Gaming...physically addicting?

[Karui]

http://blog.games.yahoo.com/blog/311-the-fine-line-between-game-enthusiast-and-addict?nc

Makes sense in my opinion.

[Mr. Spencer]

Sounds like another attempt at demonising video games in order to divert attention away from the real cause of society's failings.

[kevstah2004]

Sounds like another attempt at demonising video games in order to divert attention away from the real cause of society's failings.

I concur death to all chavs and inbred foreigners that come over for a free ride and bleed our system dry, I'm not a racist, every race has it's arseholes.

[Mr. Spencer]

I was about to place blame on a lack of responsibility.

[Pikminister]

I concur death to all chavs and inbred foreigners that come over for a free ride and bleed our system dry, I'm not a racist, every race has it's arseholes.

There is actually a difference between being a xenophobe and racist.

This article is about some shit some lazy sob came up to get himself a paycheck.

[Karui]

Umm, the person talking in the article is actually a doctor...he has a job and in fact your responses are proof that what's being said it true, you're in denial of addiction.

Secondly, they aren't blaming society as a whole for these problems, they're blaming it for people's lifestyles and I have witnesses firsthand and experienced it. This article actually brings up a valid point.

Lastly, illegal immigration is really the least of our problems.

[Pikminister]

Umm, the person talking in the article is actually a doctor....

A doctor? So was the guy that (helped) kill Michael Jackson.

he has a job and in fact your responses are proof that what's being said it true, you're in denial of addiction. .

I have a job too, y'know. But my job doesn't involve telling other ppl how to live.

Secondly, they aren't blaming society as a whole for these problems, they're blaming it for people's lifestyles and I have witnesses firsthand and experienced it. This article actually brings up a valid point.

Sure. It's a real problem. Just like restless leg syndrome. Whatever gets you to buy more drugs. That's basically the idea behind it.

Lastly, illegal immigration is really the least of our problems.

Not according to this guy:

[Mr. Spencer]

A doctor? So was the guy that (helped) kill Michael Jackson.

So was Harold Shipman, a serial killer who was one kill short of dominating.

[TheSelfishGene]

Of course video games can be addictive.

Spoiler:

show spoiler

and all junkies shall be purged from the Earth!

[nemesiswontdie]

Cause doctors are ALWAYS right!

[Darkmoon]

Oh...I hate these articles. They never actually explain these things well enough, and try and paint as something exclusive to whatever they feel like tarring.

Yes, video games can be addictive. So can;
Music
Shopping
Reading
Television
Food
Alcohol
Sniffing Shoes
Licking Paint
Bird Watching

Or, and this is important, any other human activity ever. Addiction is simply getting a feeling of pleasure and well being from doing an activity. If you enjoy something a great deal, you risk an addiction. Whatever that is. You crave the high of whatever it is that releases those delicious brain chemicles for you. It's not the fault of video games, and it's certainly not a exclusive video game problem. How many people do you know that are shopping addicts? Or really crave a certain drink or food? Video games didn't reach out, slap them around a little and demand they drink only Diet Pepsi.

And the doctor that wrote the article was being nice and well paid for an article showing gaming in a bad light, or he'd have mentioned that little detail. It's fucking irritating when someone pronounces, 'But I'm a doctor ergo I'm correct!' or something equally dumb. The article is biased and skewed, and no number of degrees will fix that.

[Mr. Spencer]

I take a piss several times a day, does that mean I'm addicted to urinating?

[Darkmoon]

Depends - do you take a pleasure in such acts, and drink a ton of water so you can whizz?

I do feel I should clairfy - most or the more addictive drugs give you a high by making your brain secrete vast quantaties of the same chemicles other pleasant activities do, far more than anything you can usually do would manage - hence why they're so addictive. And dangerous, since your body adapts to those huge quantaties and you need more and more to get the same high.

Something like gaming creates a much lower high, but one that can still become addictive. On the plus side, it's much less of a problem and, bar the most serious cases, it's far easy to kick or control.

[TheSelfishGene]

My name's Gene and I'm a reformed game addict.
It has been 5 years and 89 days since I played Diablo II.

Any activity that links an action with a reward can become addictive. This article, although it doesn't paint a complete picture of addiction, isn't biased in my opinion. Heck, it even suggests that gaming wasn't the only reason he lost one girlfriend. And if you squirrel away 12 hours a day with your games, bottle, drugs, gambling, model train set, project car etc. - most people will think this isn't normal. I just hope that others reading the article can see that it's really nothing new.

[nemesiswontdie]

I take a piss several times a day, does that mean I'm addicted to urinating?

I'm addicted to sleep. My body can't function right if I don't sleep.