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Gaming Disorder is an official illness by WHO

Vslayer

Juiced Moose On The Loose
Lead Moderator
But where is the exercise though? That shit's important.

At the end of the day it's your life, do what you want. That's a lot of gaming but if you don't think it's negatively impacting your life than more power to you.
I run and bike, and actually, hike a whole lot. Not ALL my week looks like what I mentioned above :p
 

fr stack

Noob's saibot or noob saibot's?
Been there myself through late mk9 early injustice days . Its more a symptom of the problem tbh didnt want to face my life so buried myself in video games . Luckily for me i joined an awesome kommunity of people who dont judge (-stream chats of course) encouraging me to better myself . Like if these guys can have steady jobs girlfriends social lives etc and still body me , maybe i need to look inward and git gud mentally 8)
 

Pan1cMode

AUS FGC represent!
Gaming Disorder


Gaming, music, poker, phone games, social media, smoking, drugs... ANYTHING can be a disorder when done in excess. When it takes a toll on the people closest to you. When you are streaming a game and your child is in the background crying/neglected (I have seen this myself). Unfortunately there are a lot of people in this scene who are delusional and justify their addiction by saying, "I am going to be a pro and top players tell me everyone can do it" Fact... most of those top players are scraping by. The same way people who smoke say it calms them down. This is truly only a hobby for 99.999999999999999% of people whether you like it or not. Most of you need an adult to tell you to get your ass back in school/trade.

I hope its not to late for most of you to realize this.
I mean, it can most certainly still be a hobby.

I manage to hold a job, complete post graduate studies, and play the video games I want. I also maintain several other interests, go out with friends and keep a healthy relationship with my partner of three years.

It’s about maintaining balance. To suggest that this isn’t possible in the vast majority of cases is disingenuous.
 

GLoRToR

Positive Poster!
Gaming Disorder


Gaming, music, poker, phone games, social media, smoking, drugs... ANYTHING can be a disorder when done in excess. When it takes a toll on the people closest to you. When you are streaming a game and your child is in the background crying/neglected (I have seen this myself). Unfortunately there are a lot of people in this scene who are delusional and justify their addiction by saying, "I am going to be a pro and top players tell me everyone can do it" Fact... most of those top players are scraping by. The same way people who smoke say it calms them down. This is truly only a hobby for 99.999999999999999% of people whether you like it or not. Most of you need an adult to tell you to get your ass back in school/trade.

I hope its not to late for most of you to realize this.
^ This.
 

GLoRToR

Positive Poster!
Technically, it works.

Work from 8 to 5. Game from 5ish to 11, sleep from 11 to 7. That's what I usually do.
Work and games are blurred for me right now because I'm freelance working on the computer so I literally just alternate.
I do aim to spend a bare minimum of at least 2 hours out in the open doing exercise every day (during the cold months) or up to 6 hours (during the warmer months) so it's usually games that get neglected. I have several real life obligations like tending to my elders, the house, other duties that also take precedence.
I'd like to use this as an excuse why I suck but frankly, I just suck XD

I still think I'm addicted to gaming, though. When I'm stressed I log into one of my games listen to some music and I'm right as rain in an hour.
Not to say walking in nature doesn't accomplish the same for me, but still.
 

Vslayer

Juiced Moose On The Loose
Lead Moderator
Work and games are blurred for me right now because I'm freelance working on the computer so I literally just alternate.
I do aim to spend a bare minimum of at least 2 hours out in the open doing exercise every day (during the cold months) or up to 6 hours (during the warmer months) so it's usually games that get neglected. I have several real life obligations like tending to my elders, the house, other duties that also take precedence.
I'd like to use this as an excuse why I suck but frankly, I just suck XD

I still think I'm addicted to gaming, though. When I'm stressed I log into one of my games listen to some music and I'm right as rain in an hour.
Not to say walking in nature doesn't accomplish the same for me, but still.
Man, playing this game does the opposite of relaxing me XD I do hike a lot tho so I got a good balance going even if I play a lot for 2-3 days during the week. I think as long as you can achieve good balance then you can't really let addictions take over. Not sure if I'm truly addicted to it, or just love progress and love the grind of getting better.

