Tuesday, July 29, 2008

When I asked my friend about his interest in visiting Internet cafes to play computer games like Cabal Sea, he replied that playing such games is a way for him to relax. Thankfully, he is not that dependant or addicted to online games like some other young people who allowed the games to gain power over them.


Pic from here


Being too addicted to online games spells doom for the addicted players. Did you know that too much of a good thing can be bad? For example, a 21-year-old boy named Shawn Woolley from Milwaukee, America supposedly committed suicide because he was struggling with the ever-popular online game called EverQuest. His mother, Elizabeth Woolley then created Online Gamers Anonymous in 2002. It’s a self-help organization which aims to help those who think that they are addicted to computer/video/console/online games.

The question now is what led this boy to choose to end his life over a small matter like a computer game? What made him and all the others so addicted to them (the games)? Why are games like EverQuest, World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Last Chaos, O2jam, Gun Bound and many more seem so enticing to young people? What’s the lure? Yes, there are a few reasons as to why they become addicted to such games.

Firstly, teenagers who are hooked on online games usually don’t mix around much with other people. They don’t even communicate much with their own families. All they ever do is sit in front of their computers and play games the whole day. Therefore, they lack a healthy social life and their performance in school deteriorates. This makes them become shy individuals with low self-esteem.

However, when they play online games, they are thrown into an extremely different world. They become somebody else, with different personalities, often personalities which are the total opposite of what they really are in real life. According to Dr. Kimberly Young, an expert on Internet addiction and online behavior and also professor at St. Bonaventure University, the gamers find acceptance, respect and recognition while gaming. These are gestures that they unfortunately cannot receive in real life. As a result, they find utter comfort in the realm of online games.

Another reason why youngsters become addicted to online games is that nobody was there to watch the situation. Some parents are too busy with work or other issues and they neglect their children’s activities. Perhaps there are problems in the family like parents who are constantly arguing, parents who pay more attention to the other siblings, etc. The teenager may feel neglected, lost, depressed and that’s how they turn to playing games online where they can ‘meet’ other players. That’s where they open up their problems and also to lose themselves in an unreal world.

Now, an addiction to online games is pretty obvious. The teenager is normally not a functional individual. He’s willing to jeopardize relationships, ditch his life’s routine, sit for hours in front of the computer and even fast for days because of a game! Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia has categorized the severity of the symptoms as below:-

1. Persistent thoughts of the activity or performance of the activity. (Preoccupation)
2. Need for increased time spent on the activity to achieve satisfaction or diminished reward for the same amount of time spent on the activity. (Tolerance)
3. Inability to control, stop, or diminish the behavior. (Loss of control)
4. Restlessness or irritability when prevented from partaking in the activity. (Withdrawal)
5. Lying to friends or family about extent of involvement with activity. (Continuance despite adverse consequences)
6. Committing illegal acts to sustain activity. (Continuance despite adverse consequences)
7. Relying on others to finance activity. (Continuance despite adverse consequences).

If you do know someone who’s acting out these symptoms, do not panic. Stay calm. He’s not alone. This epidemic is all over the world. Although most people choose to ignore these symptoms or live in denial, many just do not know how to deal with the addiction at hand. Concerned parents and friends of such teenagers in Malaysia and most other countries are in a limbo with what to do with the situation.

Fortunately for the Chinese, their government has introduced a clinic that deals with this problem. To date, registered patients are youths in their teens and early twenties. Gamespot.com reported that Dr. Tao Ran, the clinic director uses therapy sessions, medication, acupuncture, athletic activities, and electrical shocks to pressure points as their treatment regime.

Folks, the last method may be a major put off but apparently it is crucial for the betterment of the addict. The Chinese may have chosen to take drastic steps to rescue their addicted youths, the simple participation in counseling sessions are normally favoured by most addicts. Hence, seek help at the nearest hospital before you lose your loved one to the virtual world of role play.

Go here to take a short test if you suspect that you're an obsessive online gamer!

Other Sources:
When does online-game fervor become addiction?
Online Gaming Addiction

Labels: online games, young people