Thoughts about addiction...

Even if you consider it just a Game, it still doesn't mean you have to be an ass. There are still people on the other side with real feelings, and they should be treated as you would in RL. Initially all SL was meant to be to me was a Fantasy Playground, strictly entertainment. And to large extent it still is. But unless you are going to totally isolate yourself, you can't avoid human contact, forming attachments, riding the emotional rollercoaster that we do in RL. I keep a short friends list, around 30 who are just as important to me as RL friends, I care about them just as much.

Is it just me?...or is that the best description of SL ever?

*considers*

My thoughts on the subject are this: It's human nature to want to do more of something that you enjoy, and sometimes the line between "enough" and "too much" can be a fine one.

I tend to get very involved in things that I enjoy (and have been known to sketch build ideas during dull lectures and daydream about how to accomplish a given goal with scripts when I should be doing my homework), but in the end, you have to prioritize.

An internet connection costs money, so it's best if your work life remains solvent, and the human behind the avatar has to eat, sleep, and maintain reasonable hygiene to remain healthy enough to continue doing what you enjoy. I'm not qualified to speak on the exchange rate between SL experiences and RL ones--that's far too subjective and everyone will feel differently about that, I suspect, but... point being that one depends on the other and prioritizing is very necessary.

That'd be true regardless of the enjoyable habit one is engaging in, imho.

Myself, I study my habits in terms of "how much time will I spend on SL if I can" and plan my schedule accordingly--school work comes first, so I let my friends know when I'll need to log off and study for an exam or work on something. Cleaning comes second; I do a lot of "clean as you go" tidying to maintain my living space. For food, sleep, and hygiene, I use the same guidelines as in RL--I wouldn't feel comfortable interacting in RL if I needed a shower, after all, and my brain doesn't function well if my blood sugar's low or I'm zombified from fatigue.

Worst case, I set a timer, take breaks to read or watch movies, go out with my partner, that kind of thing... and I really, really like SL and would spend far too much time in it if I didn't keep these things balanced, fwiw, but... I figure I'll enjoy it more if I keep it balanced, yaknow?

Most likely it's you. I just figured I'd be thoughtful since it's a holiday.

I think not I think they should stick it in the welcome area. Its like one of those great lyrics you get in a song sometimes...sums it up in a few lines.
Omg...i need a holiday!

I am totally and helplessly addicted to SL.

I daydream all day at work about being in SL and even log in from work when time permits, even though I know I could get fired for it.

Almost every moment of my free time is spent in-world; and I feel grief at having to log off to go to bed.

Next week I'll have 6 days off for the Thanksgiving holiday and I'll spend upwards of 18 or more hours a day in SL.

The thing is, and this is painful to admit, even here where I don't have to look you in the face, is that my SL is so much better than my RL. I have friends in SL, I'm popular in SL, I'm handsome in SL, I'm rich in SL, I have a home in SL. My RL? 1 friend, not very handsome, dirt poor and live in a tiny apartment, my job sucks and barely pays the bills.

So why WOULDN'T I spend my time in SL? Its SOOOOO much better than my life pre-SL where I would come home, sit down in front of the TV until bed and then cry myself to sleep from loneliness.

For the most part now, I feel happier than I have in years, I have STRONG bonds with people and rarely cry myself to sleep anymore.

That, for me at least, is huge and justifies my continued existence in SL.

And (this is the amazing part) I think my SL experiences are causing me to want to have RL experiences. Something I haven't felt in ages. I think, I hope, that one day I'm going to stand up from my computer desk, get into my car and go out.

Just my point of view.

FaTeke

"So shines a good deed in a weary world."
Willy Wonka

I'm with Brian on this. That was a pretty cool paragraph Brenda!

Wow! it's taken all afternoon back-reading this excellent thread! Lots of other very salient points and if I had the time right now, I'd cherry pick the particular sentences that grabbed me the most .. but soo many!!

