Game Addiction: Is It as Widespread an Issue as the WHO Thinks?

The freedom of the holidays is great but it provides ample opportunity to develop or worsen an issue many gamers face.

[FallenAngel1984]

You could get addicted with anything

[Seraphim]

while that's possibly true the bigger question is.... what kind of other issues can be attributed to their concern or classification. ie: especially but not limited to mental. depression, social anxiety, etc. And if not what other factor is the cause for them neglecting life. Priorities not straight, no desire, no will, etc.

I certainly love my video games and have an addictive personalty but to say that addiction is real, that's just a bit reaching. Furthermore unlike with drugs, sex, or other addictions one supposedly addicted to gaming won't have the same mental anguish and troubles kicking the habit or lowering use to what those experts would deem acceptable. Though technically once addicted any use would be deemed unacceptable.

[TheOttomatic91]

Not really no

[doos_vd_kak]

In everything else it's a "passion" but if it's gaming, it's an "addiction"

[raWfodog]

Anything is bad for you if it causes "a pattern of persistent or recurrent...behaviour so severe that it takes "precedence over other life interests" as it is defined by WHO. There's a big difference between being 'passionate' about gaming (which a lot of us are) and being 'addicted' or obsessed with it to the point that you neglect your health, family, friends, and other normal life activities. The more severe cases are where someone dies from exhaustion after a marathon gaming session, refusing to eat or sleep ( http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/... If you know someone like that, get them help.

[Elda]

It's a passion & a hobby for me,been playing pinball & video games for about 41 years now. When I'm on vacation from work which I happen to be now I play almost everyday but when I'm back at work I only play Fridays & Sat nights with some of my good friends.

[chris235]

people's minds basically equal crap, that's no secret. also that there are minds out there that get addicted to anything. it's not a gaming phenomenon. it's a phenomenon of this species.

[Zer0Flinch]

I’m gonna get more games with my disability money.

[MK24ever]

Getting older, married, having kids, jobs... that will cure the addiction don't worry! It won't kill the enjoyment, but you won't have the luxury to be addicted.

[NotoriousWhiz]

What if said person gets married to a Tetris cartridge.

[raWfodog]

Or how about marrying a video game character?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WOR...

[chrono1205]

Election year.

[T2X]

It has more to do with this digital and information age we live in. Look at how much tech is constantly crammed down our throats. Every ad is for a game or film or for technological advance, internet speeds that are great for "gaming" smart phones, watches, pcs, laptops, vr, facebook, instagram etc. Now try and tell me it's just games doing it to us. Bullshit. It's constantly fed to us all day everyday. Games per se are not the only problem.

[WarriorP0et]

ADDICTS ALIBI

Addiction is not a disease. Only a fool would believe. That Alzheimer's is the same as a cocaine habit you begin voluntarily.

Or autism is the equivalent of someone's alcohol dependency. This is hypocrisy. They just refuse to accept the responsibility.

For the actions that hinder their abilities. And is the cause of their unpopular affinity. Of blaming others for their unreliability.

Yet another example of a forsaken society. That instead embraces a selective senility. And undoes what generations before accomplished.

Dropping capability. Both mentally and physically. And those who came before us look down on us pitifully.

Seeing the wasted opportunities. Ours is a generation of open hands. While theirs took it willfully.

And didn't place blame so trivially. They didn't fucking make excuses. Or take themselves so seriously.

Blaming their laziness on chronic fatigue. Reciting their wants and needs, so selfishly. It leaves those who were raised Old school in disbelief.

That our generation’s self-respect could've been thrown away so readily. And now it might be too late to undo this legacy.