Parents Neglect - D&D named.....

[Ourph]

And so...?

That begs the question.

There is a vast difference between the hazard each form of death represents. Thus the level of peril posed by each is extremely wide, the incidence of game addiction assuredly less than death by falling bricks, while that of drug addiction is greater than that of automobile accident.

Cheers,
Gary+

Bricks are to RPGs as death is to addiction. It was an analogy to illustrate that the likelihood of becoming addicted to one particular substance/activity doesn't really have anything to do with the nature of the addiction after it has been established. It is unquestionably the case that RPGs are much less likely to be the subject of an addiction than illicit drugs. However, to the 1 person in a million (for arguments sake) who actually becomes addicted to RPGs that distinction isn't particularly important (much like the distinction between being killed by a car and killed by a brick isn't particularly important to the dead guy).

 

[Banshee16]

I commend you for your scientific rigour in evaluatings studies. Nevertheless, I respectfully disagree with your opinion of trusting the scientist's opinion 99.99% of the time. I don't wish to deviate the discussion, so I will only add that my argument went not so much to the public's interpretation of a study, as to the risks and difficulties involved in any research into a large, complex topic.

Well, any study can be flawed...even good studies might have interesting results....that can't necessarily be extrapolated to all instances that people would like.

That having been said, at least in scientific studies, there is some kind of control factor, and organized statistical calculation of results. Doesn't mean studies are perfect...which is why they're subject to peer review.

But at least having tried to find something out scientifically, regardless of whether the results are eventually accepted by the wider scientific community, is still better than the unsubstantiated judgement calls and hearsay which drive many political decisions.

Banshee

 

[Banshee16]

Lets get one thing straight I never ever said anything about banning anything. I also never said video games were evil.

There is nothing wrong with having a drink now and then or going on a cruise and playing the slots or playing vidoe games or having sex.

But I do think it is important to recognize when someone has gone from normal enjoyment of something into addiction so that they can be encouraged to get help.

One of the key definitions of addiction being whether the behaviour interferes with leading a normal, adaptive life......letting one's children starve because they're too busy playing MMOs is a good indicator.

Banshee

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Bricks are to RPGs as death is to addiction. It was an analogy to illustrate that the likelihood of becoming addicted to one particular substance/activity doesn't really have anything to do with the nature of the addiction after it has been established. It is unquestionably the case that RPGs are much less likely to be the subject of an addiction than illicit drugs. However, to the 1 person in a million (for arguments sake) who actually becomes addicted to RPGs that distinction isn't particularly important (much like the distinction between being killed by a car and killed by a brick isn't particularly important to the dead guy).

All well and good, but...

Is not the question pertaioning to the so-called addictive nature of MMP games? Secondarily, is any such compulsion extant in a non-psychotic person? The matter of how the addict's brain may or may not be affected is a non sequitor in this regard.

Cheerio,
Gary

 

[Nifft]

You know, there should have been a note in the PHB about not naming your kid "Blackleaf".

Cheers, -- N

 

[apoptosis]

All well and good, but...

Is not the question pertaioning to the so-called addictive nature of MMP games? Secondarily, is any such compulsion extant in a non-psychotic person? The matter of how the addict's brain may or may not be affected is a non sequitor in this regard.

Cheerio,
Gary

Psychosis is a very different illness and is not connected to OCD or impulse control disorders or substance dependence disorders.

I am sorry, but I am not sure what you are meaning with you statement? Can you clarify? (apparently it is a long day for me without enough caffeine).

I think mine and Ourphs point was that there are similar neurochemical changes in both people addicted to substances and those with ICDs like gambling or video-game playing, not that the two types of disorders have similar prevalence or risks.

But maybe I am missing something in your question

 

[Ourph]

All well and good, but...

Is not the question pertaioning to the so-called addictive nature of MMP games?

I was responding to your more generic posts about the nature of physical vs. mental addiction, not the specific case cited by the OP.

Secondarily, is any such compulsion extant in a non-psychotic person?

Psychosis is not a prerequisite for behavioral addictions.

The matter of how the addict's brain may or may not be affected is a non sequitor in this regard.

I would argue that is not the case if the discussion concerns the nature of addiction (i.e. - your previous statement in post #100).

physical addiction is both a body and mind craving that id not satisfied has adverse physical effects on the addict. A mental addiction is simply the demand fulfillment of a desire, likely indicating a lack of will power and/or extreme egocentrism...

The fact that the brain physiology associated with substance addiction is nearly identical to the brain physiology associated with behavioral addiction argues that "physical" vs. "mental" addiction is a false dichotomy. Both types of addiction have mental and physical components that are almost indistinguishable.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

It also could be sloppy journalism...

I was a crime beat reporter and it does sound rather like sloppy journalism – just taking the police report at face value. Pha.

What a couple of flakes though. I wonder who ratted them out to the cops?

 

[Midknightsun]

The fact that the brain physiology associated with substance addiction is nearly identical to the brain physiology associated with behavioral addiction argues that "physical" vs. "mental" addiction is a false dichotomy. Both types of addiction have mental and physical components that are almost indistinguishable.

Well put. . . and for example, it is very common for gambling addicts, for instance, to switch to drinking or drugging if they can't get their gambling fix. I've also worked with several individuals, who being admitted drug addicts or alcoholics and eventually recovering from their habit, switch to a less directly chemical addiction. Commonly, I've seen them turn to pornography or gambling (to name a couple) to get their fix.

Its certainly not as clear cut as "physical" or "mental", especially when you consider the rather obvious fact that "mental" is really "physical" as well, a la brain chemistry.

Even those I work with who obstain from drugs, alcohol, or other common addictions often become pretty obvious workaholics. It seems to me to have a lot to do with a particular personality type (combined from biopsychosocial factors) that gives raise to an addictive personality.

 

[Cameron]

(This is with regards to the topic of the thread in general)

[rant]
Ye Gods... Here we go... *again*! The kid ends up killing someone, violent video games are the blame! Parents neglecting their children, DnD is to blame!

Gah!!!! Doesn't the phrase "personal responsibility" mean anything anymore?????

The person screwed up. It is their fault, not the fault of everything else! To paraphrase and mangle the words of a fictional character: "Man's unfailing capacity to believe what he prefers to be true rather than what the evidence shows to be inconclusive has always astounded me. We long for a caring Universe which will save us from our childish mistakes, and in the face of mountains of inconclusive evidence, we will pin all our hopes on the most outrageous of emotions."
[/rant]

Right. Got that out of the system. More seriously, articles like this is why I don't bother reading, watching, listening or otherwise having anything to do with the "news" anymore. It isn't news. It is tabloid, checkbook, sensationalist ravings. The number of times I want to smack the blockhead journo that asks the grieving parents: "So how do you feeling having lost your 8 year old child to that rapist-murderer?" I mean, how do you *think* they feel, ya blithering moron?

Unfortunately, though. Things like that sells. People want to see tears and gnashing of teeth. If they don't get that reaction, they automatically think that the parent did it. Joanna Lees certainly got a faceful of that type of condemnation. So, the advice that I would put forward is to just ignore the journos (not just with regards to DnD, but with regards to every aspect of your life) and force them to go away that way.