Games And Addiction - A Cynical View

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?'"

Comments

opinion basically

[Joe the Lesser]

While the study may be empirical, it's the researcher's opinion on what defines addiction. Most define it as something harmful to the victim, thus they attempted to prove that games were harming people but reducing their social lives.

But where is the control variable? How do we know that these people would have better social lives if gaming does not exist?

I once went a week without playing video games. Instead, I watched T.V. all week! There is clearly something in my personality that makes me generally avoid leaving the house unless motivated.

I believe the issue is not with video games, but there is likely common behavioral trends within those who play them which makes video games an ideal way to deal with anxiety and boredom which is there regardless.

I admit, I don't like being blown off for everquest any more then the next guy, but you assume people wouldn't be blowing you off if they weren't playing games, which is yet to be determined.