&: Happy Annivesary!!

Well, this message board is a year old, officially this month. We really have come a long way, and hopefully those who have joined us for the ride have come a long way as well.

I don't think we've cured anyone...but that has never been our goal. Our goal has been to proffer the idea that there are people of all ages who have problems with excessive and compulsive gameplaying, and that for a variety of underlying reasons, we have escaped to the online realms to soothe our pains, or to achieve greatness in other ways than we might or might not in real life. For us, our time away from the real world has caused some serious problems with our health and or relationships or other aspects of our lives.

We have learned many things while on this journey. For example:

- We've learned that online games are not the causes of our problems, but excessive playing of them is a symptom.

- We've learned that people of all demographics are susceptible to the charm of the online realms and the fame, fortune and adventures that they offer.

- We've learned that once someone has reached a point where they feel or know they have a problem...it usually means they do.

- We've learned that the problems associated with excessive and compulsive online gameplaying are such that they feed each other and tend to get worse. For example, someone may become sedentary by playing for 8 hours a day over a period of months or years. When he looks at the weight he's gained or how little energy he has now, he becomes depressed, which makes him sit and play that much more, which makes him even less healthy and energetic, etc.

- We've learned that simply playing for 'x' number of hours a day does not indicate a problem, necessarily...that whether or not one has a problem, is determined by how he feels, or by the feelings he associates with the game when he plays.

- We've learned that we have many adamant, outspoken critics of our work...and that we have as many or more quiet supporters.

- We've learned that it is possible for one to regain control of his life, and that whether it's by utilizing our variation of the 12-Step program which we endorse, or by some other method, one can recover to a state of normalcy in his life.

- We've learned that Online Gaming Addiction is similar to substance abuse.

- We've learned that Online Gaming Addiction is also different than substance abuse.

- We've learned that the problems caused by excessive, compulsive online gameplaying are as real and as serious as substance abuse.

- We've learned that not everyone shares our points of view.

- And we've learned that we are only human and have made our share of mistakes over the past year here. Indeed we have learned by our mistakes.

Most of all, we have learned that while we are not professionals in the mental health field and that we may not be going about this in the most beneficial way, that we are at least serving to educate the public at large, including the game developers themselves, that excessive, compulsive gameplaying is a serious problem that knows no age, sex or educational barrier.

To those who have undertaken the laborious task of maintaining this site, as well as those who have posted and/or contributed in some way over the past year...we thank you. Each post has filled in a piece of this puzzle of understanding.

Sincerely,

Ron Jaffe

Edited by: lizwool at: 9/12/03 3:51 pm