Since the AMA has declined to classify video game addiction as the same as substance addiction, the bowels of the Internet are venting their spleen about what they think gaming addiction really is, and what it isn’t. Gamespot user Draqq_Zyxorian had this to say in his latest blog entry:
“PASSION. Somehow, this word is abandoned for the more fearful word: ADDICTION. Could it possibly be that when someone sacrifices much of their livelihood towards the pursuit of success in video games, it is not because of addiction, but because they are passionate about it? You know, like they would a sport – which is a GAME, I might add. Poker, blackjack, paintball, deer hunting, mixed martial arts. Last time I checked, sacrificing most of your livelihood, even for something that involves gambling or violence, can also be called dedication and heart.”
He goes on to compare the folks that play games obsessively enough to forget to eat, sleep, and bathe to athletes of all kinds. Somehow equating the passion that the athletes have to become the best they can be to video game players doing the same. The only problem is, I’m pretty sure that there are very few folks in any sport that have gotten so passionate about honing their craft that they forgot to eat for a few days.
Link! (GameSpot)