Rehab Center Help Kicks WoW Habit for $14,000

[nixname]

"Sometimes, I forgo doing some homework to play, but I always get my work done."

Something about this sentence and sentiment should be examined and called into question. Anyway, internet addiction is serious business in Asia, where these clinics have been around for a while and are not going anywhere (by night or otherwise). Games are great, and I defend them when I can, but there is something about them...and RPGs in particular that allow people to detach from their real life responsibilities and friends. The first time I turned down going out with friends because I had a raid, was a sad day, and as I caught myself explaining my "responsibilities" to the game I had to start to wonder. So sure, games are great, gaming friends are great, but nothing can replace real life. Log off a level up your social skills.

 

[-unknown-]

[citation][nom]valcron[/nom]People may not like it and ill get flamed for this. But I play MMO's and I can honestly say they are an addiction. Most will refute this but personally I think its just denial. Similar to drinking, denying they have a problem. (Not that everyone who plays MMO's get addicted, just depends on if you are prone to it, much like not everyone becomes an alcoholic. While these institutions are a joke relative to their cost I believe they are a good idea. Some people do not have the will power to just quit cold turkey without help and this gives them a place they can get away from it all and get past the withdraws. Of course what helped me curve my addiction is WoW just got plain boring and now I refuse to play more than 2 hours at a time. Hell most of the time I just log in twice a week for Raids and even those are boring now. Now if only I could put down Hello Kitty Online Adventure![/citation]
I don't think anyone doubts that people can get addicted to WoW, what I believe is the point of contention for most is the lack of self-control that is quoted by people with an addiction (to WoW or any other game for that matter).

At the end of the day, a video game is an entertainment source. Playing, reading, listening, watching, etc any entertainment source for a prolonged period of time (ie 12 hours) is unhealthy regardless of the source (book, movie, game, etc). People who state they are addicted and cannot quit their habit tend to gain very little sympathy from others as the "challenge" appears trivial. There is no chemical interference or dependency present like there is in alcohol/drug related addictions. It comes down to self-control and most people tend to lose respect for people with very little self-control.

 

[Guest]

i work 8 hours a day...so maybe i'm addicted to working...since the whole world is doing it then it becomes ok right.?

 

[dark_lord69]

I play games like maybe 5 - 10 hrs a week MAX. So this is not an issue.

 

[myriad46]

Ahhhh...I remember the days. Living with my folks, part-time job at the grocery store to make a few bucks in order to keep my PC running...

... Oh yeah, then I thought I should grow up, get a house so I can move out of my moms, and become a productive member of society. Between the job, wife, and mowing the lawn on the weekends, there's not time to play 14 hours a day of video games. Addiction solved.

Try taking away their disposable allowance from mommy and daddy Warbucks (that's a movie reference to a rich guy for all you yougins), pull them off the health insurance and make them pay the power bill for those 125W Quad core, 3-way SLI rigs with a swimming pool pump rigged up to water block.

 

[Guest]

for $14k i can see how you won't be playing wow anymore... you are left without a freaking dime in your pocket so you'll be looking forward to make money to eat instead of playing some stoopid online game or get into any other form of entertainment

 

[planchero]

Well said Unknown person its all about self control its not like a drug where there becomes a fisical dependance and unless the person learns self control they will find themselves missing out with a lot of the enjoyments of life (luckely less then if they compleatly drop it).[citation][nom]fun321[/nom]i work 8 hours a day...so maybe i'm addicted to working...since the whole world is doing it then it becomes ok right.?[/citation]
Doesnt work that way now if your putting a lot more hours in then you need to such as 12 hour days every day (not just for a special project)either work or sleep then you might have a problem. its excess that makes somthing a problem not the least you can do and get paid 😛

 

[RADIO_ACTIVE]

Now he will spend hours in front of boring ass tv lol. Being social online is not a bad thing. It all comes down to priorities and self control, obviously this guy has no self control.

