Online gaming addiction discussion/debate

[DerekZoolandah]

... be the next great politicians, scientists, philosophers, artists and even athletes. Games just hold them back. :(

 

 

 

... or they could be the next dictator, suppressor, killer, rapist. Hey, maybe gaming addiction isn't so bad afterall!

 

 

 

Food for thought.

[BlueLancer]

 

 

 

That pretty much describes why I think it's unnatural, unattractive, repulsing and unhealthy to 'only' sit on the computer and do nothing else in your life. Playing games a few hours a day, nothing wrong with some entertainment.

 

 

 

When all you ever do in life is sit and stare at a screen, something will eventually go wrong either socially, health-wise or otherwise. Even skilled coders take breaks from their job or have a few days in between hard sessions.

 

 

 

It's not necessarily a 'bad life' but you will likely regret spending your entire youth that way (applies to a small % of gamers though who don't even venture out of the house living on their parents funds, or even drop out of school to play games unprofessionally)

 

 

 

Online, there is a certain mentality that prohibits judging these people's lifestyles. Sensible people don't 'judge', they try to tell the people something's wrong. If you try to help a drug addict (who could be similarly ruining his life or youth), that's not judgement, that's compassion. Excessive gaming and not doing anything else in life can be just as destructive.

[Zygimantas]

... be the next great politicians, scientists, philosophers, artists and even athletes. Games just hold them back. :(

 

 

 

... or they could be the next dictator, suppressor, killer, rapist. Hey, maybe gaming addiction isn't so bad afterall!

 

 

 

Food for thought.

Your right, what if there was runescape back in Hitler's time. He probably would have made a "Nazi" clan and tried to pk all the Jewish people.

[michel555555]

What i hate about arguments like this is that they are just to generalised.

 

 

 

Right now we are having a mature debate, on a MMORPG fan site. Not only that but most of us would never have found out about this site without first playing an online game. So some good can come of online gaming as people seek out a more mature group.

 

 

 

And not only that but what about reading the fantasy genre? It is almost the same thing as online gaming but with even less social interaction and even less movement, and is only actually there for entertainment. Not learning. So why is it that it is not viewed in the same light as T.V. and the internet?

[Zygimantas]

What i hate about arguments like this is that they are just to generalised.

 

 

 

Right now we are having a mature debate, on a MMORPG fan site. Not only that but most of us would never have found out about this site without first playing an online game. So some good can come of online gaming as people seek out a more mature group.

 

 

 

And not only that but what about reading the fantasy genre? It is almost the same thing as online gaming but with even less social interaction and even less movement, and is only actually there for entertainment. Not learning. So why is it that it is not viewed in the same light as T.V. and the internet?

I think its because kids reading a lot is a lot less common then kids playing a lot of games and parents approve of it more. Maybe its because it is something they did as a kid and they allow you to do it as well. Maybe its just because reading is supposed to make you a better reader, which is supposed to help you do better in your studies.

[The Dark Lord]

... be the next great politicians, scientists, philosophers, artists and even athletes. Games just hold them back. :(

 

 

 

... or they could be the next dictator, suppressor, killer, rapist. Hey, maybe gaming addiction isn't so bad afterall!

 

 

 

Food for thought.

Your right, what if there was runescape back in Hitler's time. He probably would have made a "Nazi" clan and tried to pk all the Jewish people.

 

 

 

Sarcasm meter's going off. And DerekZ, that's a horrible excuse.

[Zygimantas]

... be the next great politicians, scientists, philosophers, artists and even athletes. Games just hold them back. :(

 

 

 

... or they could be the next dictator, suppressor, killer, rapist. Hey, maybe gaming addiction isn't so bad afterall!

 

 

 

Food for thought.

Your right, what if there was runescape back in Hitler's time. He probably would have made a "Nazi" clan and tried to pk all the Jewish people.

 

 

 

[yt]6tqGDwsi8iM[/yt]

yea, I have seen that video before :

[Albel]

I can agree with the author. 2 years ago I think (Right after 99 firemaking?) I was hooked on runescape. Everyday, at least 5 hours a day, during school. I would skip out on friends, family and even my girl friend just to play runescape. It got the point, that my father had to take the internet away from me. He would take the modem away, and lock the compiter up, and I could only use if I had a reason to do so.

