The topic of gaming addiction has been thoroughly explored and more often than not I find these conversations by the press merely tactics to inspire fear.  Phrases like, "A growing epidemic" and "Life threatening addiction" already cast gaming in a bad light and much like the radical exaggerations of how horribly deadly H1N1 is (of the people infected in the U.S., only 9% were fatal) these so called "reports" only rouse the ignorant and annoy those who know that the problem with game addicts lies not with the games but with the people themselves.

This quote from NetAddiction.com illustrates the brash reactions ignorant parents have when dealing with games:
“No one had ever heard of someone getting addicted to X-Box Live,” she said. “They all told me it was a phase and that I should try to limit my son’s game playing. They didn’t understand that I couldn’t. He had lost touch with reality. My son lost interest in everything else. He didn’t want to eat, sleep, or go to school, the game was the only thing that mattered to him.”

So it is the game's fault when parents can't discipline their kids?  Or perhaps take control and actually limit the kid's game time?  It baffles me that this woman went to psychologists and got good advice, advice she should have known already, and then discounts it by saying "They didn't understand that I couldn't."  Since when do kids control parents?  Whatever happened to the ol' belt coming off? I know that when I was a child and I talked back, I got punished in one way or another.

Kids are not the only problem however, there are adults who cannot seem to balance their priorities.  This is where it hits home for me, because I actually know someone who cannot seem to organize their life because they are addicted to playing Modern Warfare 2.

My wife and I shake our heads sadly when we hear that he is failing college and calling off work to play his Xbox.  We are left asking ourselves what can we do?  What SHOULD we do?  Is it really our business? 

Not to blatantly point the finger in any direction (but perhaps an elbow), these sites that tout themselves as addiction help centers for gamers are a total scam.  This addiction is no different than any addiction, and any psychologist is equipped to handle it so long as you actually listen to their advice.  The problem does not lie with the games, or the internet or any other thing people get addicted to with the obvious exception to physical addictions.  It is a psychological issue and it needs to be seen as such.

Sometimes I wonder if my own fondness for games might color my opinion but I think it is merely common sense to see that the majority of gamers don't have this problem.  Likewise, the vast majority of gamers are not influenced to murder or steal because of a video game.  

I wonder, does anyone else know someone who cannot prioritize?  Do you know anyone who plays games?  Now ask yourself do you know anyone addicted to something?  Chances are we all know at least one person who fits these examples and more than likely we all fall under the second question.  
 

I am in no way a psychologist, and my opinions might be biased in defense of the gaming industry, however I think that "addiction" implies an inability to stop rather than the unwillingness to.  I will admit freely that under the definition given by most people, I have been "addicted" to a good book, or a television show and yes even a video game or two but the big difference is that I realize and know that it is my will whether or not I continue to partake in that activity and that if my life begins to suffer because of it then it is a symptom of a psychological issue that has nothing at all to do with the thing I am "addicted" to.  If I fail school because I play Castle Age too much, I won't blame the game and believe me neither would my wife.

I am curious what you guys think about these so called "addictions" and whether or not you think companies should be held responsible for the misuse of their products.