<p>Games are just used to fill time with nothing to do. While annoying to be around hour after hour, day after day, at least you know where they are and what they are doing. Believe me it could be a lot worse.</p>
<p>we also asked S to discontinue Warcraft, he did and agreed it was becoming addicting.</p>
<p>That’s the same reason that Everquest is referred to as Evercrack.</p>
<p>World of Warcraft is played online on a computer. You pay a monthly subscription. But you can play on someone else’s account if they give you their password and you have it installed.</p>
<p>WoW has 70 levels. When you reach the top, a bunch of new stuff starts.</p>
<p>S15 loves to have a friend spend the night and play WoW side-by-side using the desktop and laptop.</p>
<p>We set daily limits.</p>
<p>From the article coureur linked to:
I completely agree. Addictions are addictions, no need to make up separate mental disorders for each one.</p>
<p>My sons have been mostly like Zimmer07’s: when a new game comes out, they’ll be immersed for a few days and then, eh, OK, beat that game, what’s next? My younger son thanked me for not updating the credit card number on file for WoW after his dad was robbed and had his cards stolen – he realized on his own that MMORPGs were the worse of his addictions and he had trouble resisting. (And since he didn’t have his own credit card and paid me for his monthly usage, it was convenient to forget to update the card number. 
) eternaloptimist, I agree with those suggesting you try to wait it out a week or two and see how things shape up. If he’s playing WoW my advice may be different, though. If it’s your credit card paying for the monthly subscription, you CAN do something about THAT.</p>
<p>Aside: This summer I see my sons are going back through some of the old games they’d forgotten about or finished years ago and replaying them – it was cool to see them playing SimTower and remember them as little boys building their hotel complexes. :)</p>
<p>Need advice from wise parents -reg mind-numbing videogame obsession</p>
<p>I dunno- isn’t it ironic to ask CC parents about how to deal with computer addiction?</p>
<p>But I agree- its too early to get freaked- however, I would put parameters in place of expectations for the summer- knowing that he can have slack now- as long as the other things are met</p>
<p>( we have dialup so that takes care of that- D likes the Sims- but only plays it occasionally)</p>
<p>My son plays an online game called puzzle pirates(?). How addictive is this game compared to War of Craft?</p>
<p>It’s been six weeks into the summer. He works four hours a day and spends hours after hours playing this games.</p>
<p>I wonder if this is a crank/joke post.</p>
<p>Your son has been accepted into a BS/MD program. That is so much work and such a huge accomplishment. Obviously he is a highly disciplined person.</p>
<p>He just worked his ass off for years. If it was my child, I would let him do anything he wanted, for the whole summer.</p>
<p>I don’t understand all this animosity toward videogames. World of Warcraft is the exception, because it IS a time sink and life stealer. But otherwise, games are a harmless way to pass time, and are no less purposeful than watching t.v. or reading escapist fiction. I doubt any of you would tell your kids not to bring their t.v. or their copy of Harry potter. And in terms of socializing, games like Guitar Hero can be a great way to enjoy time with your friends.</p>
<p>And yeah, college is tough, but there IS plenty of time to spend leisurely. My rule of thumb is no gaming if I have a test coming up in any subject within the next 2 days. I love gaming, but I never feel like I "have* to get on the computer when I’m in the middle of studying for a test. I still ended up gaming a fair amount despite pulling a 3.6 and being involved in 2 campus organizations.</p>
<p>My son can play these games to the point where I feel crazy, but mostly because I can’t go online and come here. We both take care of the responsibilities in our lives. I have worked hard to decrease nagging. Let she who is without sin cast the first stone…</p>
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<p>Good for you. It looks like you’ve got your priorities straight and your life under control. Unfortunately, some others are not so lucky. </p>
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<p>Video games can be like gambling or drinking alcohol - most people can stop when they want or need to, but some people can’t. It takes over their lives and basically ruins them. That’s why parents are often concerned if they believe that their kids might be gaming (or drinking or gambling) to excess.</p>
<p>2 days is not an addiction, and motivated kids like yours rarely acquire video game addictions at this age. At the end of every semester, our son will play video games for 3-4 days solid. Then he gets bored with it and finds other stuff to do. He still plays some on his breaks, but only for maybe 1 evening per week. I’m guessing your son will do the same.</p>
<p>If it’s only been 2 days, I’d say that’s really pretty normal.</p>
<p>otoh, there is indeed such a thing as video game addiction. It’s the drug of choice for many teens. The key is: is that all he does for weeks on end, or does he have a social life? I wouldn’t be concerned about obsessive gaming for a day or 2, as long as he’s doing other stuff too and getting out of the house. But, some kids do indeed get addicted at the expense of their social lives (not to mention other worthwhile activities such as reading). I know of at least 1 kid who bombed out of his first year at college. Not sure how large a factor gaming was, but his mom sure blames it on the gaming. </p>
<p>I agree that it’s preferable to chemical drugs/alcohol, but it is a drug nonetheless. Many, if not most, teens can handle it in moderation, just as adults handle alcohol, but some don’t handle it well at all.</p>
<p>Just today my son told me that a woman came in where he works and told him that her husband and sons are all addicted to some online game called WOW. (World of Warcraft? or something like that) and the dad comes home from work, doesn’t even say hi to her, and stays put at the computer all evening, and comes to bed at 4 am, gets up at 7, goes to work, repeat. The teen sons don’t have much of a chance at learning self-discipline with an addicted dad like that.</p>
<p>interesting, just saw this about video game addiction:</p>
<p><a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070621/ap_on_he_me/video_game_addiction[/url]”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070621/ap_on_he_me/video_game_addiction</a></p>
<p>What program is he accepted? My D. is also starting in BS/MD in 2 weeks. She is taking it very easy this summer. She is hanging out with her HS buddies a lot, and yes, being a lot on computer for various social communications. They probably feel the need to hang very loose before the big push. She will have to maintain GPA of 3.45 or she will lose her spot in a program, which accepted only 10 kids to begin with. It is a huge responsibility and I bet your son is in similar situation. Take it easy too!</p>
<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>Thanks so much to everyone for your comments.</p>
<p>Hi MiamiDAP,
Sorry for replying late. Was busy getting everything ready and settling my S at his school. He checked in last Thursday at his dorm.</p>
<p>My S got accepted in the UMDNJ’s 7 year program with TCNJ (which is by Princeton). Is your D in UofMiami’s program? Congrats to you!</p>
<p>etenaloptimist,
Congrats to you too! We moved our D. a week before your S. She is at Miami University (Oxford, OH) in Dual Admission Program with Un. of Cincinnati College of Medicine (accepts 10). She was accepted to 3 BS/MD programs - all in Ohio (our home state). She decicded on Miami because DAP is NOT accelerated and she felt that Miami was a very good fit for her overall. She feels good after one week of classes and a lot of orientation type of activities. The best of luck to you and your son!! I am trying to relax (wish the same to you) as much as possible, but I understand you - it is a lot of pressure on our very young kids!</p>