 

 

 

So I got away from runescape for about 2 months, but slowy I came back. Eventually I found that I could play runescape, and still have time for my family and friends. About, 2 hours a day at most, with 2 days a month set aside for 5+ hours. This system got me 99 woodcutting, and fletching after firemaking.

 

 

 

Now I dont even play at all now. I see that college is going to take all my free time, and then some for me to get by, so runescape will have to take a back seat to life.

[The Dark Lord]

I can agree with the author. 2 years ago I think (Right after 99 firemaking?) I was hooked on runescape. Everyday, at least 5 hours a day, during school. I would skip out on friends, family and even my girl friend just to play runescape. It got the point, that my father had to take the internet away from me. He would take the modem away, and lock the compiter up, and I could only use if I had a reason to do so.

 

 

 

So I got away from runescape for about 2 months, but slowy I came back. Eventually I found that I could play runescape, and still have time for my family and friends. About, 2 hours a day at most, with 2 days a month set aside for 5+ hours. This system got me 99 woodcutting, and fletching after firemaking.

 

 

 

Now I dont even play at all now. I see that college is going to take all my free time, and then some for me to get by, so runescape will have to take a back seat to life.

 

 

 

Similar thing happened to me (without the computer being locked up). I would get hooked on Runescape and spend upwards of like 12 hours. It caused social problems and made me distracted while I tried to focus on school work. I quit for a while and spent less time on the computer. I was able to focus more on keeping myself healthy and focus a little more socially (I have a shy personality anyway). After a while, I decided to check back and played a little bit, but I quit again because 11th grade was starting for me. About halfway through the year, I started to play again on that game, but didn't let it take precedence over my life. Whenever I had the chance to get out of the house, I did. However, I still had too much free time and found that it was spent listening to music on the net/playing games/surfing the net/talking on chats. I still have maybe too much of an obsession with getting on the internet, but I don't let it get in the way of things. I care more about getting outside the house (which I don't do as much as most people because I have a very shy personality and have a kind of phobia of large crowds and just feel uncomfortable/offended around certain people, especially ones I don't know). I am working on reaching an end-point in Runescape and letting myself play for a little while longer as long as it doesn't get in the way of anything and I'm reasonable with it. Once I reach that end-point, I'm going to just stop playing.

 

 

 

I have uni coming up soon, so I don't want to ruin it.

[Zygimantas]

 

I am working on reaching an end-point in Runescape and letting myself play for a little while longer as long as it doesn't get in the way of anything and I'm reasonable with it. Once I reach that end-point, I'm going to just stop playing.

 

An end point in Runescape? Impossible!?

[Nom]

And not only that but what about reading the fantasy genre? It is almost the same thing as online gaming but with even less social interaction and even less movement, and is only actually there for entertainment. Not learning. So why is it that it is not viewed in the same light as T.V. and the internet?

 

 

 

Did you actually just say that reading has no educational value?

[walka92]

And not only that but what about reading the fantasy genre? It is almost the same thing as online gaming but with even less social interaction and even less movement, and is only actually there for entertainment. Not learning. So why is it that it is not viewed in the same light as T.V. and the internet?

 

 

 

Did you actually just say that reading has no educational value?

 

not quite, he was refering to fantasy books, which i agree have little educational value as its well....all made up. well, mostly. but you will still pick up little bits and pieces, like idk, sword fighting? :? who knows, but very little compared to other books.

[Nom]

And not only that but what about reading the fantasy genre? It is almost the same thing as online gaming but with even less social interaction and even less movement, and is only actually there for entertainment. Not learning. So why is it that it is not viewed in the same light as T.V. and the internet?

 

 

 

Did you actually just say that reading has no educational value?

 

not quite, he was refering to fantasy books, which i agree have little educational value as its well....all made up. well, mostly. but you will still pick up little bits and pieces, like idk, sword fighting? :? who knows, but very little compared to other books.

 

 

 

Every single piece of fiction ever written is a lie. Fictitious people doing fictitious things. In fantasy/sci-fi, you add fictitious places to the mix. The latest thriller set in New York is as "made-up" as the latest sword-and-sorcery fantasy romp.

 

 

 

You learn from both, and you learn the same things.

