Gaming: When Is Too Much Too Much?

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Gaming: When Is Too Much Too Much?

Pop Smart 08/30/2018 1919 Comments

Are the hours invested in video games well spent? (123RF, RB)

Preparing for virtual danger is what video gamers do best. But they may not be ready for this real-world health hazard: too much playing time.

The World Health Organization has revised its disease manual. WHO specialists now consider compulsive video game playing a mental health condition. They say classifying “gaming disorder” as a condition will help families and health care workers be more watchful and ready to identify the risks of gaming.

Most experts admit cases of gaming disorder are rare—with no more than 3% of gamers affected. But the conclusion confirms the fears of some parents of avid young gamers.

God graciously gives us all things to enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17) He even gives cravings! From the beginning, Adam and Eve craved food and beauty and fellowship. (Genesis 2:9, 18) But when cravings—“the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life”—overtake the craving for God, they are wrong. (1 John 2:15-16)

Some people welcome the gaming disorder label. They say identifying addicts quickly is important because compulsive gamers are usually young people—those who often don’t seek help themselves.

Others worry the label may brand too many gamers. “People need to understand this doesn’t mean every child who spends hours in their room playing games is an addict,” says Dr. Joan Harvey of the British Psychological Society.

Dr. Mark Griffiths has researched gaming disorder for 30 years. He says most people play video games for entertainment. “You have these short, obsessive bursts and yes, people are playing a lot,” he says, “But it’s not an addiction.”

Griffiths believes many compulsive gamers probably have other problems—like autism or depression. Those problems feed their playing too much.

The American Psychiatric Association knows gaming is a problem. APA studies show that playing video games triggers something in some people’s brains “in the same . . . way that a drug addict’s brain is affected by a particular substance.” Still, the association believes doctors need more research before calling compulsive gaming a disorder.

What are symptoms of a gaming problem? Here’s a partial list:
—Anger, nervousness, or sorrow when gaming is taken away
—Needing to spend more time gaming
—Failed attempts to quit
—Disinterest in previously enjoyed activities
—Lying about time spent gaming
—Using gaming to feel better
—Risking jobs or friendships because of gaming

The dangers of excess are clear. Too much of a good thing—food, sleep, exercise, or video games—is just that: too much.

The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. — Proverbs 22:3

your name?

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:41 | BY LOGAN M

your name?

Yes, any word:D

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:41 | BY ALYSSA S

Yes, any word:D

NO

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:41 | BY ALYSSA S

This is a real joke

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:41 | BY ALYSSA S

This is a real joke

Want to know?

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:42 | BY ALYSSA S

Want to know?

yes, but make it quick

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:43 | BY DAVID U

yes, but make it quick

INCORRECTLY!!!

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:43 | BY ANNA C

INCORRECTLY!!!

Incorrectly is always

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:43 | BY ALYSSA S

Incorrectly is always pronounced "incorrectly" :D

hehe

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:43 | BY ANNA C

hehe

Is half of two plus two equal

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:43 | BY ALYSSA S

Is half of two plus two equal to two or three ?

Yes I got it!!!

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:43 | BY ANNA C

Yes I got it!!!

3

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:44 | BY ANNA C

There is a house with four

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:44 | BY ALYSSA S

There is a house with four walls. Each wall faces south. There is a window in each wall. A bear walks by one of the windows. What color is the bear?

HA HA!

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:44 | BY DAVID U

Sorry, I have to get back to work on my math. Maybe you can get to 1,100.

C

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:46 | BY LOGAN M

U

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:46 | BY LOGAN M

White. If all the walls face

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:46 | BY ALYSSA S

White. If all the walls face south, the house is at the north pole, and the bear, therefore, is a polar bear.

