by Shanna Riley

Created on: March 27, 2008   Last Updated: April 01, 2008

The truth of the matter is that anything - anything at all - can be an "addictive replacement for real life". If someone is obsessively fixated on any activity or subject to the exclusion of all else (especially daily life and health), they are "addicted".

Are some people addicted to playing World of Warcraft? Most assuredly there are a select few there are; there are also people addicted to driving, drugs, religion, television, the Internet, skydiving, work, shopping and any number of things you can dream up. The fact is, a person with an addictive personality can - and will - become addicted to anything that intensely piques their interest.

Are most people that play World of Warcraft video-game addicts? Most likely not. Enjoying the game, and even playing for hours on end, does not constitute an actual "addiction". People spend countless hours watching sports, gardening, exercising, and sunbathing on the beach. Are they all addicted to their favorite hobbies or activities? Some, but not all and certainly not most.

World of Warcraft is a game, and nothing more. It's harmless fun that can - like any other activity - become a problem when the person playing begins to ignore the daily functions of life, family members, basic health and hygiene, and/or their job on a regular basis. World of Warcraft is not the problem, though the person in question does have one. Blaming the game, activity, or subject of a person's addiction will do nothing to solve the problem or help the individual.

In today's society people are quick to blame the media - television, music, movies, the Internet, and video games - for the ills of our culture. However, while these things may trigger problems in people, they, themselves, are not the problem. People with serious mental problems or weaknesses have much bigger issues than just playing video games too much; the problems may stem from familial abuse, mental imbalances, emotional trauma, or stress - they begin somewhere. The person may be seeking an escape from the harsh reality of their life or emotional problems, and World of Warcraft is just what helps them to do that. Is the game itself bad, addictive, or too escapist? No, because the person would have found something else to latch themselves onto in order to cope with their problems and fears.

In essence, World of Warcraft is no more than a very engaging, very fun game. There is no harm to come from playing it or even enjoying it. If someone has a "problem" with World of Warcraft, the problem is with that individual person - not a video game.

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