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Sunday, 26 May 2019
quote [ The World Health Organization has decided to add gaming disorder to its list of recognized illnesses. The 194 members of the group made the decision today at the 72nd World Health Assembly. ]
We all play video games
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steele said @ 1:51pm GMT on 28th May
Dienes would probably be better suited for this discussion, but it's really no different than a gambling disorder. (Because that's what gaming is.) Anyone can be vulnerable to it, it's just about being caught up in a system that leverages behavioral reinforcement reward systems using symbols and metaphors that resonate with the player. Sure some people may be more vulnerable to a specific style of exploitation, but that's no more of a underlying personal imbalance than someone that becomes addicted to GoT over The Bachelor or Jeopardy. These games, whether WoW or Slot Machines (or social media) are designed in a way to be a addictive; To push your buttons, draw you in, and keep you coming back. It's not some underlying illness that this is a symptom of, it's literally what they're made to do. Now if you want to discuss about whether our materialistic, vapid, stress and fear filled society makes someone more likely to be vulnerable to these games in general, well then you might be on to something.
steele said @ 2:07pm GMT on 28th May
Dienes would probably be better suited for this discussion, but it's really no different than a gambling disorder. (Because that's what gaming is.) Anyone can be vulnerable to it, it's just about being caught up in a system that leverages behavioral reinforcement reward systems using symbols and metaphors that resonate with the player. Sure some people may be more vulnerable to a specific style of exploitation, but that's no more of a underlying personal imbalance than someone that becomes addicted to GoT over The Bachelor or Jeopardy. These games, whether WoW or Slot Machines (or social media) are designed in a way to be a addictive; To push your buttons, draw you in, and keep you coming back. It's not some underlying illness that this is a symptom of, it's literally what they're made to do. Now if you want to discuss about whether our materialistic, vapid, stress and fear filled society makes someone more likely to be vulnerable to these games in general, well then you might be on to something.
edit: That's not o say some people aren't more vulnerable than others; I do know there are drugs out there with a side effect of obsessive gambling. But sweeping this all under the rug as some sort of individual issue ignores that there is an entire industry built on leveraging, magnifying, and abusing these behaviors.
<-- Entry / Current Comment
steele said @ 1:51pm GMT on 28th May
Dienes would probably be better suited for this discussion, but it's really no different than a gambling disorder. (Because that's what gaming is.) Anyone can be vulnerable to it, it's just about being caught up in a system that leverages behavioral reinforcement reward systems using symbols and metaphors that resonate with the player. Sure some people may be more vulnerable to a specific style of exploitation, but that's no more of a underlying personal imbalance than someone that becomes addicted to GoT over The Bachelor or Jeopardy. These games, whether WoW or Slot Machines (or social media) are designed in a way to be a addictive; To push your buttons, draw you in, and keep you coming back. It's not some underlying illness that this is a symptom of, it's literally what they're made to do. Now if you want to discuss about whether our materialistic, vapid, stress and fear filled society makes someone more likely to be vulnerable to these games in general, well then you might be on to something.
edit: That's not o say some people aren't more vulnerable than others; I do know there are drugs out there with a side effect of obsessive gambling. But sweeping this all under the rug as some sort of individual issue ignores that there is an entire industry built on leveraging, magnifying, and abusing these behaviors.
