What do you think about video game addictions?

Question

I'm a Hardcore Gamer now as much as I love to play games I still have "a life" so to speak where I go out with friends and lol eat, sleep etc. But apparently video games are quote "as addictive as cocaine and marijuana," because your brain does something while playing video games that it does if you were doing crack or smoking pot, this also goes the same for internet. But video game addiction side affects are apparently going days without sleep and eating, mood swings, dramatic wait loss or gain, etc. Now I'm fairly certain I'm not the only person who's pulled a all night'er because a new video game they wanted came out. But come on that is just ridiculous, I couldn't help but laugh while reading these articles. Some cases are even more serious though, recently a teen died in a internet Ca'fa from a 40 hour Diablo 3, he supposedly had developed blood clots while sitting there without moving for that long, and did not sleep or eat for the entire marathon. Now Ive gone without food, as in maybe skipped lunch or something, and like I said pulled my number of all night'ers but jeeze. There are reports of broken marriages, losing jobs, and even suicide over video games. Some even want to ban video games because apparently it even makes young children violent. I don't think this is so much about video games as it is about self control. This is ridiculous to think all this is happening because of a few video games. It's not like your injecting something in your bloodstream and changing the chemistry of your brain, no your looking at a screen and interacting with things occurring on it. This is such a "thing" now that they are going as far as building video gaming rehabs in places like China, Korea, and some parts of the US.
So what do you think about this? Do you think its serious and there needs to be something done about it, or people just need to learn a little self control? Share your thoughts and feelings, I want to know what other people think about this situation.

Answer 1

Very good question. I could argue with anyone about this all day. Id say that there are some cases that go a bit over the top yes but most gamers have some other from of activity they do, whether it be a job, school, or whatever it may be. Some have said there should be an age restriction on how old you have to be in order to play games. They have some sort of a regulation about purchasing game like the game rating E for everyone, M for mature etc.. but the fact of the matter is if someone wants something bad enough they will do everything in their power to get it. Im sure every gamer had had at some point ask someone over the age of 17 to purchase a game for them. Point proven. The way I see it is if they ban video games, it would turn into where people would do as they did with alcohol back in the earlier days. They would sneak around and do anything to play them, there would be game designers that would see that there could be a huge profit to be made by continuing making the games because they know that they could put the price to however high they wanted and people would still buy them. Yes Im sure that there would become punishment laws if such a thing happened but honestly what could they do to you? For one you wouldn't be hurting anyone else, disturbing anyone else so what could they do. I personally have pulled many all nighters in fact I stayed up until 2:30AM last night playing my playstation. There is nothing wrong with it. And as a matter of fact there have been studies that prove video games are not pointless. I know for a fact when the PS3 first came out some medical facilities were using the PS3 to do medical research!! Also they proved that it enhances you reflexes and reaction time because your brain is constantly working when playing any sort of video game, unlike watching tv to where you are just gazing in at the television. I don't think this issue is serious enough that anything needs done about it because there are other things that need done in the US that are way more important and way more serious and im sure in other countries have other issues more worth dealing with as well. Once you get to the point to where like in the kid that died. Yes something does need done, that is taking it to the extreme. There is always going to be someone that takes something to the extreme to where it gets to the pint that people are questioning the worth of having it. My parents have gotten mad at me before because I play my PS3 very often, yes I do devote most of my free time to gaming but I know when to stop, even if a new game is out. Im 17 and on school nights I know when I need to stop because I have to get up early in the morning to go to school. and when I get home I make sure everything I need to do is done before i get into gaming whether it be chores, homework, etc.. So that where I stand on video games. GAME ON!!

Answer 2

I think that there are people that do have no life and do play video games 24/7. But more of the majority does have self control over it so there is no need to go so extreme and making it a huge deal. I do believe that video games can be very addictive to some but like you said it is just self control. So i go with what you say its not so serious but there is a good need for self control.

Answer 3

As a fellow hardcore gamer I have done some of the same things. Like just last night I downloaded the walking dead episode 1 and was up till the time I beat it(1am). No I don't think we are addicted life is hard and we all need something to give us joy. Oh by the way I also have a life, I hate how people are always stereotype us as a lazy fat guy eating potato chips on his couch while playing call of duty all day.

Answer 4

I think corporate America has their priorities out of whack. Drug addictions = bad. Video game addiction = Good marketing strategy and game design.



