UK inquiry puts gaming addiction under spotlight

[midian182]

A hot potato: Few topics cause as many arguments as gaming addiction. With the medium becoming increasingly popular, the supposed negative aspects of games are under the spotlight more than ever. It’s led to a UK inquiry into technology addiction, where two self-confessed former gaming addicts have been speaking about the dangers of playing titles excessively.

As part of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s inquiry into technology addiction, UK members of parliament (MPs) heard from Matus Mikus and James Good, who spoke about how a compulsion to play games dominated their lives.

As reported by the BBC, Good said that at one point while at university he spent 32 hours gaming without a break. "I was falling behind, my grades were slipping as a result of playing too many games. I didn't eat, sleep or leave my room. I escaped my problems via games."

As is the case with many people who find it difficult to walk away from the screen, Good said he preferred spending time in virtual worlds than the real one. "I was thinking, 'Why would I spend time with my friends when I can play video games?' It felt good to get points, trophies, beat people. It fuelled my competitiveness - but I realized I wasn't truly happy."

Good eventually dropped out of university after falling into depression, and later joined Game Quitters, an online resource for those struggling to quit video games. He did add, however, that gaming wasn’t the cause of all his issues. "Gaming becomes a problem because you let other things slide but it is not the root cause of the problem," he told MPs.

Mikus, who separated from his girlfriend over his gaming habit, said that games, by their nature, were addictive, and that parents should talk to their children about how much time they spent playing them. He suggested a maximum of three hours per day time restriction.

Back in November, Twitch streamer Ninja said “terrible” parents were to blame for their children’s Fortnite addiction.

At a previous hearing, the association for UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) defended its industry, saying there was a "lack of evidence" around the concept of gaming addiction. "We believe that games can provide educational, physiological, psychological, recreational and social benefits to players," it said. "Games provide rich story worlds, creative canvasses.”

While there have been suggestions for developers to add in-game warnings advising players to take a break, Good believes these would just be ignored. "If you're that engaged in a game, you just won't care," he said.

Middle image credit: Gladskikh via Shutterstock

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https://www.techspot.com/news/79058-uk-inquiry-puts-gaming-addiction-under-spotlight.html

 

[stewi0001]

Almost anything can be addicting.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Having played Bridge with 3 college classmates for 32 hours, I would say 'gaming is addictive' - except we used a deck of cards and it was back in the 1960s about 15 years before computer gaming even started. Part of the fun as a kid was to just see how it 'turns out'. I still remember bidding and winning a Grand Slam at around 6:30 AM on a Sunday morning after playing for 31 hours. We broke up for breakfast afterwords. It was 'memorable' even if we were cross-eyed with fatigue.
So "7 No Trump" to you - or is that another topic?

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

 

[wiyosaya]

IMO, it is not the games; addictive tendencies come from within, and someone with that addictive personality stands a good chance of becoming addicted to something. If not the games it may well have been any or all of alcohol, drugs, sex, whatever.

To me, the guy in the article basically confirms this when he says that his problems went away when he was gaming. Given slightly different circumstances, IMO, he likely would have become addicted to something else. He had problems and did not know how to handle them. He sought an outlet in the wrong places instead of talking to a counselor who might have helped him get the help he needed rather than burying his problems and making them worse.

I really cannot speak to his circumstances, however, modern society tends to place a premium on people being perfect at what they do, at least as I see it. To me, being perfect is a reality that will never exist. As such, he may have been embarrassed or in denial about the problems he was encountering and thus reluctant to seek help.

The human race is human. Sounds simple, however, it seems there are those who do not realize this and there is absolutely no shame in saying something like "I am having trouble with this, and I need help with it." Problems and mistakes are the best teachers if faced with courage and embraced and those facing them allow themselves to learn from them.

The formation of yet another "anonymous" group sounds warranted as long as the people in such a program learn tools to really cope with their problems instead of avoiding them.

 

[Uncle Al]

I would only add that the definition of "addiction" to gaming needs more refinement. For instance, there are some that, once they get a new game may go on a binge of playing for hours, days, maybe even weeks; but after that period they slack off considerably because the game is no longer new and exciting. Nevertheless, the addiction is very real. I've seen and lost some very fine employee's because of this and it is as difficult to tackle as drugs, alcohol, or gambling ......

 

[wiyosaya]

I would only add that the definition of "addiction" to gaming needs more refinement. For instance, there are some that, once they get a new game may go on a binge of playing for hours, days, maybe even weeks; but after that period they slack off considerably because the game is no longer new and exciting. Nevertheless, the addiction is very real. I've seen and lost some very fine employee's because of this and it is as difficult to tackle as drugs, alcohol, or gambling ......

I get what you are saying. However, when the newness of the one game has worn off, there are plenty more out there to choose from. If one quits playing games after the binge period or plays another game only occasionally so that it does not interfere with life, then I agree with you. If, however, the intensity of the attention to the next game remains at the same level as the first, well...

Addiction, in any form, is not necessarily easy to deal with, and it sounds like you have first-hand experience.

 

[toooooot]

I dont have a problem not being able to stop gaming. It is this imperfect world that is the problem.

 

[pcnthuziast]

Tfw addicted to getting addicted to things...