Topic : 06/03 Virtual Chaos

When are they gonna build an interface that will plug right into the brain so everyone can live in a virtual world, would that not be fun.

I guess many of these people are lacking something in their lives and try to make up for it on line. Then they become part of the virtual worlds they live in and sooner or later replace the real world.

I do believe a good game is fun but getting carried away with a non productive life in some virtual world can destroy lives and it does every day.

I read this message and although there are some interesting things that you have to say here, your argument very much reminds me of listening to a bunch of people argue over which is worse for your health, smoking cigarettes or smoking pot. Well here is a news flash, neither is that great for you, in the simple common sense fact that inhaling smoke and coughing constantly is probably a sign of something bad.

Excessive television watching is just as bad as excessive gaming, the key word in there being... excessive. Anything in excess is bad, whether it be video games, TV, milk, pizza, shopping, etc. We should all strive for moderation in all things.

Having said that, I would like to put out some of my disagreements to the show. Video gaming has become a popular target over the past few years, mostly due to the popularity increase of online gaming. Where I disagree is that people that play those games are "they" or "them", and must be fake people just acting out their "avatar" in the game. When the reality is that millions of people play these games and I find it hard to believe they are all any more "fake" than the person you meet in a bar or other social event. Many people, if not all, choose to put up a front of who they really are to new people they meet.

This is now the second Dr. Phil show addressing excess video gaming. I want to stress that I do not at all disagree that this is a problem that should be highlighted, and that I do not agree at all with the actions of the guests, but I think that people are always negative to things they do not understand. So understand this, all people who play video games do not lose their jobs, ruin their marriages, and attempt suicide. We need to take responsibility for our own actions, and attempt to live well with the short time we have here.

We have a son who was extremely addicted to World of Warcraft, to the point of not eating, sleeping, bathing, etc., and who started to skip school starting at the age of 16 (10th grade), and extremely bored with school. We tried everything from counseling, to putting an automatic timer on the computer internet access, and nothing worked . . . until we found the Teen Challenge program in Bonifay, FL. Paster Dave Rutledge and his wife Barbara, are the Administrators of this particular "Boys' Ranch" style private, Christian, para-military school. It is a 15 month program, but it includes a private school, sports, a working farm, discipline, good healthy food, fresh air and sunshine, exercise, work ethic, and counseling for the teen, and parent/teen counseling every other month. It is NOT as expensive as some of the other "programs" out there, probably a fraction of the cost that a commissioned counselor would refer you to. It is well worth it! We have our son back! He is now 19, and although living at home, is in college full time and working part time. He no longer plays RPG's, is respectful and appreciative, and active in the community - and interested in politics! Amazing!

I would recommend "Gateway Drill Academy" (Teen Challenge of NW Florida - in Bonifay) to ANYONE seeking to solve this problem. Get control of your life back and the life of your son!

It was the hardest decision we have ever made, but well worth it! http://www.teenchallenge.cc/West%20Florida%20Boys/index.htm

     I have to agree with the last woman on the show: it's not the game, it's the players.  I LOVE RPG's.  I've played them for years. Final Fantasy, Fantasy Star, Guild Wars, and have a current account with Disney's Toontown.  But I have NEVER played for hours on end, missed work, or neglected my family or responsibilities to play a game. 

     I still remember when the movie "Mazes and Monster" came out in 1982 starring Tom Hanks.  He was a young man playing a game similar to Dungeons and Dragons.  He became so obsessed that the game became real to him.  He started seeing normal people as monsters and even stabbed a man.  Even then, at the age of 13 (and a D&D player), I thought, "How stupid!"

     Being a huge fan of RPG's, I signed up for the free trial of World of Warcraft.  I played for may be an hour and got bored with it.  So I really don't understand the "addiction".  I truly believe that the people who become "addicted" to these games have other issues in their life and playing these games is their way of  escaping from dealing with those issues.