Messages By: exgamerdotnet

Quote From: gokudera

I'm sorry, but that sounded really dumb to me.  How is the medical profession going to take care of something like this?  Deciding to play a game for unhealthy hours on end is a choice and not the games fault that the person is getting addicted.  And even if it was a physcological problem, how could you teach a person to find that balance and keep up with it?  What, they're going to start an addicted gamer rehab?  I'm sure the people in the medical field agree with me: that's just a stupid idea.

Quote From: nicksmommy1

I was married for almost 4 years to my husband, then a friend introduced him to an online game.  At first he played for a little while maybe twice a week and still spent time with my son and I.  But then he went to playing it for about an hour everyday, stopped playing with my son.  Then it was up to 8 hours a day.  He did work, but when he got up in the morning he got on the game till it was time to go, then as soon as he got home he was on the game again til at least 4 in the morning.  I asked him to cut down on the game and he did for a few days but it was like he was mad at me whenever i tried to talk to him when he was not playing it.  If my son tried to play with him he would push him away and ignore him after that.  I started to play the game just to see what it was all about and it was fun, but not fun enough to make me forget about what was most important in my life.  I started feeling  like my husband and i were just roommates.  I would cook for him and he would never eat until 3-4 hours later.  I finally got tired of feeling like i was alone and told him that i couldn't do it anymore.  By this time i had asked him to stop playing numerous times(never stopped)  once i told him that i wanted a divorce he tried for a litttle while and we tried to work it out but by then my heart was not in our marriage anymore.  I moved out of state to get a better job and reciently found out that he is still playing the same game.  Addiction to these games is not normal and should not be taken lightly, no game is worth losing your family or your own life over. IT IS ALL JUST MAKE BELIEVE.

Quote From: auisa116

We all know that this is a problem, but no one is really offering up a viable solution.

 

So... How do we help those who are addicted and their friends and families?

 

I've checked out the gamer's online site, but I think being on the computer isn't really a good idea for those who are addicted.  Having a support system is amazing, but that should come from your family.  If not, then that website is great.  But how do we help break the cycle of addiction? How can we help our own friends and family members?  Is it so bad that we have to go to a 12 step program? Please don't give me the line about how we need to fix the "core" problem, because a LOT of people don't have a "core" problem, they just enjoy the game  and then the game slowly takes over there life.  I quit cold turkey after looking for solutions and coming up empty handed.  I still have the craving for WoW, so all I want to know is if anyone knows of any other ways to help gamers become less addicted.

 

I really enjoy the stories, but can someone please shoot out some ideas on how to help?

 

Quote From: gokudera

Either people get it or they don't, but I'm tired of all the biased thoughts.

Quote From: gokudera

Also, I went to your site.  I have to say that I learned a lot from this thread, especially about myself and what others are going through.  I'm a gamer, as I said before, but because I am I gamer doesn't mean that I should be a turd to other people who are having a hard time coping with people who play video games in their lives.  I won't say that I know a lot, but I will say that I was truly biased on this issue and luckily, I can see it now from both views.  However, I won't say that video games themselves ruin lives, I can say that maybe because of over excessive gaming, people are able to block out certain aspects of life and unknowningly, since they're so engrossed into their game, neglect other parts of their life, like their family, friends and such forth.  But I also don't think that gaming addiction is easy to pin down.  Because truly, I still can't find the line to draw between over obsessed gamer or just a guy playing a game for a hobby.   But I guess it just comes down to when the person is ready to be able to doing something else other than gaming, or just continue as he or she is.  Gaming can be an addiction and so can many other things.  But I don't think that it should be so attacked like it always is.  There is a positive to gaming as well.  There are many games that have you focus on actual thinking and targeting certain aspects of the mind.  For example, look at the new game Little Big Planet.  It's amazing, yet such a simple idea just made complex.  Sure, people may not see it as a ground breaking game, but for something that's not all about shoot'em up violence, I was pleasently surprised.  Also, I had a talk with my friend to gain more knowledge on WoW, because I'm not a player.  And honestly, I can see why now why it's such an awesome game.  It's not just a package of "you do this, then this, then this and then you go and do this and you get an item" or whatever.  It's more than that.  It also requires a level of thinking because of the strategies you need to think up to win and to gain things with that game.  Truthfully, and I'm not afraid to say it, I was a bitch on this thread.  ( really hope I don't get reported for the use of that word, lol)  And for all the people I offended, including you exgamerdotcom (I hope I got that right), I had no right.  You people were stating your views as I was mine.  Therefore, I apologize for not listening to what people were saying and just running on my anger and using harsh comments.  Also, exgamer, I learned quite a bit from you as well.  That there are actually programs for game addiction.  I didn't believe it was so serious until you said.  Don't get me wrong, my views didn't change.  More so, I just modified them a bit.  Truly, all in moderation is a great saying for this.  All in moderation.  So, after this long rant, which I may have bored people with, I say I'm sorry again and next time I'll look at both sides of the story and not let my anger win out--because I've been doing that a lot lately and I don't want to be a --insert first bad word that comes to mind here-- lmao.  Also, to colonialweaver (I hope I got that right) a BIG sorry to you.  I can tell you are probably hurting and if not, forgive me for assuming.  But my comment most likely didn't help matters and what your going through, what you said was right, you don't need cheap shot comments like mine and I'm sure I could have stated my point in a better way than previous.  So thats it.  Till next post.