Nearly one in 10 gamers addicted: research

[kiwi_2005]

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/g...0301-pc2g.html

A team led by associate professor Vladan Starcevic at the Psychological Medicine Department of Nepean Hospital in Sydney surveyed almost 2000 computer-game players aged 14 and above and found 156 responded differently to the questions they posed, and appeared to have a problem.


But people spending longer than they planned playing games might not be an indicator of a problem. "You can become engrossed in a good book and time flies by and before you know it you have spent an hour longer reading than you intended."
Part of the stigma associated with "addiction" to video games is because of the perception they are a "waste of time" or even damaging to social skills or that they incite violence, he says.
"There is a sinister connotation that addiction to video games has. A lot of the research as to the long-term effects is inconclusive, but nobody is concerned about someone who spends a lot of time reading."
"The issue was whether people were neglecting other aspects of their life, he says. "Ultimately, it comes down to the individual and their situation whether or not it is a problem. People have to weigh up the priorities in their lives and how they want to spend their time.
There are incidences where adults have become so engrossed with something they start neglecting their children. That is less about video games and more about the irresponsibility of those people and the addictive nature of humans in general."

Are YOU addicted to computer gaming!

- Recurrent thoughts and urges about playing
Yes if its a new game that im wanting to get started at.

- Restlessness and irritability when not playing
Sometimes depends on what im playing.

- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back
But I don't need to cut back!

- Studies or work negatively affected
- Couple of years back i would of said Yes.

- Problems in "significant relationships" -
Relationships? I'm not interested nor care for relationships! ah maybe that's a problem right there?

- Giving up other social activities
Yes - gave up Saturday rugby with old boys rugby team (30+ age grp) so i could instead spend my Saturdays gaming on the pc.

- Sore eyes, back pain, strain injuries
No - but ive experience dizziness sometimes - motion sickness in certain games

- Sleep loss, weight gains or losses of 5kg
Yes - weight loss over the years cause of not eating 3 meals per day instead replacing breakfast, lunch, with coffee and just having dinner - but that's got nothing to do with gaming I just changed my eating habits. I do drink far to much coffee when im gaming though.

[CCIP]

I would have to say yes

[Raptor1]

- Recurrent thoughts and urges about playing
No, why would I do this while I play?

- Restlessness and irritability when not playing
Never been in this 'not playing' condition, so no.

- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back
No attempts to cut back ever, no problem.

- Studies or work negatively affected
Studies and work don't exist, no problem

- Problems in "significant relationships" -
No "significant relationships", no problem.

- Giving up other social activities
No social activities to give up, no problem.

- Sore eyes, back pain, strain injuries
Can't really say...

- Sleep loss, weight gains or losses of 5kg
I haven't lost any sleep because I never had any to lose. I haven't gained or lost permanent weight since yesterday.

I hereby declare that I have absolutely no problem with gaming addiction!

Oh, been a while since you've been around, CCIP. Welcome back, I guess.

[CCIP]

Thanks

In all seriousness, I sure do get compulsive with games. On the other hand given the kind of games we play in this community, it's hard not to be that way. It's just how these sims roll.

[ReFaN]

- Recurrent thoughts and urges about playing
- Only of it is a game i like!

- Restlessness and irritability when not playing
- not really.

- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back
- why would i want to cut back? gaming is my lifestyle, like golf can be for some

- Studies or work negatively affected
- Nope, work and study before games.

- Problems in "significant relationships" -
- relationships with the family is ok, dont got any other friends anyway so why care about it


- Giving up other social activities
-dont have any social activities to give up.


- Sore eyes, back pain, strain injuries
- back pains only because i did a surgery to my spine 2 months ago.

- Sleep loss, weight gains or losses of 5kg
- im at a healthy weight for my age and length.

[Task Force]

Recurrent thoughts and urges about playing
not really, I dont just sit there thinking "I NEED TO BE PLAYING" but sometimes I wish I were... Nice to have some fun, lol.

Restlessness and irritability when not playing
Not really, I do enjoy playing, and sometimes I wish I were playing a game (ETW for example) but I dont get hostile...

- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back
Never, lol... Not much else to do. lol

- Studies or work negatively affected
hmm, dont really do ither, I never study, and dont have a job...

