MSG Board Addictions...

Hello Pankrat

Thank you for stopping by!

Actually you are making a great point here. Yes, addiction to the Internet and boards may be very similar to an obsession with an online game, it is just a different medium you are using.

As a matter of fact I am using boards now as a tool for limiting my withdrawal symptoms
But I do seriously try to limit my time on the boards as much as I can. I read books instead.

If you don't mind spending a little time on different websites, we have great links to different sites on addiction and psychology of cyberspace. Just check "Related Links" and "Professional References" to see for yourself.

Good luck

Laima

Laima,

I was made aware of "board addictions" last night. I was told that some EQ Server Boards have a life of their own..that some folks dont really play much EQ but devote a lot of time trying to be successful ing being someone on Server Boards. This is news to me.

You made good points in response to the author of this thread.

At least in this board, we ARE being productive as we do offer sympathy and help (in any way we can) do those who wish to quit the game. We arent trying to be "someone", I could be anonymous for all I care.

Suree

/em beats Soprena's title with a stick in an effort to make the thread normal looking.

Quote:To the person who created this site and the regulars of this board. Do you spend hours obsessing over this board? Do you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night thinking of a witty retort or clever new subject to post? Could it be that if you took your own tests in re: to spending time on this board that perhaps you would find... you are addicted?!A valid question.
Well I am the primary architect of this discussion board as you see it now. To answer your question... No. I have a very fulfilling real life now that I didn't have when I was playing EQ 40 hours per week. I spent alot of time developing this board and posting here, but that time has waned and I visit maybe once a day for a quick read for new messages with only an occasional post.

One can use this board in many different ways. It can be a hangout for friends, a flameboard for people who have nothing better to do, or it can be a tool to help one regain control of his life after a long period of excessive, compulsive gaming.

When one has reached that place of inner peace where he is comfortable with who he is, and not ashamed of the things he does and stands for, then there is no compelling reason to stay up late at night thinking of witty retorts or clever posts. We are each learning here, and growing from it. Regardless of whether one believes it or not.

Ron

Ron Jaffe AKA Diggo McDiggity
Discussion Board Administrator
Everquest player from July, 1999 to April, 2002
Over 4,900 Hours Played

Edited by: Diggo McDiggity at: 3/15/03 7:46:02 am

I think Ron summed up the whole issue and gave the best advice to all of us when he wrote:

****When one has reached that place of inner peace where he is comfortable with who he is, and not ashamed of the things he does and stands for, then there is no compelling reason to stay up late at night thinking of witty retorts or clever posts.****

Thanks Ron
Laima

ps. Suree, have you gotten my e-mail?
L.

I wonder why Soprena's post was deleted. He said something akin to a "little will power..." that I was going to address.
Anyway, the author of this original thread said-
Quote:Do you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night thinking of a witty retort or clever new subject to post?
I dont see anything anywhere in this board that would fall on the "witty retort" category. Au contraire, Pierre, I see the EQ server message boards packed with "witty retort". In fact, I see a lot of energy spent belittling people, harrassing people in the server boards, I actually feel sorry for the poor sap they are flaming. Really, with the impending war in the Middle East Region, you would think people would spend more time talking about this crisis...theres really nothing intelligent and productive in those message boards applicable to real life.

L, I did get your email. Thank you But there is just soooo much to tell, I dont know where to begin. Let me get some steam here and reply to your email.

Suree

I deleted my posts because I had messed up my custom board title. Darn..I forget what I wrote. Oh yeah -- about will power.

When people talk about Everquest "addiction," the "addicting" elements of the game come up. We all know that they are there -- they just affect some people more than others. But when we talk about internet addiction in general, or message board addiction, these factors are largely absent. Compulsively reading message boards and posting to them, instead of doing what you are supposed to be doing, is simply a lack of willpower, for whatever reason.

But my other point was that this is a slippery slope. Some would call alcoholism a lack of willpower. Some would say the same about obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Some would say the same about compulsive online gaming, which goes on while you see your family and other aspects of your life crumbling around you. There are no bright lines here. I think that they all have to be forms of mental illness. Who in their "right mind" would play a computer game to the point that their spouse and children leave them over it? Yet it happens.

Right..you posted that, and Im glad you posted it again. EQ and Message Boards are two different worlds apart, and that Message Board would fall under a general dependency on being on the internet.

Let me add on to something while you have mentioned Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and I feel that I can speak about this because I have had OCD for a very long time.

Playing Everquest do not fall under the category of OCD. It falls under the Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) in the same neighborhood of gambling, alcoholism, and sex. Because, people with OCPD actually ENJOY what they are doing. While in the process of acting out their OCPD, they get a "high" out of it. OCPD is a syndrome of its own.

People with real OCD, people who wash their hands till raw, people who count and arrange things, people who pick their hair, DO NOT enjoy doing these. When unwanted thoughts enter their minds, they do NOT want these. In fact, they only do these because they feel something terrible will happen if they do not do their rituals. They undergo a "brain lock" if they do not carry on. MRI scanning has proven that higher activity in the basal ganglia of people with OCD occur. Imagine the person who has Tourette Syndrome, trying to fight off spewing cuss words, he will almost turn blue. That is OCD. No amount of will power in god's green earth can overcome that, except prolonged Behavioral Therapy and tricyclic anti-depressants, which in itself would only lead to managing compulsions.

While perhaps playing EQ without any awareness may fall under "compulsion", the person has to have a type of obsession to be truly diagnosed with OCD. 12 Steps will work with people on OCPD, but that will not work with OCD. Especially atheist people with OCD like me.

Suree

Edited by: tie22dna at: 3/15/03 6:59:08 pm

"Addiction" is often measured subjectively by the adverse effect on one's life (jobs, relationships, eating, hygiene etc.) not on the say of someone who says you're addicted to message boards. Sure, look at the time you spend using message boards, but also measure the quality of your life since you quit gaming. Are you less destructive, selfish and aloof? They you're on the right path. My psychiatrist tells me I need to avoid swapping addictions. I went from porn to RPG's, but that's another story.

Cheers,
BGH

I still think that in most cases people who have challenges with EQ have challenges elsewhere in their life prior to EQ and EQ mismanagement is just one symptom of a larger problem. Those that truly had no other problem with their life (paid bills on time, had a perfect relationship with wonderful communication quality time, fulfilling life with productive hobbies and had no other addictive habits) then yes...maybe EQ was the one negative factor that ruined someones life. I find that a hard pill to swallow though.

So no, I don't think someone in their "right mind" would leave a spouse and children over a computer game, but I also think that in most cases there are underlying issues with that individual and EQ happened to be the first obvious thing to point a finger at for all their problems. Blaming EQ is like pointing a finger at one or several individuals that affect a relationship and say "They are the reason this failed". There is a good chance there is far more to it then that.