The Orange County Register newspaper is running an article on the latest ‘condition’ to fill the pockets of psychiatrists: ‘gaming addiction’. In order to justify its alarmist tone, the article concentrates on World of Warcraft and pulls anonymous quotes from a website called wowdetox.com including:
And the winsome:
It’s not SPOnG’s place to comment on the underlying issues – or veracity – of these quotes. It is, however, our place to comment on the following “expert” and her opinions on the ‘addiction’.
Maressa Hecht Orzack, is a clinical psychologist and director of the Computer Addiction Study Center in Massachusetts, she opines: " Those who might be addicted represent a fraction of the WoW player population but even if 5 to 7 percent of 8 million players are addicted, that's still a fair number.”
“Might be addicted”? Sure, and even if 0% are addicted, that’s a small number.
But there’s more insight to be had from the good lady, try this:
The phrase ‘snake-oil’ leaps to mind when reading this kind of nonsense because, of course, the best place to get help from this ravaging addiction is from the same community that is promulgating^W selling the ‘addiction’ in the first place.
What do you think of ‘video game’ and ‘computer addiction’ – tell us in the Forum.
"WoW and cigarettes are incredibly similar in a lot of ways: Addictive, bad for your health, and it makes the companies a lot of money. The people at Blizzard must be laughing at the world as they rake in the dough from the addictions of millions."
And the winsome:
"I play WoW all day every day," reads one, "at least 18 hours. I go to college … but I really just stay in my dorm and play. … I have gained over 100 pounds since I began. Someone PLEASE help me."
It’s not SPOnG’s place to comment on the underlying issues – or veracity – of these quotes. It is, however, our place to comment on the following “expert” and her opinions on the ‘addiction’.
Maressa Hecht Orzack, is a clinical psychologist and director of the Computer Addiction Study Center in Massachusetts, she opines: " Those who might be addicted represent a fraction of the WoW player population but even if 5 to 7 percent of 8 million players are addicted, that's still a fair number.”
“Might be addicted”? Sure, and even if 0% are addicted, that’s a small number.
But there’s more insight to be had from the good lady, try this:
”People can stop using a substance but most people use a computer in their daily lives."
The phrase ‘snake-oil’ leaps to mind when reading this kind of nonsense because, of course, the best place to get help from this ravaging addiction is from the same community that is promulgating^W selling the ‘addiction’ in the first place.
What do you think of ‘video game’ and ‘computer addiction’ – tell us in the Forum.
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Comments
majin dboy 29 Jan 2007 15:54
1/3
what i think is that spong should'nt use as many big words.
TimSpong 29 Jan 2007 17:37
2/3
majin dboy wrote:
what i think is that spong should'nt use as many big words.
As many as what?
Quill 30 Jan 2007 01:40
3/3
Sounds like someone is trying to justify continued funding to their “Computer Addiction Study Center”
Despite their ranting, do they offer any kind of solution or “treatment”? Something like “going outside” – oh wait… that suggestion actually comes up every now and then on the loading screen before you enter the game.
If they think they’re some kind of news service, then they should inform, rather than being all alarmist. But… a news outlet being irresponsible?????? Nah.
And they accuse Blizzard of making money through irresponsibility…
Despite their ranting, do they offer any kind of solution or “treatment”? Something like “going outside” – oh wait… that suggestion actually comes up every now and then on the loading screen before you enter the game.
If they think they’re some kind of news service, then they should inform, rather than being all alarmist. But… a news outlet being irresponsible?????? Nah.
And they accuse Blizzard of making money through irresponsibility…