[WeatherOp]

http://www.nbc13.com/health/9345513/detail.html

Bakker said he's already treated 20 people from 13 to 30 since January. And he said they suffer the traditional withdrawal symptoms from drugs or booze -- like the shakes and the sweats -- when they look at a computer.

"We knew about drugs like crack, but we couldn't find a program anywhere for kids like this," Bakker told the British Broadcasting Corp. "And we saw enormous parallels between problems with gaming and alcohol and gambling."

"There can be anxiety, panic attacks, sleep problems, dreaming about games, nightmares, shaking," said Bakker.

He told the BBC that parents shouldn't underestimate the seriousness of the issue.

  Everyone has seen the gaming laws come out, but this takes the cake. But, really I wonder, why hasn't someone thought of this way to make money before?

[Flipside]

LOL Read about this a few days ago....

Because addiction to TV, Jogging and Eating are nothing like an addiction to drugs, but computer games are....

[Rictor]

If games now get the full "social ills" classification, maybe Hollywood will start coming out with gritty films about street-wise game dealers and their shifty lives. Like when a game deal goes bad, and the "vendor" freaks out and shoots everyone. And then he stands over the bloody, lifeless bodies and says "owned!"

"C'mon man, you gotta hook me up. Just a little multiplayer, just a bit man. You know I'm good  for it."

"Man, I told you, the cops raided my place last night, took half my stock. All the primo ****, my Half-Life 2 and World of Warcraft, it's all gone. All I've got now is these adventure games until my connection in Colombia hooks me up."

[Mars]

My freind gave me the exact same line the other day... but it wasn't about games, and he was going to buy from the local... ah... merchant, not the source.

[aceofspades]

I can see I'm going to get flamed for this... 


What's so bad about this? Surely there are cases where such treatment is helpful. What's wrong is not the existence of programs like these, but the stereotyping of all gaming to this image.

[WeatherOp]

I can see I'm going to get flamed for this... 


What's so bad about this? Surely there are cases where such treatment is helpful. What's wrong is not the existence of programs like these, but the stereotyping of all gaming to this image.

Because if it takes therepy to get you off games, you have a much bigger problem than that.

[Flipside]

You'll find people that are addicted to games are just as likely to have been addicted to D&D or Television or whatever escape from reality comes along first. I'll fully agree with you that it does exist, and is a problem, but we aren't talking about addictive games any more than there are addictive foods or other addictive pastimes, but at the end of the day, it boils down to people with addictive personalities

[achtung]

Yes, gaming addiction does exist.  But anything can be made addictive.

[aceofspades]

I still rememer that sex-ed class where the instructors started out by reading questions students had submitted the previous class. First question: "Is porn addictive?"

[Mefustae]

First question: "Is porn addictive?"

My Carpal tunnel syndrome says yes.

[achtung]

First question: "Is porn addictive?"

My Carpal tunnel syndrome says yes.

So..... did the clicking and typing the word "huge tits" in the search box give you Carpal tunnel?  Or another activity one usually takes part in while viewing porn?

[Mefustae]

So..... did the clicking and typing the word "huge tits" in the search box give you Carpal tunnel?  Or another activity one usually takes part in while viewing porn?

Uh... I wasn't really thinking that far ahead when I wrote the joke...

[Ace]

If games now get the full "social ills" classification, maybe Hollywood will start coming out with gritty films about street-wise game dealers and their shifty lives. Like when a game deal goes bad, and the "vendor" freaks out and shoots everyone. And then he stands over the bloody, lifeless bodies and says "owned!"

"C'mon man, you gotta hook me up. Just a little multiplayer, just a bit man. You know I'm good  for it."

"Man, I told you, the cops raided my place last night, took half my stock. All the primo ****, my Half-Life 2 and World of Warcraft, it's all gone. All I've got now is these adventure games until my connection in Colombia hooks me up."

That movie has already been released:

[Descenterace]

I used to be 'addicted' to games. Not to the point of showing physical symptoms, but I couldn't concentrate on anything else.

Guess what happened? I grew out of it. Reality doesn't wait.

[Prophet]

I have never been addicted to games in an unhealthy way. I sometimes may be glued to the screen the same way I sometimes am glued to a good book. "Just a few more pages/turns/levels..." I game a lot, because games are like therapy to me ("excuse me cruel world, I'm a bit busy right now"), and I often have little else to do. In my world, games are like books or TV; a good way to spend your time. Thought my life revolves lot around my computer, I still statistically spend most of the day away from it (sleeping not included). I am proud to say that in my life, I am the master and my rig is the *****.

[Colonol Dekker]

The net/hlp is a place for me to skive at work while looking busy.

[Wobble73]

The net/hlp is a place for me to skive at work while looking busy.

Me too! Great way to pass the day!, then I get home an play with FS2 SCP. 

[Colonol Dekker]

My PA does all the important stuff and while i get the credit, she thinks shes "progessing" through keeping me happy 
I had a PA when i used to work for KPMG i was turning 17 and she was 22, all i made er do was go the vending machine and buy me mars bars and pepsi.

[aceofspades]

First question: "Is porn addictive?"

My Carpal tunnel syndrome says yes.

So..... did the clicking and typing the word "huge tits" in the search box give you Carpal tunnel?  Or another activity one usually takes part in while viewing porn?

I also thought of that. However, I'd think it's fairly easy to do that in such a way as to decrease the chances of getting CT syndrome. Perhaps there's a guide on the internet somewhere...

[IceFire]

If you've taken basic sociology you already know that some people tend to become easily addicted in a psychological sense to doing a certain activity.  Most of us are slightly susceptable but whatever it is that we do doesn't come up or is never made into an issue.  Computers and video games are the new rock and roll...the bad thing that is corrupting our youth...and yet another good reason to blame away at everyone in sight except for the irresponsible parents who are the real problem.