Is it possible to have a healthy online gaming life? Yes it is. Just like Tony Sinclair says, “All things in moderation.”
Recently CNN reported on online game addiction, the article was good but they made a generalization about gamers. Not everyone is addicted, well at least not the people I know. The article talked about a WoW player who has lost several jobs, his girlfriend and is near homelessness. That is an addict, no game should be in that much control of your life.
There have been days when I really wanted to do something in WoW but knew I had to go to work. I may have put myself in a place where I was running behind schedule but I showed up for work. I sat at work all day thinking about what I needed to do and in what order to maximize my time once I got out of work. Does that make me an addict? Do you ever think about something other then work on a slow day?
I look at game addicts just the same as any other addict in the world. They have a problem and until they acknowledge the problem they think everything is fine. I don’t go out of my way to confront people like that but I try to drop hints to help them get their life back on track.
How about people in raiding guilds? You know the ones, they raid 7 nights a week and are near the end of Black Temple. Are they addicts for spending their evenings doing something fun? I don’t think so, it is the same as people being totally consumed by their favorite TV show. So what is the problem?
Well the problem comes into play when someone neglects their real life responsibilities to play the game. I’m not talking about putting off mowing the lawn until tomorrow. I’m talking about not feeding your kids or letting your home become filled with piles of filth. Neither of these things happen with the average gamer and especially not with the casual players.
So how do you know you have a good balance between the two? Well there is no way to generalize the balance everyone has different situations at home and with work. But being aware of them and putting them in the right priority is the best way to make sure.
by Josh
, on February 10 2008
@ 11:26 pm
Hey Hyouzan,
You make a good point, but addiction can be more subtle than you suggest. People who raid 7 nights a week (or 5 like me) are sacrificing parts of their life to play the game.
For me, I’m sacrificing RL time with my girl 3 nights a week; while gaining a hobby that honestly invigorates me. As you may have read on our blog (http://www.justjoshin.net/wow/?p=42) I have recently dropped a stack of weight, which I gained while playing WoW. Not that I blame WoW itself for my weight gain; WoW was merely a poor excuse for why I couldn’t exercise (or eat right). That actually started by putting off mowing the lawn one day…
I have people close to me that suffer from addiction to controlled substances. They didn’t decide one day to neglect their social responsibilities or friendships – it was a steady decline.
The point I would bring to the table is that constantly thinking about WoW and justifying it to yourself (and others) are definitely signs of an addiction. Some smokers justify their habits with “we’re all gonna die someday” and some cocaine addicts suggest that their addiction no worse than alcohol.
You sound like you’re in control though – obsession and addiction are two different beasts. I would say we’re obsessed with WoW because we enjoy it – but that either of us could give it up if the penny dropped.
I’m adding you to our blogroll, if you don’t mind
by Hyouzan
, on February 10 2008
@ 11:37 pm
Well I have never known anyone dealing with an addiction. I do see your point that it can be a casual decline, I definetly won’t deny that I am obsessed with WoW.
My spouse and myself play WoW as a couple so I think it gives us something to do together that we both enjoy.
by Ganomette
, on February 11 2008
@ 2:26 pm
As a sort of reformed mmo addict (I played EQ before Wow) I honestly believe that if you’re in a high end raid guild, you’re sacrificing something in your life. If it’s not friends or family, it’s exercise or fresh air and sunlight, heh.
I’m really interested in this documentary that’s coming out about online gamers as it tackles a lot of these issues. If you haven’t seen the trailer for it go check it out it’s called Second Skin. Probably can just google it, if not there’s a link on my blog
Nice blog btw, keep up the good work.
by Hyouzan
, on February 13 2008
@ 9:55 pm
The Second Skin documentary seems very interesting. I hope I will be able to see it when it’s available.
by Vishero
, on February 14 2008
@ 7:09 pm
This is a great post. I love how playing WoW is now a cultural joke and how the perception is that gamers do nothing else ever. Goes to show you that people believe anything they hear!
by Not much of a balancing act, is it? « She Rolls Horde, on February 16 2008 @ 11:02 am
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