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Kaos36

709 posts

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#57958 2-Mar-2010 15:22
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http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/...00301-pc2g.html



A team led by associate professor Vladan Starcevic at the Psychological Medicine Department of Nepean Hospital in Sydney surveyed almost 2000 computer-game players aged 14 and above and found 156 responded differently to the questions they posed, and appeared to have a problem.

But people spending longer than they planned playing games might not be an indicator of a problem. "You can become engrossed in a good book and time flies by and before you know it you have spent an hour longer reading than you intended."
Part of the stigma associated with "addiction" to video games is because of the perception they are a "waste of time" or even damaging to social skills or that they incite violence, he says.
"There is a sinister connotation that addiction to video games has. A lot of the research as to the long-term effects is inconclusive, but nobody is concerned about someone who spends a lot of time reading."
"The issue was whether people were neglecting other aspects of their life, he says. "Ultimately, it comes down to the individual and their situation whether or not it is a problem. People have to weigh up the priorities in their lives and how they want to spend their time.
There are incidences where adults have become so engrossed with something they start neglecting their children. That is less about video games and more about the irresponsibility of those people and the addictive nature of humans in general."


Are YOU addicted to computer gaming!

- Recurrent thoughts and urges about playing
Yes if its a new game that im wanting to get started at.

- Restlessness and irritability when not playing
Sometimes depends on what im playing.

- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back
Yes, though only with MMO's like WoW. Otherwise single player games i dont play 24/7

- Studies or work negatively affected
- Couple of years back i would of said Yes.

- Problems in "significant relationships"
Well im divorced and it wasn't cause of gaming. She was a rampant 'The Sims' player anyways.

- Giving up other social activities
Yes - gave up Saturday rugby with old boys rugby team (30+ age grp) so i could instead spend my Saturdays gaming on the pc.

- Sore eyes, back pain, strain injuries
No - but ive experience dizziness sometimes - motion sickness in certain games

- Sleep loss, weight gains or losses of 5kg
Yes - weight loss over the years cause of not eating 3 meals per day instead replacing breakfast, lunch, with coffee and just having dinner - but that's got nothing to do with gaming I just changed my eating habits. I do drink far to much coffee when im gaming though.




Worst Response To A Crisis:
From a readers' Q and A column in TV GUIDE: "If we get involved in a nuclear war, would the electromagnetic pulses from exploding bombs damage my videotapes?"



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ariosto
46 posts

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  #303702 2-Mar-2010 15:40
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I really, really have issues with people using the term "addiction" for things that aren't actually physiologically addictive.  I have no doubt that people can become psychologically dependent on the sensations people get from performing certain activities, but that's not nearly the same thing as (for example) a heroin addiction. 

The reason it's an important distinction is that you can get those same sensations from other, unrelated activities.  It's also important to recognise that it's not the activities themselves, or the sensations they produce, that are harmful, but the corresponding impacts on a person's time and attention.  And even those aren't necessarily all that bad, or even bad at all as long as "social activity" outside of gaming isn't seen as being "better" than socialising inside gaming.

That's not to say that the list of things the report talks about aren't things we should all be concerned about, just that using the word "addiction" actually encourages people to dismiss real problems because they're subconsciously able to say "Well, I like gaming, but I'm not a heroin junkie so I must be fine." 

Sorry for the rant OP, I just see this sort of thing a lot and it gets my goat (probably still scarred from a youth spent being told by priests that I'd go to hell for playing pen and paper D&D with my friends.)



vinnieg
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  #303703 2-Mar-2010 15:40
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Are YOU addicted to computer gaming!

- Recurrent thoughts and urges about playing
had a few dreams about modern warfare 2 and felt like throwing a gren at the neighbours. Also seen planes flying above and wanted to shoot them down in case they were UAVs

- Restlessness and irritability when not playing
Only if I've lost a game

- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back
Wish I could say yes to this, but I've been cold turkey for over a week now

- Studies or work negatively affected
Nah, work doesn't matter, gaming matters more. I end up doing more work so I can leave a few minutes earlier

- Problems in "significant relationships"
uh oh, partner plays the sims also...I bought it for her. Think I'm going to hide it

- Giving up other social activities
Not really, I talk to my mates through my headset or drink with them when i'm not playing

- Sore eyes, back pain, strain injuries
You get motion sickness too? i've had that once when I first got a pC back when i was 14, i played solitaire for 12 hours straight, then felt extremely sick and had visions of cards embedded in my eyes. Then tried walking to the kitchen and everything was curved. Oh and Bioshock makes me sick...too much movement.