It hasn't been added to the DSMV has it?
 

Saboteur-6

Filthy Casual
Man, playing this game does the opposite of relaxing me XD I do hike a lot tho so I got a good balance going even if I play a lot for 2-3 days during the week. I think as long as you can achieve good balance then you can't really let addictions take over. Not sure if I'm truly addicted to it, or just love progress and love the grind of getting better.

It hasn't been added to the DSMV has it?
It will be. There's already listed criteria available.

The DSM-5 notes that gaming must cause "significant impairment or distress" in several aspects of a person's life. This proposed condition is limited to gaming and does not include problems with general use of the internet, online gambling, or use of social media or smartphones. The proposed symptoms of internet gaming disorder include:

  • Preoccupation with gaming
  • Withdrawal symptoms when gaming is taken away or not possible (sadness, anxiety, irritability)
  • Tolerance, the need to spend more time gaming to satisfy the urge
  • Inability to reduce playing, unsuccessful attempts to quit gaming
  • Giving up other activities, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities due to gaming
  • Continuing to game despite problems
  • Deceiving family members or others about the amount of time spent on gaming
  • The use of gaming to relieve negative moods, such as guilt or hopelessness
  • Risk, having jeopardized or lost a job or relationship due to gaming
Under the proposed criteria, a diagnosis of internet gaming disorder would require experiencing five or more of these symptoms within a year. The condition can include gaming on the internet, or on any electronic device, although most people who develop clinically significant gaming problems play primarily on the internet.
 
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xenogorgeous

.... they mostly come at night. Mostly.
" I will not apologize for who I am. I will not apologize for what I need. I will not apologize for what I want!" :p

 

Saboteur-6

Filthy Casual
Jesus christ OP sounds like he was born in 1950.
Nah man he's just keeping it real. P2W is just advocating people prioritize professional / personal growth over life imbalances pursuing the hobby of competitive FGC. I don't think the implication is that if you enioy competitive video games as a hobby = you're addicted. It's all about balance and realistic expectations.
 

CrimsonShadow

Administrator and Community Engineer
Administrator
I mean, there is true addiction, but as this relates to the top tournament community, this is pretty disingenuous.

Everybody knows that if you want to be the best, it takes hours and hours of practice to get there. So people commit to it just like any other pursuit.

Do you think Serena Williams became good at Tennis by playing an hour or so here and there? No. She was probably on the court for hours a day, with her sister and dad, every day. 99% of the people who try to become pro tennis players will also practice hours and hours, and still won’t make it like the 1%. Does that make it an addiction? No.

Think Steph Curry made the NBA by playing basketball like an hour a day? Nope. He was in the gym for hours a day, and watching games and tape for hours more. So are a lot of NBA stars. Lots of people who give everything towards basketball won’t make it and will end up doing something else. It’s normal.

So when I think of addiction, I’m not really thinking of people who practice/play a lot because they have to to compete. I’m thinking more of that guy who grinds for 18 hours a day and almost goes to the hospital so he can grab 500 pretty skins or loot boxes for some game. With no overall point, it’s just compulsive.
 
I mean, there is true addiction, but as this relates to the top tournament community, this is pretty disingenuous.

Everybody knows that if you want to be the best, it takes hours and hours of practice to get there. So people commit to it just like any other pursuit.

Do you think Serena Williams became good at Tennis by playing an hour or so here and there? No. She was probably on the court for hours a day, with her sister and dad, every day. 99% of the people who try to become pro tennis players will also practice hours and hours, and still won’t make it like the 1%. Does that make it an addiction? No.

Think Steph Curry made the NBA by playing basketball like an hour a day? Nope. He was in the gym for hours a day, and watching games and tape for hours more. So are a lot of NBA stars. Lots of people who give everything towards basketball won’t make it and will end up doing something else. It’s normal.

