Are you Addicted to WoW?

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World of Warcraft - Innocent Online Game - Or Addictive Nightmare?

Dr. Maressa Hecht Orzack, a clinical psychologist at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, has come forward to claim that up to 40 percent of World of Warcraft players are addicted to the game.  Can someone really be addicted to a video game?  Where do you draw the line?  When does the fantasy world of online role playing bleed in to your daily life?

Do you know anyone (or yourself) who has ever broken plans because of WoW?  Do you know people who ignore their friends and family?  How is online gaming any different than say watching TV?

While this Squidoo Lens can't cover the complexities associated with addiction, it is a serious question.  What do you do if someone you love is forsaking their day to day life for a game?  When do you draw the line?

How Many Hours a Week Do You You Play WoW? 

And how many are too many?

Are you a gamer? Play World of Warcraft? How much time do you spend online in a given week? This includes time spent working on guild websites, and preparing for raids.

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WOW Addiction Resouces and Links 

Sites with more information about WOW Addiction

Addicted to World of Warcraft? Know someone who is? Are you wondering if someone you know is being adversely affected by this online game?
WoW Detox - The Detox center for your World of Warcraft Addiction!
Web site for recovering WoW addicts. The first step to self improvement is understanding the problem. The second step is finding something healthy to replace it with.
Expert: 40 Percent of World of Warcraft Players Addicted
TwitchGuru is a destination site for the Twitch Generation
GamesFirst! Editorial
Editorial: Help me! I'm addicted to World of Warcraft!
40% of WoW Players are Addicted
Another article about WoW Addiction.
Gonna have to face it, you're addicted to WoW :: DESTRUCTOID :: Hardcore video game blog
Gonna have to face it, you're addicted to WoW 30 comments by Christina Faith Winterburn on 02.06.2007 Level Up is a new documentary that explores the possible addictive nature of World of Warcraft. The movie contains interviews with
How to Break a World of Warcraft Addiction - wikiHow
wikiHow article about How to Break a World of Warcraft Addiction.
World of Warcraft Addiction Stories - Gaming Today
Are you addicted to WoW? Warcraft addictions seem to be fairly common. I'm definitely not saying there is anything wrong with video game addictions. We all need to have at ...

Symptoms of computer or video game addiction: 

For children:

  • Most of non-school hours are spent on the computer or playing video games.
  • Falling asleep in school.
  • Not keeping up with assignments.
  • Worsening grades.
  • Lying about computer or video game use.
  • Choosing to use the computer or play video games, rather than see friends.
  • Dropping out of other social groups (clubs or sports).
  • Irritable when not playing a video game or on the computer.

Wow Addiction 

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Are you Addicted? 

Quizes to help you decide

These quizzes are for entertainment only - they should not be used as a diagnostic tool, but they might open your eyes.
OKCupid! The World of Warcraft Addiction Test
OkCupid's the #1 free online dating site. Specializing in personality analysis, it was programmed by Harvard math grads. This test is not intended to be a diagnostic tool, but for entertainment value only.
Am I Addicted to WoW?
Am I Addicted to WoW? This is to see if you are addicted to the MMORPG game, World of Warcraft. If you have this game, expect to rate 100% on it. If you don't have the game, What's the point in taking it then, right? Right.
Now, take this quiz and hurry before your guild raid starts.
Daft WoW addiction quiz - BeyondUnreal Forums
An online forum where you can discuss your quiz ratings with other quiz takers.

What do you really think? 

Should MMORPGs be banned? Or is it the indivduals problem?

Should MMORPGs be banned?

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Yes, they are evil and serve no purpose in society except to waste time and ruin lives.

dude says:

that shit is a complete waste of time.

ryan says:

its a dubble edged sword people who are cripled should be able to play it but someone who is phisicly healthy shouldnt be able to play it.

hotshot says:

Eat my shit u have no reason to play wow go out and get a life

paco says:

FUCK YOU NOOBS PLAY MORE WOW WTF FTW PRO L337 UB3R HAX ROFLMAO OWN !