 

[chaohsiangchen]

[citation][nom]megamanx00[/nom]Give us 14k and we'll teach you how to bake cookies. Right.I think a better solution is to take that 14k, buy a car, and drive somewhere instead of spending all day leveling up on WoW. Getting a job will also force you to cut down on the WoW time[/citation]

Spend only 4000K to get a Toyota or Honda, then spend the rest on Blizzard stock shares.

 

[Andraxxus]

The center that deals with addictions is called ReSTART then most likely the center that killed an addict in China was called ShutDOWN.
Household chores:good, exercising:good, baking cookies:WTF???

 

[fball922]

[citation][nom]Pei-chen[/nom]Usually some form of spanking is the best treatment against addition be it drug, internet, or TV.[/citation]

What about a porn addiction...? 😛

 

[chaohsiangchen]

[citation][nom]bogcotton[/nom]$4 million for a Honda!?Now I know the guy can afford $14 k to stay in what sounds like a youth centre, but 4 mill for a Toyota or Honda is too far![/citation]

That's just a typo, you typo NAZI!!!!!111!!

 

[brendano257]

OMGEEEEZ! 14,000?! That's almost 1000 months of WoW....or ~80 years of WoW, who would ever pay that?! No, just kidding, quitting WoW would be a very good idea for most people, it's kinda sickening how bad it can get for some people.

 

[Shadow703793]

Wasn't some kid beaten to death at one of these "rehab" centers?

 

[warezme]

That was the Chinese..., they beat everyone up.

 

[christop]

Why not take the credit card away from them??? Easy solution..

 

[shadowryche]

I had a serious addiction to Star Wars Galaxies, but Sony fixed that for me with the Combat Upgrade. Four hours a day bouncing between factories and harvesters on Corbantis, then five or six hours crafting custom weapons for people. Maybe a couple hours Krayt hunting with my friends.

 

[FoShizzleDizzle]

What's my drug of choice?
Well what have you got?
I don't go broke
And I do it a lot

 

[techguy911]

I think this kid needs help...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB6bf266olQ

 

[JohnnyLucky]

$14,000.00 to kick the habit? WOW! A good swift kick in the pants is a lot cheaper.

 

[r0x0r]

The guy didn't need to spend $14k to do chores; I've got dishes piling up and vacuuming that needs to be done.

Hell, I'll even give him $20 to do it.

 

[mirkos]

Is there some way I can be help with my sleep addiction? I lose 8 hours per day not playing wow!!!!!

Most of us play up to 2 hours per day... But I 'd like to see what will happen when Diablo 3 or Starcraft 2 (hopefully with LAN) come out!

 

[anamaniac]

[citation][nom]warezme[/nom]Games save money, not necessarily WOW since you have to pay to play, but other games like Crysis, Farcry, GRID, etc. You save money not going out, driving, wasting gas, buying movie tickets, $5 dollar popcorn, expensive dining out. Real cheap if you pirated the games..., its a green habit, don't knock it.[/citation]
Love the earth right?
Well a couple weeks back I spilt a barrel full of hydraulic oil, but since I pirate my games, it's all good right?
=D

[citation][nom]supertrek32[/nom]Pay me $14000 and I'll follow you around and poke you with a stick whenever you wanna play.[/citation]
Damn... that's nearly as much as I make in half a year... gimme the damned stick.

That shit is addicting...

 

[pito]

[citation][nom]Major7Up[/nom]I can think of cheaper and easier ways to deal with it...where did he come up with the money? Can I have some?[/citation]

I will say that playing 16 to 17 hours a day for a semester.... He probably got the money from selling his WoW account to some jacka$$ on craiglist....LOL. By the way I have seen this people selling their accounts or offering accounts build up services for over $500.

 

[Guest]

17 hours a day? i used to play for 3-4 days straight, pass out for a few hours and then go back at it. id be nodding off at my keyboard in the middle of healing an instance, or while running forward and wake up in the middle of mobs, lol.