6-ABC: A fair look on video game obsession

Mom who lost her son to EverQuest - Image 1It’s no secret that millions of online gamers get too involved with their business. Normally, uninformed people would look at these time-consuming games as evil and even blame them for their problems. Philadelphia’s 6-ABC had something about MMORPGs on the news, but it was pretty fair.

The feature was about Greg Straff, a WoW player that spends much time with grinding and raids like other regular players. His mom Lori Straff, who now regulates his playing time, said “it’s really not healthy just to focus on this computer game and not socialize with your friends and on your schoolwork.”

Another mother, Elizabeth Woolley, believes that EverQuest caused her son to commit suicide. After skipping his ADD and epilepsy pills, quitting his job, and cutting off his phone along with any communications with friends and family, Shawn was found dead with a rifle in front of his computer with EverQuest on it.

Woolley thinks that companies are using gaming as drugs to get customers addicted for their own money. She created Online Gamers Anonymous to help gamers who get addicted to MMORPGs and “save” them. There, they share their experiences and help each other.

While psychologist Kristen Dudley believes that online games can draw you in to a life of isolation, she’s skeptic about those games causing someone to commit suicide. “Millions of people play these games every day and they don’t have a problem, but some are missing that connection with real life,” said Dudley.

According to Dudley, games are just catalysts like drugs, alcohol or gambling. Those who get obsessed had problems with depression or anxiety before and they just put it out on video games. She advises parents to limit the playing time of their children and time spent on the TV.

Now, how long will it take before Jack Thompson or other lawyers come up on TV and say violent games taught Shawn how to use a rifle?

Via 6-ABC

Mom who lost her son to EverQuest - Image 1It’s no secret that millions of online gamers get too involved with their business. Normally, uninformed people would look at these time-consuming games as evil and even blame them for their problems. Philadelphia’s 6-ABC had something about MMORPGs on the news, but it was pretty fair.

The feature was about Greg Straff, a WoW player that spends much time with grinding and raids like other regular players. His mom Lori Straff, who now regulates his playing time, said “it’s really not healthy just to focus on this computer game and not socialize with your friends and on your schoolwork.”

Another mother, Elizabeth Woolley, believes that EverQuest caused her son to commit suicide. After skipping his ADD and epilepsy pills, quitting his job, and cutting off his phone along with any communications with friends and family, Shawn was found dead with a rifle in front of his computer with EverQuest on it.

Woolley thinks that companies are using gaming as drugs to get customers addicted for their own money. She created Online Gamers Anonymous to help gamers who get addicted to MMORPGs and “save” them. There, they share their experiences and help each other.

While psychologist Kristen Dudley believes that online games can draw you in to a life of isolation, she’s skeptic about those games causing someone to commit suicide. “Millions of people play these games every day and they don’t have a problem, but some are missing that connection with real life,” said Dudley.

According to Dudley, games are just catalysts like drugs, alcohol or gambling. Those who get obsessed had problems with depression or anxiety before and they just put it out on video games. She advises parents to limit the playing time of their children and time spent on the TV.

Now, how long will it take before Jack Thompson or other lawyers come up on TV and say violent games taught Shawn how to use a rifle?

Via 6-ABC

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