Addiction? (not anti-game thread)

[VizjereiSerbia]

Hi all. This is my second thread here(the first one was Class combos) and I was wondering if you guys know any ways not to get addicted to WOW? I am a student and wanna start playing but don't want the game to ruin my studies and my life. I still wanna be able to play it almost daily so I would gladly welcome any suggestions!

P.S. If your idea is just not to play WOW, just keep it to yourself and don't post here!!!

[Gavriel]

Self control and prioritization. The only person in control of what you do is yourself. Decide for yourself what is more important - the ephemereal pleasure of a video game - or the higher learning you are aspiring to through your studies. Then simply act upon your decision. Mind over matter and all that.

However, if you find yourself unable to control your own actions, you can use the Parental Guidance portion of the official site to restrict yourself to a certain number of hours per month.

[coani]

like gav said, prioritize and plan your time.
could think of it as a reward to yourself with game time for studying (like splitting time, studying x amount of time, game/relax x amount).

just make sure you never prioritize game time over studying.

[Furche]

Self restrictions? I was was wandering around the account management on the site and came up to the parental restrictions or w/e... Screw that, basically what I thought, but this might come in handy for your position. Just set it so you play a certain amount of time each day. It has the layout of all the days of the week, and the hours, so you could play from like.... 2-5PM on wednesday but 2-7 on saturday. Just an example, but it's a nice way to customize the restrictions to your schedule.

[Dhoum]

I'd recommend that you start playing during a time when you have absolutely nothing else to do (like summer break) that way you can get the first flush of enthusiasm (where you'll be wanting to play around 20 hours a day) over and done with before you get back to a time when you need to prioritise work or study.

[Stigg]

P.S. If your idea is just not to play WOW, just keep it to yourself and don't post here!!!

This is a forum. If you can't handle hearing everybodies point of view, then keep it to yourself and don't post here.

[xDarkDrifterx]

lol

Wow is addicting, but it's up to you, just don't play for long - it's not that hard - remember that you need 2-3 hours to put in everytime you log on IMO to feel like you're getting anything accomplished. Unless of course you're logging on to to do one BG or check the AH.

Get done what you need to get done and then play and set a time for yourself to just log off . . .


I'd recommend that you start playing during a time when you have absolutely nothing else to do (like summer break) that way you can get the first flush of enthusiasm (where you'll be wanting to play around 20 hours a day) over and done with before you get back to a time when you need to prioritise work or study.

If you do what Dhoum and a lot of players do IMO then you'll get stuck in the mentallity of NEEDing that much time to play everytime you log on - that's how you get addicted - play now when you only have an hour or a couple hours here and there then you'll get used to that schedule and when something like a holiday comes up - you'll feel overjoyed that you get to play wow for so much time - it will be a reward / treat versus feelign like "OMG I never get to play wow like I used to . . ."

:thumbsup:

[dasecrus]

I say your an addict if you want to play WoW daily. Because I'm a WoW addict and I only get to play WoW 1 time a week. 2 if I'm lucky and 3 if I'm really lucky like this week.

[LunarSolaris]

I can only emphasize what has already been said - you need to prioritize your time and exercise self control. Those are really the two main keys to fighting game addiction.

No one can control you, but you. It sure as hell isn't us.

[xDarkDrifterx]

I say your an addict if you want to play WoW daily. Because I'm a WoW addict and I only get to play WoW 1 time a week. 2 if I'm lucky and 3 if I'm really lucky like this week.

IMO . . . how could this possibly be true?

I play daily - it's my entertainment / hobby / stress releaver - I work and 11 hour day everyday (including drive time) so after I get home (maybe crack a beer) and relax for a bit with my wife I then log on -but going with what you say If I do any hobby or form of entertainment more than a few times a week then I'm addicted?

See these hobbies / forms of enertainment below:

Painting - if I paint for more than a couple days a week I'm addicted to painting or the arts?
Watching TV - if I do this for more than a couple days a week I'm addicted to watching tv?
Listening to Music - if I do this for more than a couple days a week I'm addicted to music?
Going To The Movies - if I go to more than 1 or 2 movies in a week I'm addicted to watching movies?
Jogging / Sports Activities - if I do any of these for more than a couple days a week I'm addicted to healthy activities I enjoy?
Surfing the web - if I do this for more than an hour here or there over a couple days a week I'm addicted to web surfing?
Reading my current book - if I do this for more than a couple days a week I'm addicted to reading?
Going Out With Friends - if I do this for more than a couple days a week I'm addicted to socializing?

These are all hobbies and/or forms of entertainment/activities that are no different then playing a game that I enjoy.

As the old saying goes: Everything in Moderation.

[dasecrus]

All I'm saying is during the time when I'm not playing WoW, I constantly think about it.

[Trogstad]

The one answer you have explicitly stated you do not want to hear is the one answer I would recommend most. You really need to consider not playing.

The reason? If you have to ask "how do I not get addicted" before you've even played the game, then you must have a reason to be concerned. I can only guess as to what that might be, but I'm wondering if you have an addictive personality that has been an issue for you in the past. If that's the case, you need to stay as far away from WOW as you can get, my friend.

[Dhoum]

If you do what Dhoum and a lot of players do IMO then you'll get stuck in the mentallity of NEEDing that much time to play everytime you log on - that's how you get addicted - play now when you only have an hour or a couple hours here and there then you'll get used to that schedule and when something like a holiday comes up - you'll feel overjoyed that you get to play wow for so much time - it will be a reward / treat versus feelign like "OMG I never get to play wow like I used to . . ."