[walka92]

And not only that but what about reading the fantasy genre? It is almost the same thing as online gaming but with even less social interaction and even less movement, and is only actually there for entertainment. Not learning. So why is it that it is not viewed in the same light as T.V. and the internet?

 

 

 

Did you actually just say that reading has no educational value?

 

not quite, he was refering to fantasy books, which i agree have little educational value as its well....all made up. well, mostly. but you will still pick up little bits and pieces, like idk, sword fighting? :? who knows, but very little compared to other books.

 

 

 

Every single piece of fiction ever written is a lie. Fictitious people doing fictitious things. In fantasy/sci-fi, you add fictitious places to the mix. The latest thriller set in New York is as "made-up" as the latest sword-and-sorcery fantasy romp.

 

 

 

You learn from both, and you learn the same things.

 

but in general, alot of "fiction" stories are still within the bounds of possibility, its just the things that people do in them are different to what has actually happened.

 

 

 

but in fantasy, there is alot more impossible crap happening

 

 

 

 

 

the thriller set in new york has alot more reality and factual bases in it, such as types of weapons that exist, technology, etc etc, but in a sword-and-sorcery story, you can make up as much as you want and get away with it. its not that easy in most fiction genres

[bewareitsandrew]

The person who wrote that article went straight to demonize all online games. Its not the games, It's the people that play the game. As was already stated, the people who become addicted to these games could have an underlying mental condition. I play around 20 hours a week, yet I maintain an active social life (Many friends), Get good grades, and still maintain time for other things in life.

 

 

 

Just today, A real life friend asked me if I was addicted to runescape (asked me on runescape :roll:). Today, No friends were avaible to come over, go to mall, go swimming, nothing. did I have anything else to do? No, so I went on runescape for quite a long time (5 hours or so). Does that mean I'm addicted? No. I enjoyed some lesiure time on a game. I didn't have anything better to do.

 

 

 

During the school year, I balance everything perfectly. I walk home, Do my homework, Practice Viola. Those are my essential things to do. Some days I don't have homework. I have 3 hours until my parents get home, Why not get on Runescape? It doesn't mean I'm addicted just because I play alot.

 

 

 

God, that was probably the most horribly written response ever. EVER.

[Nom]

but in general, alot of "fiction" stories are still within the bounds of possibility, its just the things that people do in them are different to what has actually happened.

 

 

 

but in fantasy, there is alot more impossible crap happening

 

 

 

 

 

the thriller set in new york has alot more reality and factual bases in it, such as types of weapons that exist, technology, etc etc, but in a sword-and-sorcery story, you can make up as much as you want and get away with it. its not that easy in most fiction genres

 

 

 

Quite apart from the fact that the writer can NOT make up whatever he wants and get away with it, if you, the reader, are using the book as a textbook for factual information you're doing it wrong. Books are a medium for ideas. Reading shows you many diverse ideas, while improving your language skills through exposure. That is what you take from reading, not "factual" (because for all you know, the New York story has completely invented "weapons, technologies, etc."--no story is inherently bound by any constraints, in fact the opposite is true) information.

 

 

 

To make this somewhat relevant to the actual topic, what we tend to consider educational is usually very narrow-minded. I can't see any huge educational benefits from MMORPGs (besides Runescape teaching me that copper and tin make bronze, woo), but I'm sure someone can find something. The problem is moderation; even if they have no value whatsoever apart from complete escapism its harmless until you do it too much. Which is what the thread is about, so I don't know where I'm going with this.

[D Jay99]

I think I do play too much. I started playing when I was 13 or something though, so if I wanted to quit now I wouldn't know what else to spend my time on. :?

 

I really would like to start playing less, but it's become too much of a habit. And watching tv instead of playing games isn't really an improvement either, right?

[DerekZoolandah]

... be the next great politicians, scientists, philosophers, artists and even athletes. Games just hold them back. :(

 

 

 

... or they could be the next dictator, suppressor, killer, rapist. Hey, maybe gaming addiction isn't so bad afterall!

 

 

 

Food for thought.

Your right, what if there was runescape back in Hitler's time. He probably would have made a "Nazi" clan and tried to pk all the Jewish people.

 

 

 

Sarcasm meter's going off. And DerekZ, that's a horrible excuse.

