Writer's Block: Expand on this

[spritechan]

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I don't like the way this question was posed, because it gave me the impression at first that we were talking about drugs/alcohol/gambling/sex, etc.

What kind of game are we talking about? I've spent entire nights playing the Sims, Spyro, Donkey Kong Country etc. as a teenager, and long car rides playing GameBoy as a child (and still play long stretches of a handheld). I can spend 6 hours playing a video game, with some breaks. Computer games that are strategy can always be played in long bursts. World of Warcraft has definitely proven that in long raids, players can go for 8-14 hours AT ONE TIME, not to mention whatever else they're doing in the game before and after the raid.

What's the line between addiction and habit? Well, what's the difference between spending 6 hours playing a video game, and 6 hours on Facebook/Myspace/The Internet?

I think a game becomes an addiction when it interferes with your daily life. When your children/pets/family becomes an annoyance, an interruption, to your game time. An addiction is when you pay your WoW account, but not your bills. When you don't leave the house ever and don't take care of yourself.

Otherwise, who cares if you spend four straight hours on a game? That time could be wasted in plenty of other ways too that really are the same concept - watching a tv show (such as an entire season of Lost?), talking on the phone, using the internet.

Comments

[silver-tiamat.livejournal.com]

You know, I really agree with you on the critique of the question itself. I was like, "Uh, what? That's out of left field!" It probably helped my indignation that I have my Suikoden III on pause while I take a small break to check out the interweb. =/

I really think that in terms of gaming, you can't just figure in long stretchs of time = addiction. I mean, it's a lot more about how and why you're playing the thing. Like, if you CANNOT get through a day without playing something, that's an addiction. But, then again I think this question would have been better phrased as "What's the defining difference between an obsession and an addiction?" in terms of gaming. I mean, who plays video games just because it's become a "habit"? Going on the internet all the time is a habit. But, gaming? I just don't know anyone who does something like that because it's a "habit." I don't know ANYONE, even among us lovers of books, who reads books all the time because it's a HABIT.

I just think the question itself makes answering it almost impossible. Because really, gaming and books and such really fall under the category of obsession/addiction, versus a healthy hobby. =/

[miss-ljv.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I really feel like the question was not only biased and stereotyping, but that it was just plain stupid.

Which is kinda why I HAD to reply, because I felt like I was being personally affronted for being a gamer D: