Fresno Famous

computer games = time wasters

it's only a computer game that will be out dated by the end of this decade. Seek Help and get out in to the real world. Your computer gaming addiction is not that much different than people with a gambling addiction.

I know I used to waste my time playing Warcraft 2, Starcraft, Diablo and other blizzard games.

hmmm,

Personally? I find Justice's point to be valid.

I had roomies and friends back in the mid to late eighties in college who were huge into roll playing games, (only they weren't even on computer.)
-That got very strange, -and to be honest, I found a lot of unhealthy behavior and folks who could not function well in regular life, --but were just dandy at roll playing 24-7... (at least they made it out of the house... (they also would come crawling through my window at 2 in the morning, wrecked cars, and gave each other v.d.)

The computer is just a tool.
It's nice when you have dialogue and interraction with others and communicate via that tool,
----but I can peel off story after story of people who I've known in the past ten years who's real lives were not at all what they were presenting online,
---and when (my) real life started to interract with (theirs,) ---(vs. online,) things got really messed up.

Regrettably most folks take computers as being some sort of alternate reality anyway, and when you start getting involved
(by 'getting involved,' I mean thinking that you are dealing with a real human being, their thoughts, their actions, intents, etc. etc.) ---you open yourself up, (as do they,) to a real mess.

Now, I realize that we all have limitations in how we communicate with others, --and realize that meeting folks on line and interracting with them can be really cool.
(My online friendship with you for example, (is cool,)
... I could also walk right past you down on Olive and wouldn't even know...) -which is not cool...
I look at writing and caring about someone who I've not met yet in person as being just that, -caring about somebody I've not met YET.

I think 3D interraction is superior.
I think it is far healthier, --and I'm always glad to be able to meet folks who I've been writing and such...

I can personally attest to tons of situations where a lot of unnecessary feelings, mistakes in tone and impressions, even extreme violence and such has broken out over internet discussion.

-Which is also quite sad, (and again, it's kind of unusual for folks to be completely who they are in public as they are online, and I think a lot of people don't realize that what they are saying will be taken as 'truth,' (both by others and by authorities if need be,
---yet to them 'they're just typing.')

In the mental health field there is this quality of diagnosis where we're always stepping back and saying, '..okay, this person is delusional, --but are they happy in their delusions...?'
-And we interrupt and try to adjust things only if they are unhappy, at risk, or others are at risk...
-But PLEASE NOTE -the person is still considered delusional either way... (the person is understood to be not well...)
--The goal is wellness, -we were settling for 'not in jeopardy,' (sort of like looking at a slower moving forest fire that just so happened to not be heading towards an orphanage...)

I find these simulated lives, and excessive 'fantasy,' lives to be just more complex, easier to access, and highly addictive delusions.
The answer to such things IS to walk away from that 'world,' and embrace the one, (and the people,) who are in reality, -and this needs to be a definite (albiet sometimes uncomfortable) lifestyle choice.

Denial!

I am an addictive sortve guy no doubt about that. On the other hand I really have a problem interacting with people in a real life situation I have since I was 12. It isn't that I do not do it well.....I just think, or try to of every possible scenario every possible thing that the other person is thinking. I do my best to come off as well as possible. After I go over everything said or done in my head and try and look at it in at least 3 different ways. Three different interpretations. If i know I am going to meet someone new I go over conversations in my head I practice what and how I am going to talk....its exhausting.

I can not do that online pure and simple there is no body language there is very little for me to think of besides what I read. Keeps my head less cluttered. Nonetheless I assume everyone does this to some degree I call it mental mastication. Anyone else do something similar?

WoW

Trust me, You're not alone. It's easy to get away to a fantasy world where you have influence and power. Even though it's through pixels. I've been Playing MMORPG's ( Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games)for a very long time. I'd say about 10 years. If you think you're bad, I had 8 lvl 60 characters on WoW. It started with UO them went to EQ, then WoW and most recently EQ2. It even went so far once that I transfered my character to a European server so I could play long through the night. I slowed down when I met the woman of my dreams but I couldn't shake it. Now she isn't part of my life. Not saying that it was the deciding factor but a big one. It is an addiction. I've even heard of people commiting suicide over those pixels. Up untill recently I was still playing. I deleted all those games because it was making me lose things in my life that are very important; Friends, loved ones, education, ect. I still feel like the first thing I need to do in the morning is "log in". I know there are many others out there as well. My advice: Quit. Find an outdoor hobby or something productive.

If you're feeling like you don't like real human interaction now...it might be the time to give it up.

~Justice101