JW’s Notes: A Quick Comment on Video Game Addiction
HOI 19 out of Peoria, IL has an article on their website relating to video games and, specifically, video game addiction. The article itself looks at the effects World of Warcraft can have on a person, and they interview a high schooler about his playing habits.
After reading the piece over some four or five times, I still don’t know exactly what they’re trying to say at HOI News. They talk to the high school kid for about five minutes before throwing in this counselor from the Illinois Indtitute for Addiction Recovery who had to chime in with this:
what some of these games offer is kind of a fantasy world, creating your own persona, I mean that’s exciting to individuals sometimes, to be able to create that persona, especially if you’re dealing with someone who has a social anxiety. It gives them that opportunity to create that persona and be seen as someone who is social without ever having to interact with other people.
Now, Miss Moore, I’m sure you’re good at what you do. But in this case, all I can say is… duh? The entire function of a game like World of Warcraft, a MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE Role-Playing Game, is for virtual interaction between real people. As much as I think MMORPGs are holding gaming back as an industry, I would have to think that they would be used as tools to help those with social anxiety disorders interact with other human beings.
Of course, you are going to have people who can’t see behind the monitor, but every group of people has some that abuse the basic product. Not every pothead is an unemployed slacker who mooches off their family and friends, for example. Most actually hold jobs and pay bills, and even a few have families they support. The pot smoking slacker is in the minority, just as is the “I lost my job, house, car, and family because of a video game” crowd.
Still… beats dying from exhaustion after 55 consecutive hours of Starcraft, right?
[HOI News]
World of Warcraft, Video Game Addiction
November 9th, 2007 at 7:12 am
Love the picture. Someday, all of our gaming experiences will be rewarded with direct cerebral stimulus. Then, we’ll no longer have to get high to be able to stand certain games as they will give us that rush with direct CNS feedback.
Oh, and Jack Thompson’s head will be in a jar fighting that as well.
November 17th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
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