*shrug* Your mileage clearly varies but I found that once the novelty wore off (took between a month and two months) it became very easy to prioritise my time and to cut down on WoW. I don't feel as though I need a huge amount of time to play and I don't feel cheated if I can only play for an hour.

For the first couple of months I was playing I would certainly describe myself as addicted. Now, not at all; I still enjoy the game but it doesn't run me like it used to when it was still a novelty.

If I were to have adopted Darkdrifter's technique then I am fairly convinced that I would have found "legitimate" reasons to extend my playing time ... that's the path of addiction for me. Clearly not for him and maybe not for the OP ... I guess you get to learn your own addictive triggers and to deal with them in a way that you know will be effective for you.

[Beruen]

The one answer you have explicitly stated you do not want to hear is the one answer I would recommend most. You really need to consider not playing.

This is what I was thinking. If you're prone to obsess over hobbies, WoW can be very dangerous, as there's really no limit to how much time you can throw at it. If you're just concerned about avoiding addiction because you've heard that WoW can be addicting, then it becomes more a matter of self control.

[xDarkDrifterx]

I guess you get to learn your own addictive triggers and to deal with them in a way that you know will be effective for you.

well said :thumbsup:

My example was relating it to use of say alcohol (saying you wanted to drink everyday) - Would it be best to drink with dinner everynight - and then get drunk on the weekends / holidays - or benge hard core everyday for a while then try to lighten up your drinking? Though your tolerance will be set higher (sense you binged) then you'll have to drink more to feel the effects even though you're "cutting back". . . guess it depends on what works for you.

So OP, it's up to you to decide how much is too much and when to say when.

[Janfader]

School first man. WoW isn't going anywhere. Can't put down having Epic Gear and End Game experience on your resume. ; - )

[irogue]

Hi all. This is my second thread here(the first one was Class combos) and I was wondering if you guys know any ways not to get addicted to WOW? I am a student and wanna start playing but don't want the game to ruin my studies and my life. I still wanna be able to play it almost daily so I would gladly welcome any suggestions!

P.S. If your idea is just not to play WOW, just keep it to yourself and don't post here!!!

I would suggest:

1. most importantly, finish all your duties such as studying, working (if you have a part time job), workout, shower, eating, hanging out with your friends...etc, and then you can log in WOW and play.
Maybe 8:00 to 12:00 pm every day?

2. stay out of WOW access as much as you can
- stay in the library, class or lab during the day time
- install the WOW on a desktop and never on a laptop (have you ever seen a bunch of students play WOW all day on their laptops in the library or student center?) :grin:



/Cheers

[VizjereiSerbia]

OK guys thanks for your opinions, I really appreciate them. BTW as sme of you asked, I don't have an addictive personality. Sure I am able to play video games for a long time but only if I have nothing else to do. The reason I was so worried is all WOW addiction related subjects state that WOW is basically like a drug, a that kind of freaked me out. But I now realize they using the standard scare tactics.

You are all right: self control, moderation and prioritizing are gonna work fine for me.
Thank you all !!!

[det]

Stress at work helps me. Pressure and deadlines can keep me from WoW...

[SirBazturd]

Hi all. This is my second thread here(the first one was Class combos) and I was wondering if you guys know any ways not to get addicted to WOW? I am a student and wanna start playing but don't want the game to ruin my studies and my life. I still wanna be able to play it almost daily so I would gladly welcome any suggestions!



Depending on your level of schooling, you should be getting addicted to other things, not a computer game.

Women, men, booze, etc..

[Dair]

Hey there, i play a 70 lock, and by your standings i assume I would be labeled as addicted.

If you dont want to be 'addicted' but still have a fun character to play, just play the game in moderation, and play it in bits and pieces

give yourself brakes, and dont get involved in raiding =P

[Tikki]

I don't see how WoW is different than any other leisure activity. How do you moderate your video game play? Social activities? Movie/tv watching? WoW, at least for me, is something to calm/relax me. Unfortunately my problem with that is when school gets stressful I end up increasing my play time - to relax me more.

As someone who is a full-time student doing her master's, as well as working 2 different jobs which total over 40 hours a week - I manage my time accordingly.

Like xDDx, the key to a healthy life is moderation - whether it be moderating your work load or your time on WoW. Learning how to balance work and play in your life is essential - not just now with school, but later when you're all grow'ed up :)

My advice to you is this - look at WoW as an activity such as watching a movie. you study and then watch a movie...well study for an hour or two and then play wow for an hour....and to be honest, it's best to give yourself study breaks, and WoW is a great way to do it...also, on long griffin rides, I can normally get a chapter or and article or two read ;)

[Maule]

How many hours a day do you play?

Do you do other things like hang out with friends?

Do you sometimes log in with the feeling that you don't really feel like playing?

Did you have problems before with WoW and school?

[Maule]

Im going to college in 3 days and im not going to be playing. I was way to addicted. I'll see what college is like for the first year and may consider bringing a desktop.

[Tikki]

First year in college?
Son, you're worried that WoW will be distracting you? C'mon, your first year - you won't even be THINKING about being in front of your computer!

..*sigh*... my first year of university was great.... to be young again..to be so innocent again...

[Qwertius]

It depends on what kind of person and what kind of gamer you are.

Can you play a game on 50% or on 25% ? Can you play in first gear? can you play a game casually?

Or are you somebody who wants to BEAT every game. Win.. Play at 100%?

when you want it all WoW is a very VERY V E R Y time consuming game, and can cause problems..

when you can take it easy and don`t care wether or not you get every possible item, beat every dragon, then it it's ok

[SirBazturd]

Or are you somebody who wants to BEAT every game. Win.. Play at 100%?



You should always try to win at real life first.


I know a few people who love to beat every game they can. But they still live in their parent's basement.