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Getting Off NetHack?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the worse-than-crack dept.

thetan asks: "Like a lot of Slashdot readers, I've played a little NetHack as a teenager. Alright, quite a lot - but it was no big deal and I just sort of grew out of it. Now I'm not proud of this, but I got my gf hooked and she's been using daily for a few years now. After she tired of the game, I tried sating the monkey on her back with new fixes like Angband and ADOM. Now, I no longer want be a party to her addiction and self-destruction. She acknowledges the problem but is not yet ready to take that first step. What can I do to help ween her off? Could interactive fiction act as a methadone - or does it result in just as much harm? What other strategies have users employed to get clean? Does anyone know of NetHack addiction support groups or a 12-step? I'm desperate to get her back!"

5 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Nothing you can do by TheWanderingHermit · · Score: 4, Informative

    As a former treatment professional, this is the first response I saw that made sense in terms of how addiction works.

    People who are addicted to anything may have a chemical imbalance, but if they're addicted to something like this, it is likely she is using it as a crutch instead of dealing with other problems. Her life may be unfulfilling or she may just not deal well with reality. If this is a true addiction, and you aren't just using hyperbole, then she likely needs professional help. HOWEVER, she has to make the decision that she has a problem and seek help. If she is just doing it because you push her into it, she is doing it for you and not for herself, and a relapse would be easy.

    Remember that now it is a problem for you, but not for her. It makes her happy and causes no problems for her, that she can see. You can't change another person. You can only hope they see they have a problem and seek help. If she never realizes she has a problem, then you won't be able to do anything effective and it may be time to move on.

  2. Lessons from Everquest by xplenumx · · Score: 4, Informative
    Spouses of Everquest (and now WoW I'm sure) addicts have had to deal with this problem for quite some time. Hopefully you'll find the following two resources useful:

    EverQuest Widows Discussion Board

    On-Line Gamers Anonymous

    Best of luck.

  3. Re:not as bad as drugs... by CFTM · · Score: 2, Informative

    I know many stoners and I've known many game addicts...the stoners are much more responsive. If you don't believe me then you've never seen someone utterly ingrossed in a video game. It's like talking to a brick wall, also I would be willing to bet that there is at least one person you work with who seems completely normal and straight edge who shows up to work stoned everyday and they are not noticably different.

    It does impair you but people who do it habitually function remarkably well, I garentee you that.

  4. Re:Are you insane? by Jackmn · · Score: 2, Informative

    MAngband is an online variant of Angband.

    Unfortunately online play necessitates timing turns to ~ a second.

  5. Follow Up to Ask Slashdot by thetan · · Score: 2, Informative

    Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

    1) It should be pretty clear I was being more than a little facetious. To those who shared the genuine stories of serious gaming addicition and offered advice - the problem is nowhere near as dire as that. But I hope anyone who is in that situation gets the help they need.

    2) Yes, I appreciate having a geek-oriented girlfriend. No, I won't be passing on her details to anyone else >:-(

    3) I will suggest broadening her gaming interests. We'll look into some of the titles suggested. Thanks for those.

    4) NetHack is a wonderful game. But, please, be careful.

    Cheers,

    -Greg.