Addiction - Video games worse than drugs?

[ÅrcaneMage]

I know this may seem juvenile but don't judge. just think upon it. Swim's been watching a lot of "boston legal" and was watching a few episodes about a child who played a video game SOOO much that he died of a stroke one night. The mother was suing the video game company. *game was hellbourne* or something of that matter. And the law-firm found out that the game company had hired a doctor (of some sort, psychologist or something) to make video games more "addictive" to the human mind.
Swim had a personal experience with a certain Addictive game and realized some people prefer the drugs. Swim met a girl and flirted laying down his best moves. (which include staring dumbfounded and drooling.) she seemed into him for some reason, but swim found that she was addicted to cocaine, when he mentioned his problems he jokingly added "world of warcraft" (hence Årcane mage) She suddenly got serious and started texting on her phone more than talking to him.
Then she stated she had to go, she had to pick up a friend. saying she would call swim. When swim mentioned she didn't have his number she walked faster.
swim went home and played wow and drank redbull the rest of the night.
any occasions anyswiy's else wish to share?

Reputation Comments on this post:

The thread title is not descriptive enough.

[Potter]

What are you getting at?

[cra$h]

how videogames are more addictive than drugs, or how certain addictions are viewed.

Hey, I guess a WoW addiction is a little healthier than a cocaine addiction... But for swim, a first person shooter and some blow is something you don't wanna get in the middle of lol. Swim's played some addictive games (Civilization 4, and a thousand flash games most notably) but sdk (instead of idk), nothing creates more of a craving than opiates, or even cigs.

[novaclay]

That sucks yo. Swim gets pissed off when people automatically assume that if someone plays World of Warcraft they are some kind of geek who locks themselves up in a room and comes out a month later with a full on beard.
But seriously, a wise man once said:
"Video games are the opiate of the new generation"
That wise man was SWIMs father haha.

[Phil123]

SOUTH PARK WoW

HAHA

Reputation Comments on this post:

	doesn't add anything to thread, lame pop culture references are not content
	Useless, irrelevant and immature
	Totally pointless and useless post.

[Matthijs85]

Video games can indeed be pretty addictive. Usually they are designed in such a way that you make improvements all the time, especially in MMORPG's (upgrading your skills, upgrading your stuff, reaching higher levels all the time, etc.) which stimulates the Nucleus Accumbens (reward center / pleasure center). This area of the brain is also believed to play a very important role in drug addictions. Research also shows that the brains of game addicts change in a similar way asa the brains of drug addicts

[coelho]

Long ago, swim was actually addicted to computer games... he would play for hours and forget anything else... and he used to spend a lot of his non-playing game thinking about the game and about playing... he used even to dream about the game...

Fortunately for his eyesight, body health (and shape), interpersonal skills and well being in general he replaced it by smoking weed, and since then he never looked back.

[beizebopp]

Sure video games can be addictive, but that is more of a bad habit compared to the physical chemical dependence of a heroin addict per say.

SWIY would not have died quitting WoW.

SWIM finds it can be a whole different level.

SWIM suggests reading some experience reports of addicts over at recovery and addiction. Its not something so simple as turning off the PC or un-installing a game. SWIM hopes he hasn't caused offense, as he meant none, but SWIY should take care not to belittle the things a drug addict must cope with.

[missparkles]

Sparkles doesn't think the OP was intentionally belittling anyone, try stepping into a gamblers anonymous meeting and tellin' em their addiction is "soft." Anyway this ex junkie ain't bothered as she knows that addiction is addiction.
Someone who has never used substances would find an addiction to food, gambling, gaming...even sex, extremely difficult to deal with. Addiction, the psychological compulsion to get a fix of your DOC is what addiction is all about.
The lies we tell to enable us to continue with our addiction, stealing to fund our habit, manipulating others so they aren't aware of how dependent we've become, neglecting the normal things in life, becoming devious in order to continue with a habit that hurts and harms, that's addiction. Gaming could easily fit this category.
Sparkles doesn't think classifying addiction helps. It splits and divides vulnerable people who could actually help and support each other, rather than compete for "hard core" addiction status.
Just sayin' is all.
Sparkles.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Spot on. Can't really put it any better then this.

[Matthijs85]

A lot of drugs are not (very) physically addictive, but are mentally still very addictive (coke for instance). SWIM thinks gaming can be compared to these kind of drugs.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good way of thinking about the mental side of addiction