KATHERINE NGUYEN of The Orange County Register writes:
Thirty seconds. That's how much time Brian Alegre allowed himself for a bathroom break before rushing feverishly back to his computer video game.
The fear of getting killed, losing the battle for his team or, worse, being outranked in points by another player compelled the Westminster teenager to guzzle energy drinks and stay glued to his computer for 15 hours straight.
"In the summer, I basically didn't shower or brush my teeth," said Alegre, 19. "I didn't realize it at the time, but yeah, I guess I was addicted."
The Lincoln Standard has been running articles the past few weeks dealing with addictions. This week reporter Carolyn Harmon looks at video game addiction on page 19 of this paper. Can video gaming become an addiction?
Game Career Guide notes:
“Video game addiction is a faster growing epidemic than most are willing to acknowledge”.
Associated Content, a supplier of web content for webmasters, agrees:
“With the advancement of video games, internet and Web technology comes the development of an all new mental health epidemic commonly referred to as the video game addiction.”
Some will deny there can be an addiction because gaming addicts will never be living on the street or begging for money, therefore; gaming addiction is not taken as seriously as other types of addiction. But when we take a closer look we see stricking similarities between other addictions and those addicted to gaming.
WebMD reports:
“The [cocaine] addict learns, ‘I don’t like the way I feel, I take a line of cocaine.’ For gamers, it’s the fantasy world that makes them feel better.”
The lure of a fantasy world is especially relevant to online role-playing games. These are games in which a player assumes the role of a fictional character and interacts with other players in a virtual world. All that play virtual world-like games are not addicts. But to the addict the virtual life becomes more appealing than real life.
Where’s the Harm?
Too much gaming may seem relatively harmless compared with the dangers of a drug overdose. Yet we can see how it can affect both the teen and the adult. The teen will lock themselves in their room each night and over the weekends with little or no interaction with others in the home. In adult addicts, compulsive gaming can jeopardize jobs or relationships. Adults with compulsive desires to play, will do so as much as three to four hours almost every day and even more on weekends occasionally putting off meals or sleep.
Media Family.org gives us this list of signs to consider if you have a problem in this area:
•You play games more than five hours a day.
•You experience significant weight loss or weight gain as a result of playing.
•Weekend sleep patterns are disrupted by the need to play.
•Thoughts or statements about the game regularly invade normal conversations.
•Relationships with family or friends take a plunge.
•You play at work.
•Work or school performance suffers.
•You avoid phone calls from friends and/or lie to them about how much you play.
All addictions seem to stem from a poor view of self and applying the wrong solution to overcome that view. Compulsive gambling, workaholics, drug additions, eating disorders and video gaming alike are driven by the way in which it makes that person feel. A person that has convinced themselves they don’t have much to boast about can become a hero with superhuman powers in this fantasy land, not just an every day Joe. This life, though make believe, becomes nearly real, when others in the real world are locked out so that they cannot interfere with the gamer. The lure is that in this world one can be someone they are not in the real world. One can capture worlds and kill the bad guy, or even be a bad guy if they so desire, and not go to jail, but gain needed points.
Online chat rooms are another example of fantasy addiction. A man or woman will risk losing their family and possessions they have worked hard to obtain in order to cyber-chat each night for hours with someone who says they look just like Brad Pitt. They spend more time building an online dream life, than the time needed to fix a real life relationship with the person in the next room. Sadly, we all know some that have lost it all because of this fixation on an illusion.
It’s not that the assessment of their lives is wrong. The empty feeling they wish to fill is very real and can be found in all of mankind. It is what they use to fill this emptiness with that is wrong. Like all addictions, highly idealized thinking of how bad life is and how great it has now become in this preoccupation with thoughts and fantasies of a world that is an illusion, grows to a need that must be met in the mind of the addict. They then see the addiction as the only answer to deal with this need. In the end, this chasing of a bogus Easter bunny leads to a wasteland of more wanting. The thrill comes from seeking that next happy moment. This happy bunny will never be caught for the Easter bunny does not exist at Easter, nor in the drive to want more. A junky will always plan to quit next week after he gets his fix, but puts off the quitting for yet another week when the time comes. A gambler will plan to stop after his next big win, but loses all in trying for his next big win. The gamer will plan to stop after the next level is attained, but then the next game is released.
No one understands the addict, or so he thinks. However, the Bible does understand and addresses this enslavement. Gaming is not wrong. Work is not wrong. Drugs are not wrong. Having sex is not wrong. Living a life where these things control you is wrong.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Paul is talking about food and sex in this passage, both of which are good when used as God would have us use them. But also they can be abused and misused. Drugs can be used in the right way and be very beneficial to us. Yet when abused they are not only illegal, but also can cause danger to our health and even death.
If we were look at 1 Timothy we would find characteristics of church leaders.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
I think you will agree that the one governing factor over these characteristics is self-control. One cannot live a life where their desires control their life. World centered psychiatry tells us to live out our desires. This may seem like good advice at first. But all desires cannot be acted upon, or it will lead to ruin. We must then have discipline in order to resist desires.
Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Though one can have a form of self-control, having full control does not come from within. Holy Spirit is the only one that can change our willful desires into contented living. Happiness only comes from contentment, not getting to the next game level, or having more sex.
Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
In Christ you will have this contentment.