Comments on: Disorientation Affecting Someone Who Is Suddenly Exposed To An Unfamiliar Way Of Life.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:21:32 +0000

It's an interesting thought – I play a level 80 troll Rogue and have done for 4 years now more or less, I met my wife playing WoW (sad blah blah) and we have a couple of kids. I work full time, enjoy it all and yet there are those side effects aren't there?

While I was studying my degree part time I did a paper on the Social Effects of MMO's. I questionairred 50 people from various MMO's and interviewed 3 very different players. One was a student, one a baker and the third a marketing director. The most surprising find for me (perhaps due to my own ignorance) was that women who play can leave their addiction at the door and do not think about the game too much when not playing.

All interesting stuff

All the best,
Ashankt, Bloodhoof-EU
For the Horde!

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:39:11 +0000

Yes, as an individual you SHOULD see to fix your own problem, but how many drug addicts will go seek help voluntarily? It's like that with WoW as well. I'm from the U.S. so I'm not sure what this Dr. Graham is all about, but to my knowledge, there are no programs available for game addicts to seek the help from, even if they wanted to where I live. I am by far saying, or implying, that if you play x-hours a day, you should be forced to see the in game therapist. THAT would be imposing treatment. But if you wanted to talk to a therapist while you were in game, having that option would be nice. I mean, WoW does mimic real life in almost every other aspect. It is a society in and of itself. I learned that the first week I started to play. And yes, it got way out of hand for me, playing 12-16 hours a day, ignoring my "rl duties" and I did something about it. But I like to think of myself as a unique individual. There are some personalities that are just addictive, and they may not realize that it's that big of a deal until they start talking about it. I'm just saying it would be nice to have the option if you wanted to take advantage of it.

By: EdinMiama

EdinMiama — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:31:29 +0000

While I understand the sentiment Donna, as a country, we really need to move away from this nanny mentality that insidiously infects the fabric of our society.

If you do anything in excess and that activity has a negative impact on your life, then, imo, you as an individual should seek to fix your own problem before asking society to create a solution for you and thereby imposing societies will on a group of people who do not share your excess.

By: Psychiatrist to use WoW to reach (potential) WoW addicts | World of Warcraft Wanderings

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:28:49 +0000

[...] Popehat.com – Disorientation Affecting Someone Who Is Suddenly Exposed To An Unfamiliar Way Of… [...]

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:13:43 +0000

It's not psychology that says we don't LIKE that you LIKE to play games, that would be sociology. I am in school now to become a counselor, and I play WoW. I think it would be a good idea to offer this option in game, because how many of your guildies do you know who are so tired after raiding on a Tuesday Night they are exhausted for work Wednesday morning? Perhaps it would be a good idea to at least have the OPTION of a therapist while in game? Of course, they would have to play…I volunteer me!

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:30:06 +0000

I found you because I Googled Dr. Graham after reading about his crusade. Which is exactly what it is.

From where would he get his referrals? Woe be the doctor who has the nerve to approach me and say in a whisper s/he thinks I'm "at-risk" because s/he's seen me ingame the last few nights.

Of course if they all rolled Undead and hung around with the Apothecary Faction it'd be a bit more palatable.

Lok'tar ogar!
Akromah of Hyjal

By: EdinMiama

EdinMiama — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:01:30 +0000

72? Pffft noob.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:48:34 +0000

I keep thinking about joining back in, but I don't think anyone's still playing with the hordenance crew, and I really don't want to start over from the beginning.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:26:30 +0000

I think Patrick has the right of this: sai Graham is likely looking for funding, a book deal, or recognition. I've rambled at length on The-Board-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named about the ridiculousness of electronic-media addiction, and won't repeat it here.

I do feel compelled to add that, as a psychologist, I consider this kind of grandstanding as somewhere conceptually between ambulance-chasing and tinfoil-hat wearing. Most of the psychologists I know wince when stuff like this comes out. It's hard enough helping people with problems without this kind of press making us come off as a bunch of busybodies.

By: Professor Coldheart

Professor Coldheart — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:17:28 +0000

As a (non-online) gamer myself, I have a sick fascination with the way that WoW has balanced the effort/reward curve. If it's not perfect, it's the closest thing the entertainment industry has come to.

By: Alaska

Alaska — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:22:36 +0000

I stopped playing about 6 months ago. Had a lvl 77 druid (horde, of course – I, too, loathe the Alliance. Named him Vonmises. Since I have my own office, I could play when things got slow. Things haven't been slow, though, and I just sort of fell out of playing.

I bet that shrink would be Alliance, which means he would be trying to work on 13 year old kids.

For the Horde!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:17:04 +0000

PvE server.

Always Horde. I loathe the Alliance.

By: Scott Jacobs

Scott Jacobs — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:33:28 +0000

I really hope Wyrmrest is a PvP server… Because If it's PvE, I would have to ask what faction you're in, and if you know anyone who could part with a WoW disc and the expansion packs…

And none of us want that…

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:11:57 +0000

Oh, and they've cut the leveling curve, to make it easier for players who quit two years ago (as I did), to get back into things even if they don't remember the name or email address of the old account. They've even made travel easier. On the patch that drops next week, players can buy and train mounts at 20, and flying mounts at level 60. No, don't get back into it. Especially not on Wyrmrest Accord server, where I'd buy your first mount for free.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:08:08 +0000

Don't even try the new expansion Mike D. The raiding / dungeon end game is far more accessible to ordinary people who work for a living now, and therefore more highly addictive.