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Let's face it, video games are the chief passion of millions of people these days. Virtual life is becoming more powerful and more realistic every day. The challenge to think up exciting, real life things to do with your time is being eliminated by virtual life. But is this a bad thing?

Not necessarily. There are a few good things that come from video gaming. Increased manual dexterity, improved hand and eye coordination and problem solving ability are all possible side effects of becoming a gaming devotee.

But it is possible to become obsessed with the inside world. The following is a list of how you know that you need a break from the virtual kingdom that has become such a part of your world.

1. If you have gained thirty pounds over the last month or two, your leg muscles have begun to atrophy, and the thought of being a fat person who may never walk again doesn't bother you in the least, then you need to get up and get out for a while.

2. If you begin each gaming session by donning a Depends in order to avoid pausing for a potty break, it's time for you to pause and check the b.o. meter.

3. If your game controller has become a sex toy, and you only partners are members of the Sims family, Mortal Kombat babes or other virtual soul mates, then it is definitely time for you to get out more.

4. It is also time to get away when your have the phone number of every eatery that delivers on speed dial, and you have every delivery guy in town trained to come right in, leave the food, take the money and leave without any noise. You also know that you really have it bad when they know how much you want them to take from the tip jar without asking you first

5. Your house and car have been repossessed. Someone else is living there, but you have not yet noticed. This is a definite sign that it is time for an excursion into the real world.

6. Your boss fired you for job abandonment because you didn't notice that it isn't Saturday anymore.

7. Your wife just told you that she is leaving you because you ignore her and you are happy because this means that you can attend the World Video Game Competition without having to think up a compromise.

8. If you no longer sign your name Jim Smith" or "John Doe" etc, but now call yourself "Barth, Extreme Overlord of Ataxia," then it is definitely time for a reality check.

9. If all of your bodily hairs have grown so long that you can now be mistaken for a Yeti, you need to at least take time to look in the mirror.

10. If Santa refuses to give you that hot new game for Christmas because you really, really scare him then it is definitely time to rethink your gaming schedule.

Well, that's it then. Enjoy the games. Love them. Get absorbed by them. Make a living at them, if you want. But don't let them take charge of your life.

Learn more about this author, Vanessa Kristovich.
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