My name is Nate Zemanek and I am currently a freelance reporter and journalism student at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. I am writing a story on video game addiction, and I was looking for someone who would like to share an anecdote. I can be reached by e-mail at natezemanek@gmail.com or on Skype with the username natezemanek.
Any talk would be appreciated.
May I suggest that you have your request vetted through the executive of OLGanon? That would set our minds at ease. Thanks, Brad
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Which way are you basing your story on addiction? Are you promoting the existence of this addiction? Are you questioning its existence? This would be good to kow beforehand.
"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." --W. Clement Stone
I spoke with Nate today, for about 40 minutes. You all ask good questions. Nate can respond to them. Liz
Liz Woolley
I wouldnaEU(tm)t mind answering questions and can be very honest about my experience with online games. However, I always have the fear that it will be yet another article that paints online game addicts as a bunch of socially isolated rejects. It seems that most reporters must go into these interviews with preconceived notions of what gamers must be like, and therefore are looking for cases to back there theories up. It is like they watch that one "World of Warcraft" episode of South Park, and go find that 20 year old kid in his parent's basement living off of powerbars and Mountain Dew. There is so much more to it than that.
Until we are tested, how do we know if we will pass?
Thank you all so much for your responses. Per the request of my editor, however, I've had to adjust the angle of the story to focus less on addiction and more on the social aspect of gaming (competition, among other things). This seemed to be the only way to make it more local, although I am rather reluctant to make the switch myself. I suppose the feature story I am writing, though, isn't nearly as effective a venue as this site must be. The addiction angle will be worked in, but the only people in my area I was able to interview play games like World of Warcraft together in the same room (four people with four computers), and that seemed to me like something worth noting.
Sounds like a real crack house there! But seriously, I believe in China there are various internet gaming hostles where a great many people play simultainiously. Thank you for your honesty about the real direction of your article.
"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." --W. Clement Stone
Another reason for the switch (in relationship to localization) is a company that was started in my hometown that allows people to pay by-the-hour to game at their location. They hold tournaments and the like, but they also rent the place out and allow people to come and play alone. The owner of that store and his comments convinced my editor that the new direction should be focused there. But thanks again!
There's a place in my city that's open 24 hours a day. It's a sad, lonely place called Head to Head Games. You can literally show up there at noon and play until the sun rises the next day. Makes me die a little inside just thinking about it.
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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I am sure the shop owner doesn't want the angle or your story to be how excessive gaming can be bad. That would be bad for business! haha! :D Good luck with your article.
Until we are tested, how do we know if we will pass?
Really sad.... Let's not tell what CAN happen to people who game. Keep that hush, hush. Too bad, Nate.
Liz Woolley