- Problems in "significant relationships" -
well, I only know my friends from school no ties out of school/dont bother with girlfriends, cause they are can be annoying... Im gonna have enough of that relationship stuff when I get married, and no real issues from vediogames with parents.

- Sore eyes, back pain, strain injuries
Nope, none of this...

- Sleep loss, weight gains or losses of 5kg
nope, none of this really, but err, probably lost abit cause of not eating school food, that stuff will crawl off yer plate if you dont stab it with a fork, mystery meat anyone.

Results,
no not really, just dont have anything to do other than games...

I expect the 'pro-gamers' to appear here soon and crucify all 'gaming-heretics'.

Yea I guess I've played too much, have had negative effects from it. I no longer play long story driven games, or long campaign-type strategy games. Games with a steep learning curve I also shun from.

[CaptainHaplo]

Recurrent thoughts and urges about playing
What was the question - I was thinking about playing a game instead of paying attention....

Restlessness and irritability when not playing
Are you talking to me? ARE YOU TALKING TO ME????!!!!! LEAVE ME ALONE so I can go play a game in peace before I knock your block off!!

- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back
Cut back on what? I did make sure I bought a energy efficient power supply for my gaming rig - that count????

- Studies or work negatively affected
No - I study fine - how else do you think I would remember the perfect sequence of events to run through to get hits using manual targeting. I mean - if you don't study and use it - it won't make much sense!

- Problems in "significant relationships" -
I've been with the same woman for nearly a decade.... If there were serious problems they would have shown up along time ago. Now... where the devil did she and all the furniture go? Well she will be back sooner or later - gotta unpause my game!

- Sore eyes, back pain, strain injuries
Eh what? I can't make out the small print, and even if I could I wouldn't want to respond. All this typing and stuff makes my carpal tunnel hurt and interferes with my ability to play games.

- Sleep loss, weight gains or losses of 5kg
Sleep? Whats that? See these here toothpicks? They hold my eyes open all the time. Sure I mumble like a zombie after a few days, but then I get my second wind and can go for 3 more days before I need a few hours of sleep. I would get more, but for some reason I dream about playing games and that wakes me up so I can. As for weight changes - uhm... well - see - I EAT about 5kg every meal - but only because sometimes I forget to eat for a couple of days and then have to make up for it. So I really just kinda bounce around a bit on my weight, but it averages out.

Ok - well I feel better now - no problem with gaming addiction here!

*** ok that was actually too much fun! ***

[Méo]

Originally Posted by kiwi_2005

- Recurrent thoughts and urges

- Restlessness and irritability

- Repeated unsuccessful attempts

- negatively affected

Reminds me some people who are continuously freaking about DRM...

[Reece]

To be honest I spend a lot more time on Subsim than any game or application!! Guess I'm a Subsim junkie!! around 8 hours a day!

[jwilliams]

- Recurrent thoughts and urges about playing
Only when im trying to sleep. Gotta figure out how to get past or complete objective. if i have a great idea, then i get up again and try out my new plan. Then the thoughts and urges go away.

- Restlessness and irritability when not playing
(see above)

- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back
Not had any unsuccessful attempts. (I never tried)

- Studies or work negatively affected
Nah i need the money to build a new system.

- Problems in "significant relationships" -
Thats what MMO's are for. Im sure if my wife leaves me, i'd find someone to marry in WOW.

- Giving up other social activities
Again MMO's..Who needs a social life




- Sore eyes, back pain, strain injuries
Only from work, maybe i should give up working.

- Sleep loss, weight gains or losses of 5kg
But doesnt everyone, wether adicted to gaming or not.

- Result
Maybe a little.
I can think of worse things to be addicted to
e.g Drink, drugs, gambling, TV, etc.

[SteamWake]

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Reece

To be honest I spend a lot more time on Subsim than any game or application!! Guess I'm a Subsim junkie!! around 8 hours a day!

Ditto

[RickC Sniper]

I'm a recluse and a game addict.

So? Why is that a problem?

[krashkart]

A year ago I could have answered "Yes" to nearly every question.

Nowadays I typically get about four days into a patrol and then I start wondering which posts here have changed or if any new ones have sprung up. And then there's Facebook to boot!