and that they "Teach children to kill and learn to love it." What a hoot. Since when has Mario taught children to kill? I mean the most that might come out of Mario are some mild hallucinations-not that I'm implying anything. Jack Thompson firmly believes that video games are the sole cause behind ... : (Ready for this?) Terrorist attacks and school shootings. In October 2006, Thompson sent a letter to Midway games. Demanding that they cease and desist selling the latest Mortal Kombat series, claiming that the game was illegally profiting on his likeness because gamers could use the 'create a fighter' option to create a character who looked like him. Midway, of course, did not respond to his letter. Not only does Thompson despise and rally against video games, but he has a strong dislike for anything music related in today's generation; most notably "rap."[B]Rap from the 80's and up until today.[/B] Not all of Thompson's research is bullspit however, he's just managed to over-exaggerate the negative by a sevenfold. Stating that "Violent videogames breed violent people" is like asking "Every killer in history has at some point or another, consumed water, is there a link?"[B]Yet this is not stressed.[/B] A violent person may be drawn to violent games, but a gamer isn't any likelier to be drawn to violence. I play violent videogames and I have never had this wild urge to kill someone, and I assure you I won't.[B]Only when people fuck with my family. I will fuck them up but won't kill.[/B] Jack Thompson is not all wrong, he's a political genius, or an A-Hole as we know it. His research is exaggerated but correct. Heck, over-exaggeration is an understatement.[B]J. Thompson is a republican asshole.[/B] There are unstable people in this world, so much so that anything will set them off. Through the years, these people were passed off as psychologically ill (“psycho”). Nowadays, however, guess what's to blame? That's right, video games.[B]Bullshit.[/B] However Thompson's statement that violent games breed violent people is entirely preposterous. In the event that a mentally stable and healthy person will crack under pressure of Mario proportions and go on an insane killing spree is incredibly rare. Let me put that into context for you; Polar South and Polar North have a better chance of swapping than someone cracking insane. Movies, comics, books, television shows, all of these unrelated media aspects can be, and have been far, far more violent than some of today's games, yet books are overlooked, comics are thrown aside, television shows are dismissed and movies are underrated. Why focus in the lesser media spectrum when there are games to demonize. Want to know why?[B]Hollywood.[/B] New tech is first abused before it's used.[B]Being Controlled.[/B] Video games help children who are ill or have injuries. Absorption in a game distracts the mind from pain and discomfort. Many hospitals are encouraging children and others ongoing painful treatments to play games. Games are known to enhance creativity and inoculate a taste for graphics, design and technology, such as modifying the Source engine or manipulating the world in Minecraft. Video and computer games help children gain self-confidence and many games are based on history, city building, governance and so-on. Such games indirectly teach children about life on earth. Take Sid Meier’s Civilization for example, a real-time strategy that teaches the players to think like the governments; deploying military, raising and watching economy, creating whole communities and keeping moral high. Games teach players problem solving, motivation and cognitive skills. That great feeling of accomplishment after literally dozens of tries means something. Most games inspire players to strive and reach more difficult levels presenting challenges at each stage.[B]Hell yeah.[/B] In conclusion, games aren't that bad, nor are they fully good. The media just demonized the negative and caused a huge misunderstanding. Games can be healthy if used right, just like how Tylenol can be dangerous at high levels but beneficial in doses.[/QUOTE] You have some very interesting points but that Thompson fellow is just all out for a quick buck. [editline]25th January 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Marnetmar;27639408]No matter how pale, emaciated/obese or ugly you are, it's clear you two are dealing with douchebags. Go out on your own time and make some different friends.[/QUOTE] Yeah they are not your friends only users. That is the main reason I keep to myself at my job unless it someone I worked with when I first started working with.

[QUOTE=Mkadeshkode;27626569]Video game addiction is not an official diagnosis, but studies show that eight percent of all children and teens are affected. There are "symptoms" that follow this; [b]Preoccupation, loss of time, misuse of money, lack of control[/b], to name a few[/QUOTE] You just described every teen ever to have lived.

Anything in excess is bad, moderation is key.

Hobbies - A psychological addition or a simple misunderstanding?

[QUOTE=mastermaul;27640786]Hobbies - A psychological addition or a simple misunderstanding?[/QUOTE] Exactly. Look at the symptoms: [quote]Preoccupation, loss of time, misuse of money, lack of control, to name a few[/quote] How is a person who spends their money fixing up old cars any different? But that is not called an addiction.

Just think about when or if you have children. Do you want to see your son sitting on the computer for 10 hours building some gay shit in minecraft?

I tend to stay in my room for countless hours, but that's because I have nothing better to do since I don't really enjoy visiting friends' houses because we don't share very similar interests. I am doing poorly in school because of homework, but that's mainly because of procrastination issues which I have had before I started playing games a lot.