Comments on: Taking Internet and MMORPG Gaming Addiction Seriously http://wrathofnino.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/taking-internet-and-mmorpg-gaming-addiction-seriously/ ... is Spanish for... the Niño! Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:56:09 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Clarifying Comments on Internet and Video Game Addictions http://wrathofnino.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/taking-internet-and-mmorpg-gaming-addiction-seriously/#comment-69 Clarifying Comments on Internet and Video Game Addictions Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:43:11 +0000 http://wrathofnino.wordpress.com/?p=529#comment-69 [...] I’ve been talking with a new blogger on his opinion regarding my comments published here on January 1st. I was very critical of John Grohol’s position on Internet addiction. The new blogger’s response can be found here. [...] [...] I’ve been talking with a new blogger on his opinion regarding my comments published here on January 1st. I was very critical of John Grohol’s position on Internet addiction. The new blogger’s response can be found here. [...]

]]> By: wrthofnino http://wrathofnino.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/taking-internet-and-mmorpg-gaming-addiction-seriously/#comment-67 wrthofnino Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:26:28 +0000 http://wrathofnino.wordpress.com/?p=529#comment-67 I agree <strong>completely </strong>with your synopsis of this issue, Brad. This is NOT a black/white issue as so many people try to make it, and there ARE true physical and mental manifestations of this addiction. Speaking of "mocking and making light of...", I have always found that many outlets for gaming coverage are the worse culprits of this... I wrote an <a href="http://wrathofnino.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/wowcrack-addictions/" rel="nofollow">article</a>, (shameless self-promotion >.>), early in my blog experience about WoWInsider, a blog designed to cover daily aspects of the World of Warcraft MMORPG and it's insensitivity to the addiction issue. - Just so you know, I enjoy your writing and have added you to my RSS feeder at Google. Based on your comment, I went and checked out your <a href="http://exgamer.net/blog/?p=862" rel="nofollow">article </a>on MRI readings on gaming addicts reactions to their fix. :D Keep up the good work and I, like I'm sure many others, are reading :) I agree completely with your synopsis of this issue, Brad. This is NOT a black/white issue as so many people try to make it, and there ARE true physical and mental manifestations of this addiction.

Speaking of “mocking and making light of…”, I have always found that many outlets for gaming coverage are the worse culprits of this… I wrote an article, (shameless self-promotion >.>), early in my blog experience about WoWInsider, a blog designed to cover daily aspects of the World of Warcraft MMORPG and it’s insensitivity to the addiction issue.

- Just so you know, I enjoy your writing and have added you to my RSS feeder at Google. Based on your comment, I went and checked out your article on MRI readings on gaming addicts reactions to their fix. :D Keep up the good work and I, like I’m sure many others, are reading :)

]]> By: Brad http://wrathofnino.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/taking-internet-and-mmorpg-gaming-addiction-seriously/#comment-66 Brad Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:48:29 +0000 http://wrathofnino.wordpress.com/?p=529#comment-66 Hey, thanks for the write up. My main issue with Dr. Grohol was his complete ignorance on this issue. I take issue with anyone jumping into this debate and embracing either of two extremes: 1. Demonizing gamers and software makers. 2. Making light of the situation and mocking people who are suffering from a new and emerging addiction. The issue of personal responsibility is woven through my writing and national media appearances in the United States and Canada. Where game addiction is concerned, I believe we're at the same stage that alcoholism was in the early days of A.A. People used to believe alcoholics were simply weak-willed people who just needed to 'stop drinking and get a job.' In a more enlightened era, we now know there's quite a bit more going on the brains of hardcore drinkers, and they desperately need 12-step communities and rehab programs. Similarly, we are learning more from recent MRI scans of gamers' brains and the psychological reinforcements schedules built into these games. I believe the game manufacturers have been caught off guard by the addiction issues we're seeing today, but they have to respond to them - soon! On a personal note, it takes a serious commitment to quit a destructive gaming habit, and accepting responsibility for the harm I caused is an ongoing process, even after a year of 'sobriety.' Thanks again for giving this issue the attention it deserves. -Brad http://www.exgamer.net Hey, thanks for the write up.

My main issue with Dr. Grohol was his complete ignorance on this issue. I take issue with anyone jumping into this debate and embracing either of two extremes:

1. Demonizing gamers and software makers.
2. Making light of the situation and mocking people who are suffering from a new and emerging addiction.

The issue of personal responsibility is woven through my writing and national media appearances in the United States and Canada. Where game addiction is concerned, I believe we’re at the same stage that alcoholism was in the early days of A.A. People used to believe alcoholics were simply weak-willed people who just needed to ’stop drinking and get a job.’ In a more enlightened era, we now know there’s quite a bit more going on the brains of hardcore drinkers, and they desperately need 12-step communities and rehab programs.

Similarly, we are learning more from recent MRI scans of gamers’ brains and the psychological reinforcements schedules built into these games. I believe the game manufacturers have been caught off guard by the addiction issues we’re seeing today, but they have to respond to them – soon!

On a personal note, it takes a serious commitment to quit a destructive gaming habit, and accepting responsibility for the harm I caused is an ongoing process, even after a year of ’sobriety.’ Thanks again for giving this issue the attention it deserves.

-Brad

http://www.exgamer.net

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