Hello all. I'd first like to introduce myself. My name is Bill. I am 28 years old, I live in Glendale, California with my wife of 5 years, and we both play World of Warcraft. We are able to disconnect with the game to function in the real world so we do not consider ourselves to be addicted. I am currently enrolled in the film school at Pasadena City College where I maintain a 3.8 gpa. I am currently speaking with an independent film producer/good friend about doing a documentary on video game addiction.
One thing I am interested in is hearing from parents about who they think is responsible for addicted gamers.
I am wondering if anyone would be willing to speak with me about this, either on film or off.
You can also reach me at a_wback01@yahoo.com
Thank you very much.
as a very recently admitted gaming addict i think the blame lies with myself. not that im to blame but i have an addictive personality and it manifested itself in gaming, as it does for some as substance abuse, others in over eating and so on. im not responsible for my gaming addiction but i also cant point the finger at anyone else, all i AM responsible for is my recovery.
for some people 1 minute of gaming is too much and 1000 is never enough
I believe as an addict that no one is to blame-circumstances happen sometimes that are out of our control. Turning to addiction isn't a wise choice, but sometimes we don't know any better. Laying blame is often hurtful by nature, regardless of addiction and is something I choose not to do. Laying blame doesn't fix the problem.
That said, all responsibility to recover and make amends for the malady lies with the addict. We can ask no one else to make up for the hurt we've caused.
"Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win." -Jonothan Kozol
I would have to echo what others have said--I'm also a recovering alcoholic as well as a recovering addict gamer. I come from a long line of multi-generational alcoholism on both sides of my family. I don't necessarily like everything I was handed from my family, however I would not blame my parents for my alcoholism or addiction, since they didn't ask to be born into the lineage either. They only gave what they had, and it's far harder to step out of these systems than it is to step into them.
We have many deeply caring parents here at the site, who are struggling with the agony of watching their children suffer with gaming addiction. I am curious if maybe you can broaden or change the focus of your question at all? If you don't mind me speaking frankly, it sounds like a rather loaded question, and perhaps you don't mean it as such.
Cheers, Desire to Stop
ALL quoted text (unless otherwise stated) comes from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (with wording sometimes changed only to make it more relevant for gaming addiction). I will include page numbers.
Hoping & praying for a measure of recovery for all of us today.
'If you don't mind me speaking frankly, it sounds like a rather loaded question, and perhaps you don't mean it as such.'
I thought it might just be me! I don't like the question at all, as I think it means to blame parents for young one's gaming.
And that sensation is from one who has no children that game!
Sorry if my instinct is wrong.
Im a parent. My daughter gave me a WoW demo disc. I only played played online poker before then (not using real money). im an addict an an excessive gamer. I cant blame my daughter for my gaming addiction, just like i cant blame my parents for my substance abuse. The behavior (gaming, using) is only a symptom. What is wrong i have to find out for myself. OLGA and other programs are tools that i can use to find out what it is
Hmmm. Who is responsible for my son's gaming addiction? Good question. I don't think anyone knows. His addictive tendancy is probably something he was born with, though a respected addiction researcher that I know says that 10% of addicts who never had any propensity to addiction can become addicted simply by being kept in prolonged contact with their "drug of choice", usually through peer pressure. That certainly fits what happened to my son. He had played video games all of his life, but never had a problem until he stumbled into a game where peer pressure kept him there for hour after hour. Am I responsible? I don't know. If I had known he was playing a different type of game than all the others he had played before. If I had kept him home instead of letting him go away to college. If I had not let him have a second chance after he failed his first semester.
All I know is that he is responsible for his life going forward.
"Small service is true service while it lasts. Of humblest friends, bright creature! scorn not one
The daisy, by the shadow that it casts,
Protects the lingering dewdrop from the sun." -------William Wordsworth
I agree and apologize. I should have stated the question better.
What I am trying to do is provide three perspectives in the film. 1) From gamers themselves 2) From parents of gamers and 3) Distributors/designers.
I bring up the issue of blame, because many of the articles that are circulated to the public (most of whom have no idea about gaming addictions) shift the blame onto others. I believe that it is a team effort and that no one person or company is to blame. I would like to present the issue as truly as possible.