Alt f4 says:

Yes what is this world coming too... I say get rid of every
single computer world wide and burn them.

"even though I know i'm addicted I know the world would be
better without them"

Adolf says:

Yes all video video games should be banned and instead people should be forced to swim, jog, box or any other physical activity!

Heck no! Ever heard of personal responsibilty? The government shouldn't ban games because some people can't handle it.

Damien says:

It sure is nice to see all the bigots come out whenever there's something to harp on. World of Warcraft is just a game, and calling for anything to be banned is only going to make its appeal larger. In any case, our side of the world protects free enterprise and Blizzard has the right to make any game regardless of what people do with it. Its hardly a horrid addiction; I myself was addicted, and to be honest, there is much worst things in life. A WoW addict is harmless, and just because you choose to hit the bottle or another pack of smokes doesn't give anyone the right to harp on others for their vices. That being said, World of Warcraft is hardly a good way to spend your life and like anything, should be taken in moderation. THAT is up to you as a person.

master GN says:

hello! first of all,i ve been playing wow for about a year. of course its addictive.
but what really matters, is if it is trully ruining someones life, or just taking the place of some other "junk hobbies" or "killing my time hobbies". some examples:
watching TV (my personal opinion is that wow is far healthier and more productive that tv. tv makes u stupid and passive. wow make puts u in a lot of effort,(thinking for example) but addicts you.)
sleeping too much ours, surfing without reason on net, youtube,porn,exc.

most students have a spare time, that they dont have anything to do. even when they are in a relationship, or doing sports.
so, what i m trying to say is that, if wow only replaces some junk hobbies u had, then is a really intresting hobby!!
so its simply, a matter of self-control.if have the will, you can trully enjoy ur spare time playing wow. i you dont, it ll start ruining your life in the next months, and you should try to reach help to quit wow (friends,relatives,exc)
but if you belong in the second option, then the problem is not wow (or tv, or cigarettes, or anything else that 's addictive) but its yourself.try to "exercise" you self-control, and you ll see life will be easier, in many issues :)

hope my opinions helps a lot of troubled minds!

sufi says:

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Daniel says:

no, there are more dangerous things to worry about. MMORPG's shouldnt be banned beause people cant control themselves

ReBecca says:

You can get addicted to just about anything. It's the person's personality and lifestyle. I've had friends who did nothing but play guitar, or spend all their time skateboarding. Who says there's a difference between spending all day playing a video game or spending all day watching tv? Everyone has their pastimes and if they screw up their life not balancing things the way they need to then they should take responsibility for what they've done to themselves. Or they can live blissfully on WoW until all of their characters are twinked lvl 80s. (yes, I play wow.)

Kieran says:

Nah its a great game pulls us away from the complexity of life

YourMama says:

Its the individuals problem. When a person doesn't feel accomplished in life and they do on a videogame, that's when MMO's come along, so in a sense it is both, but mostly, the individuals.

whogivesafuck says:

you guys all suck big dick. everyone with a personal free opinion about anything should be burned like a jew. Fucken faggots. Go die and go to hell all of you.

Jenna says:

That's the silliest thing ever. People need to learn to control themselves and put the real life stuff before anything else. Asking for that to be banned is as retarded as asking everything else to be banned. Someone likes to paint for hours a day...ban painting!

It's all a learning process and hopefully people will be able to maintain their warcraft play to the point where it doesn't lead to bad things such as divorces, alienation of family/friends etc.

http://www.intotheblizz.com

God says:

Hell no! WTF? I play WoW about 20 hours a week, and i'm not addicted. I just like the game. I have a girlfriend and i love her! Instead of get drunk everynight like my friends, i just stay at home. I always liked to play games, and I played it as many hours as Wow. Its a game like the others.