 

 

 

What's a horrible excuse? When a person says that someone 'could have been [insert great thing here]', there's also a good chance that a person would have been a horrible person as well. Perhaps gaming addiction IS holding back many horrible people. If you're addicted to something, and you can't get it in jail, perhaps they won't do it then. Again, it's just something to think about.

[ThurinEthir]

Different people have different priorities. Some people prioritize the pursuit of happiness over the pursuit of productiveness. (And of course for some people being productive makes them happy) And some of those people become happier when they play MMORPGs.

 

If someone plays 10 hours a day and is happy with it, I see nothing wrong with that. I suppose I start seeing problems when it becomes something like "ohmy[bleep]inggod if I don't reach this goal by tomorrow I'm going to kill myself."

 

I guess I'm kind of falling down that road though. I go outside maybe two or three times a week - the majority of the rest of my time is on my computer.

 

And that reminds me, there's one thing in that article that I really don't like - it acts as if online games = MMORPGs. What happened to FPSs and strategy games in which you can play other people online? Both can have "educational value."

[Freakyhair]

I think I do play too much. I started playing when I was 13 or something though, so if I wanted to quit now I wouldn't know what else to spend my time on. :?

 

I really would like to start playing less, but it's become too much of a habit. And watching tv instead of playing games isn't really an improvement either, right?

 

 

 

The difference between RS and tv is that you can turn the tv off whenever, you don't set yourself goals. I beleive that people addicted to RS are just looking for something to give them a sense of accomplishment and it is a lot easier to get that through a computer..

 

 

 

Im gunna quit RS straight off..

[Boris5000]

I think I do play too much. I started playing when I was 13 or something though, so if I wanted to quit now I wouldn't know what else to spend my time on. :?

 

I really would like to start playing less, but it's become too much of a habit. And watching tv instead of playing games isn't really an improvement either, right?

 

 

 

I'm exactly like you... although... I have cut down on my playing of Runescape (as you are aware)

 

But I'm pretty much bored, bored of runescape. I spend my time now playing Ropleplay games on the internet/making videos/making my own tunes in my head/Listening to "fresh" music (bands you haven't heard of etc, I can give you some if you want)/ Write short stories or fan fiction or drawing is another way... I'm good at none of these so I'm a bit stuffed. But school is soon! I will become active!!

[Nadril]

I think I do play too much. I started playing when I was 13 or something though, so if I wanted to quit now I wouldn't know what else to spend my time on. :?

 

I really would like to start playing less, but it's become too much of a habit. And watching tv instead of playing games isn't really an improvement either, right?

 

 

 

The difference between RS and tv is that you can turn the tv off whenever, you don't set yourself goals. I beleive that people addicted to RS are just looking for something to give them a sense of accomplishment and it is a lot easier to get that through a computer..

 

 

 

Im gunna quit RS straight off..

 

 

 

You can turn a game off at any time too. Afterall with TV there is always things to keep you in a bit longer (oh I'll stop watching after this show is over, oh hey the next episode looks really good) where as the game will always be there where you left it.

 

 

 

That being said trying to put in Runescape's name for any online game is pretty bad, because all RS is is about goals. Games outside of it are a lot different.

[Wisp]

Well a lot of other online games are goals too,

 

WoW: I want to get to x level

 

Cod4: I want x level/all golden guns

 

Battlefield Games:I Want x rank

 

And so on. But I guess some games are just for fun.

 

Like... The star wars battlefront games. I don't think there were any ranks in that.

[Zierro]

The reason I play games at all are to accomplish a goal. Some people say that this is wrong and that I should be playing for fun. Accomplishing goals is what's fun for me though. I have nothing wrong with people who ignore goals and just play for the moment, but I prefer a sense of accomplishment.

[Nadril]

Well a lot of other online games are goals too,

 

WoW: I want to get to x level

 

Cod4: I want x level/all golden guns

 

Battlefield Games:I Want x rank

 

And so on. But I guess some games are just for fun.

 

Like... The star wars battlefront games. I don't think there were any ranks in that.

 

 

 

What I meant isn't that there aren't goals in other games but they have more to do than just simple "grind x" goals like runescape. Pretty much all of that game is based around getting your "goals" done for your skills, hence things like Rate This, a leaderboard, blogscape... All tracking the amount of XP and skills you get.

 

 

 

Thats a tad off topic though.