You may notice that he's missing from this week's show. He'll probably be gone for the next couple of weeks as well; it sort of depends on when the doctors release him. You see, Wes has been diagnosed with acute games addiction. He has been understandably reluctant to talk about his problem. In fact, the rest of us in the DWP had no idea there was a problem at all. In fact, we had no idea he even played the game he has become addicted to.
The game in question is Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force. Not even Elite Force 2... just Elite Force. Here's a picture of Elite Force, just so you know what I'm talking about.
Weird, right? I don't even think Wes likes Star Trek that much. And let's face it; even Star Trek fans hate Voyager. Well, except for Seven of Nine. But I'm getting off track.
When asked about his addiction, all Wes can do is shout "I'M CUCKOO FOR STAR TREK VOYAGER: ELITE FORCE!" over and over and over again. It's really annoying, and that's the main reason we didn't want him on the show this week. I know the show is pretty bad already, but that would make it so much worse.
Anyway, please keep Wes in your thoughts and prayers over the next couple of weeks. Also, the post image is totally not a bad 'shop, but is an actual picture of Wes taken in the sanitarium.
This week we talk almost exclusively about games addiction. Spencer and Brent really got into it over this. Seriously, Eric threatened to spray them both down with the hose so they'd stop fighting. Enjoy!
[display_podcast]
- [ARTICLE] NoG BloG: Gaming Addiction
- [ARTICLE] Valve confirms DOTA 2
Oh, if only you'd waited two more episodes for this title. Then Control Point episode 30 and NoG episode 30 would've had the same title!
ReplyDeleteI look damn fetching in that uniform.
ReplyDeletePress X to Wes!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Spencer; gaming is not so much addictive as compulsive.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between the two is subtle - both can be incredibly deleterious to your life, but the addiction has the added drawback of the sufferer becomes acclimated to the addictive substance and ends up not getting any of the original benefits (IE: they don't get high, they just stave off the DT's).
It is something that laymen like us aren't alone in disagreeing over, though - professionals are also debating this stuff hotly.
Ripped from Answers.com, which is one of the more clear distinctions.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_an_addiction_and_a_compulsion
Compulsion versus Addiction
A COMPULSION is based upon the psychological principles of dependency, need and desire. Although compulsive behavior may have physiological aspects attached to it such as feelings of satiation, and psychological withdrawal, compulsion does not alter the brain the way addiction does. Compulsive behavior that is secondary to an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a neurobiologically acquired mental illness. ADDICTION on the other hand is a medical term that refers to a neurobiological process that in addition to compulsion, obsession, loss of control, and a continuation in spite of dangerous consequence, also must include as part of its definition, a progressive neuronal desensitization, and a brain-based neurochemical alteration.
(also emailed to the hosts, in case they're not checking on the blog comments)
I haven't listened all the way through yet but it seems to me Spencer is already changing his definitions of addiction as he goes along. I think there is a distinction between chemical addiction (eg nicotine, caffeine, alcohol) and psychological addiction, but in my mind the root cause to either could be factors outside of the substance itself. People who drink lots often have other problems, for example. According to heroin addicts one of the best parts of the drug is that you don't care about any other problems. So yeah Spencer - you're argument makes no sense :P
ReplyDeleteI feel it's in some effort to defend gaming from being seen as inherently bad. Just because people are addicted to something doesn't make it inherently bad. Alcohol isn't bad in moderation, and neither is gaming. People often become addicted to work because it occupies their attention.
Pay attention to behavioral addiction and how behaviors have psychological and chemical impacts that may or may not affect one's life negatively... Addiction is an overused and belittled word, but substances and behaviors can have lasting effects on one's brain and social order.
ReplyDelete