Games addiction and violence is no doubt a very worrisome epidemic among parents (especially). Children today are exposed to high tech games like Xbox 360, Nintendo and Playstation 3 and also online games such as World of Warcrafts, Mafia Wars and Maple story. They are spending every minute, every second of their free time on games, where some even think that sleeping less is worth it for leveling up in what ever they are playing. Parents are worry sick about this matter. An organization called Mothers Againsts Videogame Addiction and Violence (MAVAV) stated that video game addiction is becoming the world's fastest growing addiction, comparable even to drug and alcohol abuse, which I agreed to eventually. http://www.mavav.org/
During my college years, I had many friends who are really addicted to online games. They grouped together and shared every detail on their progression on the game. They even make appointments to meet up at the avatar. And there's this guy who came from another town to study in Kuching, he's the worst addictor among those friends. He stayed up all nights to level up his game. He skipped classes, only turn up to class once in a blue moon. He get barred from exams. Failed in exams. Yet, nothing bothers him. He continued playing. His parents were not by his side to control him. So, it's total freedom for him. Soon, his father received letters from college saying his son was not attending classes. After receiving few letters, his father could not stand it and requested Telekom to cut off his son's internet line. But that's not the end of the story for my friend.. He went to other friends' house to play instead. But playing at friends' house was not the same as playing at own house. There's limitation. But getting to play is just much better than not playing at all.
There's this another friend of mine who is always hugging his XBox360 to sleep every night. He even put in his status in facebook that he's in a relationship with his XBox. Sigh... This is true addiction.
Games addiction and violence can happen to anyone. Maybe even moms and dads play too. For me, it is just the matter of self control. If you know when to start and when to stop, there's no harm playing those high tech games and online games.
yea thats the thing.they are uncontrollable when the "playing" gets tough and the tough jst keep on getting tougher.it excites them to keep on playing,but when they get too carried away,it changes their lifestyle and everyday routine and devoted their LIFE just for video games like you mentioned about your friend here.their making irrational behaviours like HUGGING XBOX TO SLEEPo.o'' ..for me,that is too much for a normal beingXD same goes to my bro's actually but your friend is a great example*thumbs up*
ReplyDeleteNo doubt video games are an addiction nowadays but hugging xbox to sleep?! That is just ridiculous! The story about 'sleeping less just to level up their game' also happened to a "friend" of mine. Gamers should control themselves rather than being control by the video games. Its really no use if you failed your school just because of stupid video games. I know some may say video games release their tensions and stuff but try to reconsider and slow down the urge to play them. Take time to breathe, will ya? :)
ReplyDeletesleeping with your xbox? now that really extreme addiction. from the link i used in my blog post too, there is this very efficient system in China to curb online game addiction.
ReplyDeleteGamers who spend more than three hours online will have game points cut as a disincentive to continued play, and after five hours, they will be subjected to messages every 15 minutes, calling for them to get offline immediately.
i think that system is quite good and reasonable. maybe Malaysia should introduce this system?
Wow! Hugging the XBox to sleep? That's amazingly extreme addiction! I think there should be a group for those net-aholic or game-aholic to help them to get back to there normal life. And about the system mentioned by Charlotte, I think it's a good idea that if that system to be implement in Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteHugging Xbox to sleep. That's to over already. I think what Charlotte mentioned, it is a very efficient way. I heard about it too. By the way, I think is all about how the person's attitude be. Some one like me is also addicted to some online games. But, I still doing my works and go to school. I still can control myself. Actually, a person get addicted into games because they get interested of the games very much and they wanted to break someone's record. And this is how a person started to addict to the games.
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