- Sleep loss, weight gains or losses of 5kg
Weight gain through drinking, lost through PS3, it's a good diet plan I think




I have moved across the ditch.  Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer. 

vinnieg
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  #303704 2-Mar-2010 15:41
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ariosto: I really, really have issues with people using the term "addiction" for things that aren't actually physiologically addictive.  I have no doubt that people can become psychologically dependent on the sensations people get from performing certain activities, but that's not nearly the same thing as (for example) a heroin addiction. 

The reason it's an important distinction is that you can get those same sensations from other, unrelated activities.  It's also important to recognise that it's not the activities themselves, or the sensations they produce, that are harmful, but the corresponding impacts on a person's time and attention.  And even those aren't necessarily all that bad, or even bad at all as long as "social activity" outside of gaming isn't seen as being "better" than socialising inside gaming.

That's not to say that the list of things the report talks about aren't things we should all be concerned about, just that using the word "addiction" actually encourages people to dismiss real problems because they're subconsciously able to say "Well, I like gaming, but I'm not a heroin junkie so I must be fine." 

Sorry for the rant OP, I just see this sort of thing a lot and it gets my goat (probably still scarred from a youth spent being told by priests that I'd go to hell for playing pen and paper D&D with my friends.)



Actually I think you could be onto something.


This should be called Video Game dependence...not addiction? 




I have moved across the ditch.  Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer. 



Kaos36

709 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #303712 2-Mar-2010 16:13
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vinnieg: Are YOU addicted to computer gaming!


- Sore eyes, back pain, strain injuries
You get motion sickness too? i've had that once when I first got a pC back when i was 14, i played solitaire for 12 hours straight, then felt extremely sick and had visions of cards embedded in my eyes. Then tried walking to the kitchen and everything was curved. Oh and Bioshock makes me sick...too much movement.


I dont know whether your pulling the micky or for real but yes i had motion sickness with two games Bioshock got so bad i could not finish it and Call of Cthulhu another i couldn't finish cause of motion sickness. Both games had the same type of graphic detail - that bloom effect i think is what triggers it for me.


- Sleep loss, weight gains or losses of 5kg
Weight gain through drinking, lost through PS3, it's a good diet plan I think

lol





Worst Response To A Crisis:
From a readers' Q and A column in TV GUIDE: "If we get involved in a nuclear war, would the electromagnetic pulses from exploding bombs damage my videotapes?"



Mooseboy
124 posts

Master Geek


  #303821 2-Mar-2010 22:07
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ariosto: I really, really have issues with people using the term "addiction" for things that aren't actually physiologically addictive.  I have no doubt that people can become psychologically dependent on the sensations people get from performing certain activities, but that's not nearly the same thing as (for example) a heroin addiction. 

The reason it's an important distinction is that you can get those same sensations from other, unrelated activities.  It's also important to recognise that it's not the activities themselves, or the sensations they produce, that are harmful, but the corresponding impacts on a person's time and attention.  And even those aren't necessarily all that bad, or even bad at all as long as "social activity" outside of gaming isn't seen as being "better" than socialising inside gaming.

That's not to say that the list of things the report talks about aren't things we should all be concerned about, just that using the word "addiction" actually encourages people to dismiss real problems because they're subconsciously able to say "Well, I like gaming, but I'm not a heroin junkie so I must be fine." 

Sorry for the rant OP, I just see this sort of thing a lot and it gets my goat (probably still scarred from a youth spent being told by priests that I'd go to hell for playing pen and paper D&D with my friends.)


Well most chemical addictions occur due interactions with dopamine levels.
Doing enjoyable things causes dopamine to be released.

Technically we are all constantly addicted to a chemical our body is constantly producing.

NonprayingMantis
6434 posts

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  #304248 4-Mar-2010 01:26
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so on ein ten are addicted.

that means 90% of gamers do not get addicted.

good news IMO

gehenna
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  #304251 4-Mar-2010 02:28
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I would have thought one in ten to be a fairly low statistic to be honest. Doesn't worry me in the slightest.

 
 
 

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Kaos36

709 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #306222 11-Mar-2010 11:47
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This is a better one. How they make games addictive some things i can relate too. But this is quite scary.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted_p1.htm...




Worst Response To A Crisis:
From a readers' Q and A column in TV GUIDE: "If we get involved in a nuclear war, would the electromagnetic pulses from exploding bombs damage my videotapes?"



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