Online gaming addiction

[Mystery Man]

I currently have two friends who are so absorbed, nay consumed in their respective mmorpg's that they have neglected real life.

I hate these freaking games.

One is currently fighting with his stepchildren over DAoC, selling all of his other computers that he used to run multiple accounts so he can buy a high end laptop to play while he sits his fat ass (and getting fatter) in front of the TV and play. Is it normal that the only interaction you have with your kids is to play computer games or have them sit on your lap when you play? When they go find daddy the computer room is the first place they look?
*shrug*
The other is my co-worker who has been captivated by City of Heroes so much so that his face is buried in his monitor from the time he walks in to work until he leaves. We had a power spike today and his pc rebooted leaving his hero to fend for itself while he quietly freaked out until his machine restarted. You should have seen him frantically looking for a way to spoof his IP when our network engineers were on to the network traffic.

I personally cancelled my internet subscription at home because I wasn't using it and really the only time I browse (other than work) is to come here and hit a couple other sites and that's it. I just don't get it!!!

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Yeah, I got "absorbed" too with Ultima Online when it came out. it's real easy... "ok just another skill point... ok just another ton of ore... ok just another run of the shops...". Those games will totally bring out the slightest obsessive compulsive tendency you might have. If you're lucky, you realize what time you're spending on it, and quit, cold turkey. The first few days are rough, but after that, if you find another, better way to occupy your time, you should be ok. If you're less lucky, you get totally immersed and obsessed, and things can get real bad real fast.

If you're afraid that this might be the case for your friend, perhaps the best (but certainly not the easiest) thing to do would be to confront them, especially if you think he's neglecting (however slightly) his kids. Dealing with an "addiction" isn't easy. I don't want to give the impression that I have any kind of authority or experience or knowledge of the matter, but I did play those games and easily developped the pattern. It was good that at that time, I had no real significant other, no job, no real responsibilities and lots of free time (I was in school and still living at home).

Hope everything turns out ok.

AR

 

[Ashwyn]

I currently have two friends who are so absorbed, nay consumed in their respective mmorpg's that they have neglected real life.

I hate these freaking games.

Why? It's not the games, it that people can't control themselves. By blaming the games, you take the responsibility away from the person with the problem. The games are addictive, yes, but selling things and neglecting people are choices people make. We all have to prioritize. I hope you can manage to help them get their priorities in order.

 

[Creamsteak]

I played a lot of Diablo 2 (not really an MMORPG, given) sophomore year of highschool. I really enjoyed "looking for phat l00tz", but eventually I just couldn't tolerate the other players anymore.

I love my online games, but I just can't play them without people I know and trust, or at least people I've known online for a while. I still have a lot of correspondence with old tribes/tribes2 friends I've known for years, and if I find a new game, it's rare that I can't find one of them that would show me the ropes.

Nothing wrong with spending a few hours on an MMORPG, but I've never understood the true addict mentality. Some people can tolerate anything for the smallest dose of happiness (tolerating hours of left clicking for a rare item).

 

[Dark Jezter]

Why? It's not the games, it that people can't control themselves. By blaming the games, you take the responsibility away from the person with the problem. The games are addictive, yes, but selling things and neglecting people are choices people make. We all have to prioritize. I hope you can manage to help them get their priorities in order.

Sadly, people don't want to take responsibility for their own actions anymore.

I wonder how long it will be before somebody sues the maker of an MMORPG for making it "too addictive." After all, we've got people suing fast food resturants because they got obese from overeating and people suing tobacco companies because they smoked their whole life and (surprise surprise) got lung cancer.

 

[Mystery Man]

Why? It's not the games, it that people can't control themselves. By blaming the games, you take the responsibility away from the person with the problem. The games are addictive, yes, but selling things and neglecting people are choices people make. We all have to prioritize. I hope you can manage to help them get their priorities in order.

You're absolutely right.

 

[Tewligan]

I wonder how long it will be before somebody sues the maker of an MMORPG for making it "too addictive." After all, we've got people suing fast food resturants because they got obese from overeating and people suing tobacco companies because they smoked their whole life and (surprise surprise) got lung cancer.

I may well be wrong, but I thought I saw something on a news show a year or so ago about a woman who intended to sue Sony or someone because her adult son played so much Everquest that he totally neglected his real life, let his apartment become a stinky, filthy mess, and eventually died (I THINK he shot himself). I'm not positive that she was talking lawsuit, but I think so. Does anyone else remember seeing this tale of dumbness?

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

yes I remember this story. I'm not sure if he commited suicide or was put in a mental hospital, though.

AR

 

[Laurel]

Why? It's not the games, it that people can't control themselves. By blaming the games, you take the responsibility away from the person with the problem. The games are addictive, yes, but selling things and neglecting people are choices people make. We all have to prioritize. I hope you can manage to help them get their priorities in order.

In total agreement here- just look at the number of people who can play these games without devoting thier life to the game.

 

[Tewligan]

yes I remember this story. I'm not sure if he commited suicide or was put in a mental hospital, though.

AR

Oh, I'm positive that he died, somehow. I just couldn't remember if it was suicide or something else like a heart attack or whatnot. The more I think about, I'm pretty sure it was suicide.