I light heartedly pointed out my level of obsession/addiction in Sandy's 'Brilliant' thread so will only add how glad I am that this thread is doing so well. Shortly after I came here just over a year ago I remember threads like this would get hammered by the occasional poster with 'Good grief!! It's just a game! Get a real life!' kind of remarks. Very sad .. very destructive. It *is* a phenomenon that is a) growing and b) getting respect. Good ... twice!!

Yesh, that's exactly the kinda thing I meant. And it's not just lack of sleep that can skew one's perceptions, either--a lot of people don't notice how a drop in glucose can affect their moods and mindsets, but it's often true regardless of overall health. The body likes to keep steady levels and if eating times are delayed or snacks interfere with the schedule, it can't do that very well... especially if you're in your 30's or older... balance seems to get a lot more important then, for some reason (not that I know from experience or anything, of course--I'm 18... well, at heart, anyways).

Personally, I'm generally a polite and even-tempered lady... unless dinner is delayed, and then I'm an evil, crabby, foul-mouthed little wench with a functional IQ of about 10. ^^;;

Er... but different people react differently, and that's on the extreme end of the spectrum, I think. Anyways. It does bear watching. There's two bits of hardware that SL absolutely requires--a functional computer and a functional human being. Both need maintenance and upkeep to run properly.

My RL friends worry about the importance I place in SL - it is true that many things have taken a back seat - but I do try and stay connected to RL - unfortunately this means that the scant 24 hours a day holds must be further divided so I can live in SL.

This morning I went to bed at 4 am and got up at 6 - this has been going on for months. Wouldn't change a thing.

Last night I danced with a beautiful man that added so much to my SL so far- definitely worth the sleep deprivation -

I too have felt the changes in me - some would say not for the better, but I disagree, because I have found much freedom and a rekindling of forgotten things.

Yes - I feel every sensation the poses enact - running off to find Soul Intentions and Devotion now...

Addiction - sure -

There is a new addiction medication (new to the US, although Europe has been using it for a while now) that is by-far the most successful for quiting smoking. Perhaps you should look into this...it works differently to the current medication--this particular med doesn't give your body the nicotine it craves--it works more on the enzyme level...not sure...this style of med might suite 'other' addictions/cravings as well. However, keep in mind, it may be unhealthy to block or inhibit your body's response to 'enjoyment.'

Anyway.

I think gaming isn't 'addicting' in the 21st century sense. Your brain releases chemicals of 'enjoyment' (dopamine or what-have-you), but it is not physically addicting...no more than any enjoyable sport or activity.

Psychological addictions are tricky...I do not think you need medication for these addictions. You need a new hobby.

OK .. I know I said I was going ... but I'm addicted, ok?

Glad to see this thread still going

Without dropping into semantics or rhetoric or I don't know what, I think there is confusion between addiction and obsession here (in the thread Michael, not your post!). Not just in general terms but in the individual. I firmly believe there must be cases of people letting their RL suffer in the definition of addiction but also a great many who just have that 'itch' to login as soon as they get home .. <cough>

This last point set me thinking back a few years. I went through a phase of discovering the next best thing in computer games. I can remember firing up the PC and spending countless hours in, in turn, things like Flight Simulator, Descent, Midtown Madness, GTA .. reluctantly closing down, with blurred eyes, racing heart, a twitching arm from the joystick/steering wheel and what must have approximated Repetitive Strain Injury. This, I think was addiction. I was suffering as a result.

Here, I can move my posture, take short breaks, relax if I find I'm getting too excited or stressed but still remain involved. In terms of time spent at the keyboard I'm probably equaling my earlier example. I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I guess I want to clarify whether this is damaging or enhancing. Yes, Michael's right .. they're tricky.

OK- Changed mind - not addicted, obsessed - but definitely more than mildly entertained



obsession
One entry found.

obsession

Main Entry:
ob·ses·sion Listen to the pronunciation of obsession
Pronunciation:
\äb-ˈse-shən, əb-\
Function:
noun
Date:
1680

1: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling; broadly : compelling motivation <an obsession with profits>2: something that causes an obsession

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

addiction

Main Entry:
ad·dic·tion Listen to the pronunciation of addiction
Pronunciation:
\ə-ˈdik-shən, a-\
Function:
noun
Date:
1599

1: the quality or state of being addicted <addiction to reading>2: compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly : persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful

Hmm.. I get grumpy without SL or the forums.. and pissed when interrupted by phone calls while in SL.. I think.. I.. i think...

