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Games And Addiction - A Cynical View

Posted by simoniker on from the he-doth-scoff-too-much? dept.

Thanks to Forbes for their distinctly acerbic look at new scientific surveys that make claims linking videogames and addiction. The piece suggests: "Pick a popular consumer technology and there's probably some overpaid academic expert somewhere who's calling it addictive", and goes on to query definitions of addiction, suggesting: "...pretty much anyone who uses the Internet in the course of their work day... could meet some arbitrary early-1990s standard of [Net] addiction." The article concludes: "When was the last time you heard of a case of 'newspaper addiction?'"

5 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. I'm a Newspaper Addict by orthogonal · · Score: 4, Funny

    The article concludes: "When was the last time you heard of a case of 'newspaper addiction?'"

    Hey hey! Hey buddy!

    Hey, could you spare uh, a quarter.

    Yeah, yeah, I'm Jonesing, man. I need that newsprint pretty bad.

    Gotta score me some fine tranditional who-what-where-when-and-why. And how. I, I, neeed it, man.

    Please, just a quarter, man. Help a brother out. Gotta see me that AP wire.

    No! I don't want your used copy of the Local Yokel Rag. Nah, man, I been doing this too long for the Provincial Post to give me the purified high I crave in my Jonesin' bones.

    I'm a hit up three more you guys for quarters, and get me a prime New York Times (registration required)! I neeeds me some Krugman, some Safire, some R.W. (Jonny) Apple, man. I need it bad.

    --
    Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
  2. that's easy by kurosawdust · · Score: 3, Funny
    "When was the last time you heard of a case of 'newspaper addiction?'"

    During the brief but incredibly lucrative heyday of newspapers printed with heroin ink. MMMmmmm, USA Today Infographics never tasted so opia-licious!

  3. I'm addicted to WORK!! by darkmayo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hello my name is Darkmayo and I am a Work Addict.

    I spend 8 hours a day doing repeatative tasks and answering questions just so I can get that next paycheck fix. I am missing out on my life and friends and hobbies because of this addictions. But I know I can beat this addiction.... and once it is gone I can live my life and spend more of my free time playing video games.

    --
    "I am a kernel in the linux army"
  4. If.. by gearheadsmp · · Score: 3, Funny

    If I'm so "addicted" to video games, guess how much I'd miss my Xbox if a supermodel showed up on my doorstep wearing nothing but a fur coat?

  5. I'm addicted by presearch · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm addicted to Windows Updates. Does that count?