I think video game addiction is just as serious as drug addiction. You can get fat, lazy, lose sleep, and negatively affect your health overall. But it's like the government is saying "We'll punish you for addiction... unless your addiction is regulated and taxable, then we don't care about it". Same goes for cigarettes. In my mind, all addictions are bad. Too much of anything can be bad. Computer, video games, coffee, cocaine, pop.... But as long as you pick the right poison, no one gives a flying f about your addiction.



"as addictive as cocaine and marijuana" - There is no comparison between marijuana addiction and cocaine addiction. Marijuana is rarely ever physically addictive to anyone, cocaine is so addictive that people will do it until it kills them.



And also, this whole "i have a life" bit is kind of irrelavent, I would assume most people who have said you have no life have A) been online, and subsequently B) been from people who use facebook and play farmville and use Twitter and think memes are funny... those peoples opinions are not to be taken seriously at all.

Answer 5

enjoying video games, like getting on Yahoo!solutions or enjoying Dungeons and Dragons or observing a typical television application or notwithstanding...isn't an dependancy. it particularly is a decision. human beings make possibilities each and all of the time. a number of those possibilities lead a guy or woman down a street of repetitive behavior. inspite of the undeniable fact that, they don't look to be addictions...they are behavior. drugs, alcohol...those are addictions. in case you're at the instant a psychology student, you may desire to already comprehend approximately (or you may desire to hunt for) "tolerance" and "thresholds" etc.

Answer 6

Some people can go over the top, but I think everyone should be able to choose their own hobbies because that's what they like to do. I heard about that story about the kid in Taiwan who died after a 40-hour Diablo III marathon, and that is going over the top. All forms of addiction are bad, but video game addictions are not as bad as drug or alcohol addictions, as they cannot kill you, unless you are insanely mental like the kid who just died, but most people aren't like that. Even though I am an avid gamer myself, I think even if gaming is your number one hobby, people should be doing other things except sitting in the house all day playing video games. I honestly play games for multiple hours a day, but not at one time. Even though gaming is one of my two main hobbies, I also enjoy doing other things. And I agree, some games, like Grand Theft Auto, can make younger children violent. I know that I remember when a kid killed one of his parents because they didn't allow them to play Halo. I think every kid needs to also be doing other things besides video games, even though I love them myself. Kids who get violent with video games need to have a strict limit on what rated games they can play. The only excuse I would give to someone for playing an excessive amount of video games, is if it were their jobs, such as a video game reviewer or designer. But hey, if you love video games, and you have a passion for them, play them, just not for 40 hours straight. I think anyone should be able to do what they want to do, like playing video games for many hours a day, only if they take care of themselves while the play, such as eating, exercising, taking showers, or even getting dressed. And again, I agree, self control is a huge factor of an addiction. A video game addiction can be bad, but it's not as bad as a drug or alcohol addiction. An addiction from a video game, in my opinion, is probably because he or she has a passion for them, and that is fine. But at the same time, doing ANYTHING for so many hours straight to the point where you're not taking care of yourself is unhealthy, even if it is something active. I've gotten plenty of lectures from my parents about playing too many video games, but that's okay, because I love them and I enjoy myself. I personally can't stand how people say video games are pointless and stupid, because they are really not. They do, for a fact improve your hand-eye coordination and reflexes, and it is possible to get a good job involving video games. Video games are not stupid, they are an entertainment purpose and a hobby for people. Adults tend to think video games are a waste because they want to see children being active. But what if that child wants to be a video game designer and make really good money? What argument does the parent have now? They don't have one, because video games can, by chance benefit you for the rest of your life, especially if you have a job in them. Hey, if it can do something good for your furture, then it's obviously not a bad thing. But again, like everything, they can be bad for you at the same time if you are completely obsessed like the kid who recently died. The video game rehabs that you mentioned are a stupid idea. Does the world really think a video game can kill you? It can, if you're crazy enough like that kid in Taiwan, but there aren't many people who are that mental. Rehabs are meant for people with real problems, like a drug addiction or a alcohol addiction. I believe there is a such thing as a video game addiction, but it's not one of those addictions that will end your life like heroin or crystal meth will, because most die-hard gamers won't spend 40 hours on a game without eating or taking a break. If you enjoy yourself doing something, that's all that matters. My final point is; if you enjoy something and have a passion for something, do it. Just don't do it so much to the point where you're not taking care of yourself (like that boy in Taiwan)