My name is Okiphia.
And I'm addicted to Second Life
*Waits for the greetings of her fellow SLA members*

Okiphia, as long as we are not expected to WANT to break the addiction/obsession/compulsion - I'll join you; we can have lunches and mettings and parties and such - but woe onto whomever tries to come between me and my SL! lol

Same here lol.. maybe we'll make a group in-world ^^

I offer my Home as a meeting place lol... I have a deck we could use over one of my gardens...

Or.. would that defeat the idea?

I know I'm obsessed.

The obsession comes from my personality. There's always a number of obsessive foci for me at any given time in my life. Some objects of obsession can last a few days, and some a lifetime. And everything in between. They come and go, but there's always a few things on the go at any given time. When I get turned on to something, I burn bright with it.

As far as input to an obsessive personality, SL is truly evil. I had no chance.

The good news is that I actually do manage to balance SL and RL fairly well.

Hate, shall we include you in the group notices?

Will it help me cope, or just feed the fire?

Oh feed the fire of course - I'm not one to deny my self and wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I've been struggling with this issue myself. In fact, I took myself off SL completely for a month last August. At the moment it depends on what project is going on, my daily usage has varied anywhere between 10 minutes to 10 hours. I have never had any sort of response like this to an Internet site or computer game before. When I am online I get into a sense of "flow" (intense concentration on the topic to the exclusion of all external stimuli), and then I look up and omigod! three hours have passed but I drawn to the extensive creativity that SL permits. As a friend recently told me, "Time spent in Second Life is time being taken out of your real life."

Let's keep this thread going, I am curious about other people's responses.

I was addicted within the first hour I logged on in June. My husband wasn't long behind me, and yes, he's addicted. Much of our offline conversation these days relates to the people and events in SL. When I can't be in world, like now, I'm here in the forum.

I did notice this weekend, while he was out of town, that my house has more dustbunnies than I dreamed possible, my laundry is stacked up, and our RL social activities have severely decreased, which is unbelievable...we live on a lake and spend ALL of our free time in SL (where we live on an island).

So yes, I'm thinking we've reached the level of addiction which isn't healthy.

Yes, I'm an addict...what's your point?

Heath, all kidding aside, I can't see walking off, really - I mean as a choice. It would do serious damage to those left behind - with the attending mourning period and denial. The feeling of loss, the void left behind, is as palpable as if they had actually died.

I also don't really see this as a total negative - yes one needs boundaries and limits (I know that, OK - doesn't mean I have any) but it can be and mostly is, an overall positive experience.

I laughed so hard reading this, I almost spit out my soda. Thanks for the humor! It's even more funny to me because I'm the same way (except for the "wench" part, I'm a guy). In fact, the doc had to stop my glucose tolerance test because I almost passed-out.

Avanti.

I agree with you here.. and I know that for me, this could also be a selfish excuse to not leave.. but.. if it is.. hmm.. I still don't want to leave SL. I've been here not that long, and I've come to grow so attached to my Second Life that if I left, I think my RL would actually suffer more.... I've gotten RL advice from friends in SL, and they've probably kept some things going that should... basically.. I use SL both as a retreat from RL but also to help figure out my RL.

And sure, I'd be missed and various people would be hurt if I up and left... I would be too, I'd miss everyone so much... but at the same time I know that if I left, maybe it *would* be better.. maybe using SL as I do isn't healthy.. I don't really know.

As a person, in both Lives, who loves easily, and gets attached quickly... I know SL can hurt, it already has.. but..all the good makes up for it ^^

I know I'm addicted. I know that I should probably technically leave SL behind, it would probably be 'healthier'. But until the day SL crashes, or I'm hurt bad enough in SL.. I won't leave. I can't... this Life means far too much to me.