 
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Books to help prevent and overcome addiction from Amazon 

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games: The People, the Addiction and the Playing Experience - This book is about the fastest growing form of electronic game in the world-the Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG). It introduces these self-contained three-dimensional virtual worlds, often inhabited by thousands of players, and describes their evolution and sometimes become addicted to it. It also delves into the psychology of the people who inhabit the game universe and explores the development of the unique cultures, economies, moral codes, and slang in these virtual communities. It explains how the games are built, the spin-offs that players create to enhance their game lives, and peeks at the future of MMORPGs as they evolve from a form of amusement to an educational, scientific, and business tool.

Based on hundreds of interviews over a three-year period, the work explores reasons people are attracted to and addicted to these games. It also surveys many existing and upcoming games, identifying their unique features and attractions. Two appendices list online addiction organizations and MMORPG information sites

Overcoming Addiction - Michael Harridan brings us step by step along the route to addiction and toward overcoming it.

Playstation Nation - Authors Olivia and Kurt Bruner give parents what they need to know to save their kids from addiction to video games--before and after exposure.

Virtual Addiction - This book includes 12 warning signs of Internet abuse, steps for addicts to change behavior, and advice for compulsive online shoppers and stock traders.

Overcoming Addiction: A Common Sense Approach

Amazon Price: $9.31 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

Playstation Nation: Protect Your Child from Video Game Addiction

Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

Virtual Addiction: Help for Netheads, Cyberfreaks, and Those Who Love Them

Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

Symptoms of computer or video game addiction: 

Physical Symptoms:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Back, neck aches
  • Headaches
  • Dry eyes
  • Failure to eat regularly or neglect personal hygiene

World of Warcraft Addiction Research 

World of Warcraft Addiction Research

A Purdue student/WoW player's research into the World of Warcraft. Songs- Beethoven's 9th Syphony Mad World - Gary Jules Strict Machine - Goldfrapp

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Yahoo News on Addiction 

Addiction Health News

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Symptoms of computer or video game addiction: 

For adults:

  • Computer or video game use is characterized by intense feelings of pleasure and guilt.
  • Obsessing and pre-occupied about being on the computer, even when not connected.
  • Hours playing video games or on the computer increasing, seriously disrupting family, social or even work life.
  • Lying about computer or video game use.
  • Experience feelings of withdrawal, anger, or depression when not on the computer or involved with their video game.
  • May incur large phone or credit bills for on-line services.
  • Can't control computer or video game use.
  • Fantasy life on-line replaces emotional life with partner.

What do you think? 

Do you think people can be addicted to games like World of Warcraft? Do you think that this is becoming a serious problem? Or do you feel that this has all been blown out of proportion by a few over zealous anti-video game nut jobs? Do you know anyone (including yourself) who has had serious consequences due to games like WoW?

Lensmaster

lj wrote

help my sister is 45 and plays 42 hrs a week, don't play is this too much? avoids any other social events, and leaves family functions to play. don't know if I am paranoid or if this is normal

Reply Posted June 16, 2009

ClaytonKashuba wrote...

I wrote an article today about the reason why world of warcraft is addicting. Please read it and let me know what you guys think!

http://www.squidoo.com/TheReasonWhyWorldOfWarcraftIsAddicting

ReplyPosted May 17, 2009

Lensmaster

RubyJ wrote

I definitely agree that you can let WOW take over your life. Putting the word Addiction on it almost gives people an excuse " I'm addicted, it's the game's fault!" Truth is people just don't have to will power to STOP. If you are addicted, it's time to get off the dang computer and back into the world. Playing WOW is great! I personally love the game, but I also compete in 3-4 triathlons a year, am a college student, with boyfriend and I work. Word of the century : Moderation.

Reply Posted March 14, 2009

Lensmaster

Wowgoldfan wrote

People can be addicted to World of Warcraft Games because it's fun especially if you get better items by getting more wow gold. They wouldn't blame the game for it's the manner in which the person uses it.

Reply Posted January 14, 2009

Lensmaster

Bob The Builder wrote

Can we do it!? Yes we can!

Reply Posted October 09, 2008

 
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My WoW Addiction-(dance included!) 

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