Interesting Story...kinda eye opening

[Bacab]

I was reading and stumbled across this article.

This has been approached before here...just wanna remind some people...

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/nfler-videogame-addiction-cost-year-of-career-28790

I know I have struggled with playing video games (MMOs moreso) to the point of it messing up my life.

The key is moderation. Force yourself to take breaks here and there.

[AyumiAmakusa]

What a noob. Had no dedication to games. Tsk Tsk. :)

[kaidendager]

Thank you for posting this, I'm doing a write up on this for a PR class. This is just ludicrous at its core. I think it's great that the guy is willing to start up a charity for something like this, but it seems a bit naive. Video games didn't cause Pitcock to miss a year of playing or anything else for that matter; he did. I like playing DDO, I still acknowledge I should probably have something else in my life.

Weak willed is less interesting than pointing the figure at a billion dollar industry though, and the inexperienced will have no problem nodding in agreement and pitying Pitcock.

[redgod]

i'd just like to say

crack is an addiction

heroin is an addiction

fried chicken is an addiction

video games is a lifestyle choice, a hobby, or even a escape dont blame your sad poor choices on video games.
not wanting to get in trouble and scapegoating the closest thing you can find may be trendy but it is a weak move even for a noob.

Epic fail quitter

[CrimsonEagle]

i'd just like to say

crack is an addiction

heroin is an addiction

fried chicken is an addiction

video games is a lifestyle choice, a hobby, or even a escape dont blame your sad poor choices on video games.
not wanting to get in trouble and scapegoating the closest thing you can find may be trendy but it is a weak move even for a noob.

Epic fail quitter

Denial, ridicule and a lack of understanding.:D

[Kawabonga]

Don't show this to my wife... she would use it against me. :o

Seriously... a foundation!?!

It's all about balance... equilibrium. Stay on computer too long / too often and you will get ill.

Fitter, happier, more productive,
comfortable,
not drinking too much,
regular exercise at the gym...

Edit : Bah, just listen to it : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EoukRWQ-ec

[IgorHackNSlasher]

i'd just like to say

crack is an addiction

heroin is an addiction

fried chicken is an addiction

video games is a lifestyle choice, a hobby, or even a escape dont blame your sad poor choices on video games.
not wanting to get in trouble and scapegoating the closest thing you can find may be trendy but it is a weak move even for a noob.

Epic fail quitter

Denial? Someone else might have a problem. You can be addicted to almost anything, drugs, food, GAMES! If it takes over your life and interfers with your job its an addiction, some people are more suseptable than others.

[Bacab]

Don't show this to my wife... she would use it against me. :o

Seriously... a foundation!?!

It's all about balance... equilibrium. Stay on computer too long / too often and you will get ill.

Fitter, happier, more productive,
comfortable,
not drinking too much,
regular exercise at the gym...

Edit : Bah, just listen to it : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EoukRWQ-ec

Didnt even listen to it...RadioHead from OK Computer right?

[Kawabonga]

didnt Even Listen To It...radiohead From Ok Computer Right?

:d

[Cam_Neely]

My personal belief is that this, any many other people who are 'addicted' (not in the traditional sense) are looking for an excuse and the issue lies deeper with another problem (in this guys case it was depression, but I think that is still missing the mark). Video games where there and an easy excuse because the media and a large amount of people over 30 still think that its an 'evil'.

Had video games not been there, he would have become 'addicted' to something else.

[Thechemicals]

i'd just like to say

crack is an addiction

heroin is an addiction

fried chicken is an addiction

video games is a lifestyle choice, a hobby, or even a escape dont blame your sad poor choices on video games.
not wanting to get in trouble and scapegoating the closest thing you can find may be trendy but it is a weak move even for a noob.

Epic fail quitter

drug use is a lifestyle.

[Kawabonga]

drug use is a lifestyle.

Why would one choose to consistently and consciously (maybe wrong term here) gimp their real life character?

;)

[Bekki]

Gaming addiction is and can be very real...

Any addiction be it, chemical, physical or mental,
has at it's core much more deep seeded issues.

And It is very easy to fall into the trap of...

"It could never happen to me..." :eek:

The Van Hemlock Podcast (Episode 104)
did a great episode on this very topic.

Well worth a listen.

oh, and....

"Dont tell MY wife either!!!" :eek:


"I would NEVER get to play!"

"And I get to play little enough as it is!" :eek:

[Sirea]

Someone with an addictive personality can get addicted to anything; drugs, alcohol, pr0n, etc. Just so happens some people choose video games as their addiction, and it receives so much bad press because people aren't shocked by crack addicts and alcoholics anymore. Video games seem so innocuous, especially to the "weekend gamers" who'll play a few games of Wii Bowling and call it a night. To them it seems silly that anyone would treat them as more than a temporary escape.

[Bekki]

Someone with an addictive personality can get addicted to anything; drugs, alcohol, pr0n, etc. Just so happens some people choose video games as their addiction, and it receives so much bad press because people aren't shocked by crack addicts and alcoholics anymore. Video games seem so innocuous, especially to the "weekend gamers" who'll play a few games of Wii Bowling and call it a night. To them it seems silly that anyone would treat them as more than a temporary escape.

That is very true, in fact not to long ago
the headlines were rocked by the story of a couple
who got so addicted to an online game were they were
(get this) raising an online "magical child"
that they NEGLECTED THEIR OWN CHILD to the point
where the child tragically died... :(

Addiction is a disease, and a very sinister and insidious one.
It attacks you at your weakest point, the pleasure center of
your brain... $eX is fun, drinking alcohol, (in moderation)
games,(Casino games, sports, animal racing, console, computer, etc.)
are all very fun... Even recreational Drug use at the start Seems fun, and that's the hook. But the deeper you get into the addiction
the harder it is to A. Recognize that have a problem and
B. Even If you SEE that there is a problem, it is just that much harder to stop.

It is a truly treacherous road... :(

But to try to outright deny it?

No. It is very real and very dangerous.
Because as Sirea says, it seems so very
innocuous and so harmless...
It makes moderation just that much more important.