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Do we have to call it an addiction? A video game is an immersive experience that allows an individual to effectively sync into a state of flow detached from re

Do we have to call it an addiction? A video game is an immersive experience that allows an individual to effectively sync into a state of flow detached from reality. If reality is chaotic and stressful and reinforces that sentiment from all directions to yield those internal feelings of agony, it seems obvious that anything that can alleviate such agony would be immediately ran to. Better to be addicted to video games than heroin, right? At least video games can teach modular reasoning. And yes, extreme cases of video game addiction have led to death, but a kid having a daily hobby of playing video games after school is not the same thing.

rimliu 8y ago
> Better to be addicted to video games than heroin, right? Only in terms of your physical health. Otherwise iirc addiction is defined as having negative effect on your life (work, social, personal) so it is as bad. > At least video games can teach modular reasoning. Which will be used only for games, because you are not interested in anything else?
- s-shellfish 8y ago
  > Which will be used only for games, because you are not interested in anything else? Or programming, having a job you have passion for and are good at, being able to produce work people see value in, sustaining yourself, you know, not living in a gutter and stuff dying of a heroin overdose? > Only in terms of your physical health. Otherwise iirc addiction is defined as having negative effect on your life (work, social, personal) so it is as bad. Well, if you love video games and everyone around you hates video games, and thinks video games are as bad as heroin, I could see how that could have a negative effect on your work, social, and personal life.
  - rimliu 8y ago
    I am not talking about liking games and gaming. I am talking about addiction.
    - s-shellfish 8y ago
      Addiction is very difficult to diagnose and should be left to professionals who are fundamentally bound to a Hippocratic oath.

rimliu 8y ago

> Better to be addicted to video games than heroin, right? Only in terms of your physical health. Otherwise iirc addiction is defined as having negative effect on your life (work, social, personal) so it is as bad. > At least video games can teach modular reasoning. Which will be used only for games, because you are not interested in anything else?

s-shellfish 8y ago
> Which will be used only for games, because you are not interested in anything else? Or programming, having a job you have passion for and are good at, being able to produce work people see value in, sustaining yourself, you know, not living in a gutter and stuff dying of a heroin overdose? > Only in terms of your physical health. Otherwise iirc addiction is defined as having negative effect on your life (work, social, personal) so it is as bad. Well, if you love video games and everyone around you hates video games, and thinks video games are as bad as heroin, I could see how that could have a negative effect on your work, social, and personal life.
- rimliu 8y ago
  I am not talking about liking games and gaming. I am talking about addiction.
  - s-shellfish 8y ago
    Addiction is very difficult to diagnose and should be left to professionals who are fundamentally bound to a Hippocratic oath.