Video Game Addiction

[alphadog]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-04-20-gaming-addiction_N.htm

In a related story, over 1 in ten boys born in the 70s were found to be addicted to "Cops & Robbers", "Action Man" and the most highly addictive game called "Legos". They were known to show horrific symptoms like preferring to play games over doing chores, or getting irritated when Action Man's arm fell off.

Shocking!

:sneaky:

[starstutter]

you mean, people like playing more than working?

Call the president! :O

[alphadog]

If preferring playing versus doing chores is a sign of addiction, then I better get my kids (aged 5 and 7) into the Betty Ford Clinic, stat!

[Dodgedog]

Hilarious!

I'd rather bang my head into the wall then do homework...


I must be addicted to banging my head into walls!! T_T

[Reedbeta]

To be fair, according to the article, they don't judge addiction by fulfilling any one criterion. The children had to show at least six out of 11 criteria to be considered as (possibly) being addicted.

I wish we had more information about what the criteria were - the article says it was adapted from criteria for gambling addiction, which might be this (http://www.stopgamblingnow.com/dsm_iv.htm), but I'm not sure.

[Dodgedog]

If we take out the thing about chores, homework and frustration when not being able to play (ie being utterly bored for some people)

then it's actually "at least 3 out of 8"

which is not quite impressive. I wonder what'd happen if they took out those three and then went for 5 signs out of 8. Probably 1 or 2%, which seems somewhat realistic.

Then again, I am no statistics expert, but In my oppinion you can stretch these things just the way you want to if you have some "foresight" in the matter.

[TheNut]

Addicted? Without games, I'd be working in some government cubical. My life would be an endless loop from dusk to dawn. My most creative talent would be to crush a beer can on my forehead. I would have to wear a suit and tie to work. A suit and tie people! What the hell kind of life is that?!

Take away my games?! From thee cold dead hands!

<breathing erratically>

Ok, calm down. I'm not addicted!

:lol: