Holding Gaming Companies Responsible

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Tommi
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Holding Gaming Companies Responsible

I just read this article suggesting Gaming publishers should take more responsibility:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-23576035

I think that letting gaming companies self-reulate is like asking Tobacco companies to regulate themselves. Gaming companies only motive is profits and quarterly earnings. Only government can step in and regulate. Their customers health and safety does not figure very high on the scale of their priorities.

I recently saw a documentary about Teddy Roosevelt. Though a conservative and Republican he was instrumental in bringing the Trusts to heel, and under government control. In those days the Rockefellers, the JP Morgans, Fricks et al sought to control entire industries (oil, railways, steel and such). Their motive was to creat monopolies so they could drive up prices and pay workers low wages. Teddy Roosevelt busted the Trusts and created and environment in which competition could better flourish.

We have the same analogy today. Gaming companies are ruining the lives of 7% to 11% of their customers. Without doubt they are aware of this as they religiously track player stats as part of their business model.

I believe the government should force the gaming companies to publish these stats so we, the public, can really know the truth about the damage gaming addiction does to a large percentage of our population.

Olga/non member since Dec. 2008 Check out my latest video on Gaming Addiction and public awareness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-6JZLnQ29o

Tommi
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News break: 24.4% for male

News break:

24.4% for male "heavy smokers" defined as smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day (18.5% for women) will get lung cancer
American Cancer Society. Lifetime Risk of Developing or Dying From Cancer. Updated 08/08/10.http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerBasics/lifetime-probability-of-developing-or-dying-from-cancer

So if we know that 7% ti 11% of gamers become addicts, what does this tell you?

The government has gone after tobacco companies, why not gaming companies?

Olga/non member since Dec. 2008 Check out my latest video on Gaming Addiction and public awareness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-6JZLnQ29o

Andrew_Doan
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It's a matter of time....

It's a matter of time.... then OLGA will explode with peeople seeking help.

Andrew P. Doan, MPH, MD, PhD

My Gaming Addiction Videos on YouTube: YouTube.com/@DrAndrewDoan

*The views expressed are of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the U.S. Navy, DHA or Department of Defense.

Exavatar (not verified)
Also the way we are being

Also the way we are being dumbed down with violence everywhere including games is ridiculous. We are raising a generation of simple minded human beings who want immediate gratification, find violence entertaining and don't connect with people on a personal, intimate level anymore. What happened to God and giving and love and sunshine and family time, etc. So yes I'm in favor of regulating games and at the very least publishing stats.

Gettingalife
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Exavatar wrote: What
Exavatar wrote:

What happened to God and giving and love and sunshine and family time, etc.

My knee-jerk response is that we're experiencing the results of about 60 years of prosperity in 1st world countries. A benefit of struggle is that priorities become more clear? At least part of it, I think.

Acceptance. When I am disturbed, it is because a person, place, thing, or situation is unacceptable to me. I find no serenity until I accept my life as being exactly the way it is meant to be. Nothing happens in God’s world by mistake.  Acknowledge the problem, but live the solution!

Xandtar
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This idea is precisely what

This idea is precisely what would be considered one of many "issues of the day", which On-Line Gamers Anonymous cannot and I hope will not take any stand on. As an organization it neither endorses nor criticizes any outside issue, however close that issue might seem. All that lies outside the scope of the organization, which is to promote recovery and healing, not debate. Or so I recall from my days behind the admin's curtain. (bows)

Leveling in Real Life

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Thanks Tommi for the link. I

Thanks Tommi for the link.

I think it is important to be informed about the developments surrounding gaming addiction issue.

"The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches." "The first step toward change is acceptance." "Once you accept yourself, you open the door to change. That's all you have to do." "Change is not something you do, it's something you allow."- Will Garcia

Tommi
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Yep you are right. It is not

Yep you are right. It is not the role of Olga.

Another historical paralell (have you guessed I love history?) is a well meaning Christian movement dedicated to the eradication of poverty and suffering of children. This was the WCTU (Womens Christian Temperance Movement) and the end result of their well meaning efforts was Prohibition.

That worked out really well!