C U DU

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:46 | BY LOGAN M

C U DU

Bye

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:47 | BY ALYSSA S

Bye

comments comments comments

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:47 | BY LOGAN M

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comments comments comments

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:47 | BY LOGAN M

Hope2CUB42Long:)

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:47 | BY ALYSSA S

Hope2CUB42Long:)

NO LOGAN!!!! THAT IS SO

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:48 | BY ALYSSA S

NO LOGAN!!!! THAT IS SO ANNOYING!!!!!

I have to scroll through all

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:49 | BY ALYSSA S

I have to scroll through all those comment comments, and it is SO ANNOYING!!!!:D

If a farmer has 5 haystacks

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:50 | BY ALYSSA S

If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in the center field?

One. If he combines all of

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:50 | BY ALYSSA S

One. If he combines all of his haystacks, they all become one big stack.:p

k I ll stp

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:50 | BY LOGAN M

k I ll stp

hope2cu2

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:51 | BY LOGAN M

hope2cu2

Bye, everyone, I need to do

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:51 | BY ALYSSA S

Bye, everyone, I need to do my Writing With Skill now (one of my least favorite subjects:(), So see Y'a

:)

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 13:01 | BY SOPHIA K

I am only commenting because i was told

@Logan

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 13:02 | BY SOPHIA K

I'm pretty sure you only have to write comment once for it to count as a comment.

MORE COMMENTS

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 13:02 | BY SOPHIA K

:) (i dont know what else to right)

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 13:07 | BY SOPHIA K

Look at the slideshow!!! This kid got an athletic scholarship FOR ESPORTS!!!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ATHLETIC TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES!!!!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!

to above

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 13:39 | BY NADIA A

that is crazy!!!:)

1088 comments!!!!

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 13:41 | BY NADIA A

thats alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and i helped!!!!!!!!!! : )

Comments

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:00 | BY JOEL L

I looked on here this morning, and this page has gained about 100 comments since then. This should be used as a general chat room, or something, instead of the stated goal being to get as many comments as possible. I think comments for comments sake makes the conversation less useful.

Not that it isn't enjoyable.

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:00 | BY JOEL L

Not that it isn't enjoyable.

Joel I agree with you

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:07 | BY LOGAN M

Joel I agree with you

or we could all create a real

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:07 | BY LOGAN M

or we could all create a real chat group?

answer

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:08 | BY LOGAN M

answer

please

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:08 | BY LOGAN M

please

NE1 dat

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:08 | BY LOGAN M

NE1 dat

he

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:08 | BY LOGAN M

I k

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:11 | BY LOGAN M

I k

That's a good idea, Joel!

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:11 | BY ALYSSA S

That's a good idea, Joel!

This can be a like a teen's

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:11 | BY ALYSSA S

This can be a like a teen's Facebook page:D

yah!

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:12 | BY LOGAN M

yah!

Unless all of you are old and

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:12 | BY ALYSSA S

Unless all of you are old and are allowed to have facebook, unlike me:D

1111 comment

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:12 | BY LOGAN M

1111 comment

Not like I would want

Permalink On Fri, 02/22/2019 - 14:13 | BY ALYSSA S

Not like I would want facebook or anything, because it is SUCH a waste of time!

your name?

Yes, any word:D

NO

This is a real joke

Want to know?

yes, but make it quick

INCORRECTLY!!!

Incorrectly is always

hehe

Is half of two plus two equal

Yes I got it!!!

3

There is a house with four

HA HA!

C

U

White. If all the walls face

C U DU

Bye

comments comments comments

comments comments comments

Hope2CUB42Long:)

NO LOGAN!!!! THAT IS SO

I have to scroll through all

If a farmer has 5 haystacks

One. If he combines all of

k I ll stp

hope2cu2

Bye, everyone, I need to do

:)

@Logan

MORE COMMENTS

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!

to above

1088 comments!!!!

Comments

Not that it isn't enjoyable.

Joel I agree with you

or we could all create a real

answer

please

NE1 dat

he

I k

That's a good idea, Joel!

This can be a like a teen's

yah!

Unless all of you are old and

1111 comment

Not like I would want

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