So when I think of addiction, I’m not really thinking of people who practice/play a lot because they have to to compete. I’m thinking more of that guy who grinds for 18 hours a day and almost goes to the hospital so he can grab 500 pretty skins or loot boxes for some game. With no overall point, it’s just compulsive.
And how many failed out of school or lost personal relationships or jobs attempting to be "the best" bc a lot of top players and community leaders spew garbage that you can make a living in this stuff? You don't hear about them do you? Just see the shiny silver lining which you are highlighting as well.
 

Vslayer

Juiced Moose On The Loose
Lead Moderator
And how many failed out of school or lost personal relationships or jobs attempting to be "the best" bc a lot of top players and community leaders spew garbage that you can make a living in this stuff? You don't hear about them do you? Just see the shiny silver lining which you are highlighting as well.
Trying to blame pros and the community is disingenuous. Your choices are your own. If you dropped out of school and wasn't able to balance training for tourneys and doing your homework, that's all on you and no one else. Stop trying to blame others, or objects, y'all talking like people don't have control over their own actions.
 

Rpgz

Fraudguad/Weeb?
And how many failed out of school or lost personal relationships or jobs attempting to be "the best" bc a lot of top players and community leaders spew garbage that you can make a living in this stuff? You don't hear about them do you? Just see the shiny silver lining which you are highlighting as well.
There will always be dropouts, failures, and addicts video games are not the cause. These ppl need therapy...or motorcycles idk...we are talking abt adults mk11 is rated M for Mature...plebs
 

CrimsonShadow

Administrator and Community Engineer
Administrator
And how many failed out of school or lost personal relationships or jobs attempting to be "the best" bc a lot of top players and community leaders spew garbage that you can make a living in this stuff? You don't hear about them do you? Just see the shiny silver lining which you are highlighting as well.
I mentioned that if you read my post. 99% won’t make it. I personally know someone who based his life around being a pro sports player, didn’t make it, went back to school late and is doing fine. Lots of people have similar life stories.

It’s ok to go for it when it’s something you love.

Likewise there are plenty of people who were top MK9 players who moved on in their mid 20s or 30s to go to college, get a job, have a family, etc. and don’t compete anymore. Some of them even work at NRS and parlayed their passion into making the games we play. It’s fine.

This is a personal life choice. It is NOT addiction simply because it requires a lot of hours and dedication to make a go for it.
 

M2Dave

Zoning Master
Likewise there are plenty of people who were top MK9 players who moved on in their mid 20s or 30s to go to college, get a job, have a family, etc. and don’t compete anymore. Some of them even work at NRS and parlayed their passion into making the games we play. It’s fine.
From my experience, most of those people, if they are wise, attend college while playing video games in their free time, usually over the summer. For example, I practiced Mortal Kombat 9 six to seven hours a day before my top 8 run at EVO, but I kept up with my education.

The problem for any 30 year old person with no college degree or job experience is the first question at any job interview that does not involve gaming. You will be asked "What have you been doing?" and if your answer includes "Playing video games competitively", you will be laughed out of the interview.

This is reality. Everything else is fantasy or delusion.
 
This is a personal life choice. It is NOT addiction simply because it requires a lot of hours and dedication to make a go for it.
To the person who lost a girlfriend and failed out of school and gained a lot of weight and would binge play for 10 hr sessions or so? What do you say then? Life choice or addiction?
 

Vagrant

Noob
And how many failed out of school or lost personal relationships or jobs attempting to be "the best" bc a lot of top players and community leaders spew garbage that you can make a living in this stuff? You don't hear about them do you? Just see the shiny silver lining which you are highlighting as well.

Actually competing in fighting games and taking them seriously competitively taught me how to fail, adjust, be humble, have confidence in myself, perform under heavy stress, learn from my mistakes, and be healthily skeptical. These skills I developed playing mk9 and IGAU competitively inspired me to go to school. And because of those skills I tore through community college and graduated with high honors and auditioned and got into a D1 music school that I'm currently finishing this year with a 3.7 cum while gigging professionally. (while also browsing grad schools who are offering me tuition waivers) I guarantee you that I'm not the only story that's like this. Video games still affect and change lives positively and we can't just pretend that the majority turn into potatoes without any sort of solid evidence.