Xandtar wrote:

This idea is precisely what would be considered one of many "issues of the day", which On-Line Gamers Anonymous cannot and I hope will not take any stand on. As an organization it neither endorses nor criticizes any outside issue, however close that issue might seem. All that lies outside the scope of the organization, which is to promote recovery and healing, not debate. Or so I recall from my days behind the admin's curtain. (bows)

Olga/non member since Dec. 2008 Check out my latest video on Gaming Addiction and public awareness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-6JZLnQ29o

daveb
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I think this is a good

I think this is a good article and all, but can I just want to say one thing. I know that we are all looking at these game companies and in essence tobacco companies as those who should be responsible for the products they sell. In reality I notice that nobody has mentioned the role of parents in shaping a child to not want to do this stuff. Case in point when I was young, my mom was a smoker, but she quit cold turkey after seeing the damage and made it a point to show us just how terrible it was. She was there to look at what we watched and what we did.

I am not saying that gaming companies shouldn't be in some part responsible, but I think it is very lazy to say that they should be the ones to take more responsibility. As a problematic gamer and a parent, I can safely say that I am there active in my child's life. I see there are many parents here who are doing everything they can for their children and that is awesome in my mind. I am just saying maybe we should also look to the parents to protect their children. What happened to the days when parents would screen what their children were doing before they did it or take an active role.

We say that these games are becoming a problem, but I have seen parents buying their small children violent games. I think that there is just as much, if not more responsibility with parents these days. Yes gaming can be addictive for a percentage of the population, but I wonder how much of this could be quelled if you were to see more parental involvement along the way? The problem is the use of videogames, television, food, books, sports or anything that calms the child and keeps them occupied as a pacifier.

Stopped Gaming 6/20/13! Excited to have a shot at life.

LearningSerenity
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Another factor that nobody

Another factor that nobody has mentioned yet is the enormously important role of stress in shaping addict brains. Without stress, it's downright hard to get addicted to anything, but with stress, all kinds of addictions become possible. Children of stressed parents are more likely to wind up with addictions, and that's true even if the child is still decently clothed and fed at all times. I mean...some people get addicted to WORK...the core problem is addiction, not the addicting agent of choice.

And finally, Xandtar is spot on about the fact that this is something about which we ought never publicly state an official OLGA opinion. All that will do is get us involved in a controversy that will hinder us from being able to fulfill our primary purpose. And with that being said, I have added my two cents and will leave it at that...even if following posts show me that I was misunderstood completely :)

When you're going through hell...keep going. --Winston Churchill There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still --Corrie ten Boom

Kate1song
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Tommi wrote: Yep you are
Tommi wrote:

Yep you are right. It is not the role of Olga.

Another historical paralell (have you guessed I love history?) is a well meaning Christian movement dedicated to the eradication of poverty and suffering of children. This was the WCTU (Womens Christian Temperance Movement) and the end result of their well meaning efforts was Prohibition.

That worked out really well!

Xandtar wrote:

This idea is precisely what would be considered one of many "issues of the day", which On-Line Gamers Anonymous cannot and I hope will not take any stand on. As an organization it neither endorses nor criticizes any outside issue, however close that issue might seem. All that lies outside the scope of the organization, which is to promote recovery and healing, not debate. Or so I recall from my days behind the admin's curtain. (bows)

confusing.

Things have changed a lot Xandtar...

Tommi
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Hmm... I was merely

Hmm...

I was merely expressing an opinion (as a recovering addict) on an issue that touches my life and family. Perhaps it is a cultural isssue. Where I live most believe society (aka the state) should and must protect individuals. For example whenever an advert is broadcast on telly for buy now, pay later, it is required to post a warning: lennen geld kost geld (borrowing money costs money). In other words companies are required to warn consumers of the risk of debt.

I am not advocating Olganon take a stand on this issue.

Concerning the role of parents, I agree they have some responsibilty. But equally I believe it is the role of society (aka the state) to educate parents and help protect them.

I will stop now. If you wish me to remove the post I will oblige.

Olga/non member since Dec. 2008 Check out my latest video on Gaming Addiction and public awareness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-6JZLnQ29o

lizwool
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Please do not remove this

Please do not remove this post. I would like to move it to World News, under the Addictive Design of Games. Thank you.

Liz Woolley

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