Video Game Addiction

[Nephilim]

Recently I've been reading/seeing allot or articles on this, (its not new, but it's getting in the lime light again).
I got to wondering what the actual gamers, the people who play the thing have to say.

Lets here your voices.

A few references to stimulate your responses:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_addiction
http://www.theparentreport.com/resources/ages/preteen/kids_culture/130.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/03/health/webmd/main1773956.shtml

[kiya]

Treatment
Some countries, like South Korea, have responded to the perceived threat of video game addiction by opening treatment centers.[19] The Chinese government operates several clinics to treat those addicted to online games, chatting and web surfing. Treatment for the patients, most of whom have been forced to attend by parents or government officials, may include yelling, psychiatric counseling, electrical shock treatment, and antidepressant drugs normally used in mental institutions.[20][21]

The Smith and Jones clinic in Amsterdam was the first treatment facility in Europe to offer a residential treatment program for compulsive gamers.[22] McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts has set up Computer Addiction Services. Elsewhere, gamers may seek services at generalized addiction support centers. At one such center in Richmond, Canada, excessive gaming accounts for 80% of one youth counselor's caseload.[23]

On-Line Gamers Anonymous has been around for many years to provide support and help for gamers who want to quit, as well as for affected family members. The group uses a 12-step approach to facilitate healing.

I doh think anyone in trinidad THIS bad as yet!

[spinner]

i also think we trinis ent reach that level of addiction, i like my games, peong for about 4 hours straight but after that, i good, i shutdown and go outside and sweat a lil bit

[Beomagi]

I call it laziness.
Before the videogames, there was TV - and there was what? 3 friggin channels for the longest time. And channel 9 went off how long ago?
Before tv? I dunno, the right hand?
People slack off and kill time if they're bored, and they're more likely to do that than something productive. TV had a really bad rap 10 years ago, but VG is the modern day scapegoat. DAMN YOU JACK THOMPSON!

The cure for gaming? Go lime! It's unproductive in all ways but socially, which isn't a bad thing - and technically, that's what I bet these support centers become.

"Well Frank, I'm no longer addicted to videogames. i'm going to hang out in Charlie's bar from now on leveling bottles of Jäger instead of my warrior. See you in 5 at the AA"

[EmpireKing]

im not addicted....after about 12 hours a day of gaming i can turn off the monitor an go to sleep....i wake up in the morning brush my teeth an sit back down infront my pc for another 12hrs then go to sleep again.....

THATS WAT I CALL SELF CONTROL.....its not a disorder......sum of us jus cant help it

[kiya]

lol when i go to bed even when there is no light in the house i up with ds amd head phones on playing games like pokemon diamond. This goes on till the early hours of the morning!

One time i 'went to sleep' playing my ds, checked time(11:45) kept on playing(1:50am) Kept going(2:45)  then (5:00) till 5:30) Wey, i admit i that bad lol!