|
Sensible Gaming
Most successful games have an addictive quality to them and it requires a certain amount of common sense to ensure your game playing remains healthy. Whilst there appears to be some debate about whether Video Game Addiction is a diagnosable addiction or not, there's no doubt it exists. Some rather extreme and tragic instances of it have been reported in the press, here for example.
To quote the BBC, "Gaming is like any other pastime - it can quickly become an unhealthy obsession, whether it is spending too much time in the gym, in front of the television, or reading poetry." Many games, however, are addictive by their very nature and this is particularly the case with MMORPGs, which can be very immersive. They also generally have a levelling up process, whereby your avatar becomes more powerful the more you play. This can lead to an unhealthy desire to spend as much time as possible levelling up, at the expense of important real-life activities (catassing).
In the case of games which involve some form of skill-based gambling such as poker, real-economy virtual worlds or casual cash games, gambling addictions can play a part too. Addiction to such games can, in my unqualified opinion, lead to the following problems:
(i) Financial Problems
(ii) Health Problems
(iii) Time Problems
Financial Problems
I've seen many articles that suggest thinking that gambling can be a means to make money is an indication of addiction. I have a problem with this since I know a number of people whose sole income comes from gambling activities. However, it can certainly lead to financial problems if you aren't sensible. There's a big difference between an informed gamble and a wild bet. Common sense plays a big part here. Often quoted valid points to bear in mind are "Only gamble what you can afford to lose", "Keep detailed records" (so you know where you're winning money and where you're not) and "Don't chase losses" (lose £5 bet £10, lose £10 bet £20, lose £20 bet £40, etc, may normally work but one bad day you'll find yourself broke, guaranteed). If you're losing money fast, you're not gambling well - either learn more about the game you're playing and change your style of play or call it a day. Don't expect miracles - start out slow and learn as you go along, almost all gambling sites allow you to play for free or close to it, use this to learn the game you're playing, or to familiarise yourself with a new site.
Health Problems
Playing games shouldn't be damaging your health. Make sure you still find time for your real-life. Exercise, healthy eating, good sleep and personal hygiene aren't things to forego in order to spend more time levelling up! If you're finding you're getting some RSI either take more breaks and/or experiment with various mouse/keyboard setups to make it more comfortable. Taking regular breaks is important anyway - your concentration will dip if you don't, and staring at a computer screen for a long time is bad for your eyes - periodically focussing on something in the distance is supposed to help that.
Time Problems
Games shouldn't be taking over your life. Make sure you still go out with friends, don't neglect your job and other responsibilities, etc. You might be making money playing poker but if it adds up to $5 an hour, you'd be making more money per hour working in Burger King. Its sounds silly but make sure you're aware of how much time you spend playing and thinking about playing. If its too large, take measures to cut down.
|
Off topic rant on 'gambling'
Sometimes the distinction between gaming and gambling can be a little unclear. In some countries playing cash 'games of chance' is illegal whilst playing cash 'skill-games' is legal. This leads to the word 'gambling' being avoided at times. I think this can at times be ridiculous; we all gamble everyday. Getting out of bed is a gamble. Getting in your car is a gamble. The choice of putting your money in a reliable low-interest savings account or in a high-risk, large-reward fund is a gamble (either way). Almost every decision we make in life is a gamble.
When you go on holiday, you gamble with your life that the plane isn't going to crash, and you gamble with your money/time that the holiday destination is going to be what you hope for and that the weather will be nice. When you play a lottery or a game of chance you gamble with your money that chance will work out in your favour. When you play a skill-game you gamble with your money that you'll be a better player than your opponent.
The word "gambling" carries a stigma for some reason. I've lost count of the amount of times intelligent people have told me "you can't win at poker in the long run, the house always wins". They mean well for sure, but they don't understand gambling any more than the guy who loses his house to credit card debts that funded his poker habit. Undoubtably the sad fact that the latter people exist has brought about this stigma, but if you're going to offer advice to people at least learn something about the thing you're offering advice about. The definition of 'Gambling' is not:
1. Bad
2. A mug's game
3. The root of all evil
It is:
1. playing games of chance for money
2. betting (a sum of money)
3. taking action in the hope of an uncertain, desired result
Gambling can be done sensibly both for entertainment and/or for profit. Its no more immoral than buying petrol for your car (probably less so), and when done responsibly no more dangerous than driving your car (certainly less so).
|