Is it possible to be addicted to computer games? (Do You Get Addicted to Computer Games?)

Member Name: jpegington

Product:	Do You Get Addicted to Computer Games?
Date:	03/12/06 (116 review reads)
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I have to say as I start this review, that I am not and never really have been addicted to computer games, at least not according to my knowledge.

Firstly, lets think about what addiction actually means, so I looked it up in the dictionary and found the following:

"Uncontrollable craving, seeking, and use of a substance (such as drugs or alcohol)."

Therefore in order to be addicted to computer games you would need to have an uncontrollable craving to play that same game.

Now I would say that I have loved playing computer games and have played many for hours and hours on end, my favourite would be Championship Manager 97/98.

Now I was playing this a lot when it first came out, and still play it today some 10 years later, but am I or was I addicted to the game? I would say NO, yes I probably wanted to play it and played it a lot, but when I needed to do something else (like study for my A-Levels) then I made certain that I did that as a first priority.

Now I acknowledge that I am speaking from my own experience and never having been addicted to anything that I might well annoy a number of people by what I am about to say, but I do believe that what I am about to say is correct.

Therefore having put in that statement, I would say that it would have to be very hard to be addicted to a computer game. How can an addiction to a game be uncontrollable? I suppose it all has to come down to the individual person and how strong they are.

Now I can understand with drugs, smoking etc that there is a chemical inbalance that the drug puts into your body which causing said addiction. However with computer games there is no such chemical inbalance, therefore it would seem to be that it has to be an emotional one.

Could it be (and I apologise to anyone who is upset by this statement) that said computer addiction is actually one of just being lazy?

What do I mean by that? Well I would say that very often it is easier to just play computer games then it is to study or actually work, therefore they just give into the easiest way. I would say that it would be very hard to be actually addicted to computer games, much rather that it is an easier path than working and studying. In fact I can understand that myself very much, when I play computer games now it is a nice release from the pressures from work and / or house work. But would I be addicted? I don't think so.

Anyway my opinion is that it would be very hard to get addicted to computer games and personally think that it is probably a cop-out.

Now I know that everyone is different and that therefore it is hard to make a sweeping statement that I have just done, however I would think that everyone has to take responsibility for his own actions and not blame it just on addiction.

Therefore in my opinion I am not addicted to computer games and never have been and think it would be hard to be addicted to computer games.

Sorry if I have offended anyone, mark it down that I do not know your circumstances.

Summary: No, I doubt that computer games can be addicted.