Baby starves to death while parents play

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I've often wondered the same thing (what qualifies as an addiction?), and I suppose that the real pointer is some degree of compulsion in the activity. e.g., you may play video games every day as a recreational activity, but you don't really feel driven to do it. Addicted? I don't think so. Or you may, let's say, gamble every day, to your financial detriment, and suffer severe anxiety if you don't do it. Addicted: yes.

By that rationale though, there could be people out there who drink everyday who are not alcoholics. (I'm quite sure there are actually, when you weed out those who may be naturally prone to addiction with some substances.) I think it's just become popular to term everything an addiction if it presents any problem whatsoever. People with drunk driving offenses are often expected by the courts to seek 'help' with their problem (AA, counseling, whatever), even though getting arrested for drunk driving doesn't necessarily mean you're an alcoholic. You may not have had a drink for 6 months, but if you go out and have a few one night, stupidly drive home drunk, and get caught, suddenly you're an alcoholic.

 

In a lot of cases it can become difficult to define what is an addiction vs. a habit or an activity that is just so darn enjoyable, a person wants to do it every day.

I would argue that there are some individuals who read books everyday, who are, in fact, living with a form of "book addiction." It may not ruin their lives in any significant way, but if they didn't have access to books for an extended period, they would find themselves anxious, unsettled, and generally uncomfortable. In other words, they have a strong compulsion, or if I may, an addiction to reading.

The thing about addiction is that it has more to do with the person than the activity itself. Some people have addictive tendencies in their DNA. Some addictions are obvious because they are hurtful to the person and those around them, and the person persists in engaging in that addiction in spite of the damage done. Many are less obvious because the addiction is controlled to some degree (we've all heard of functional alcoholics) or the activity that feeds the addiction is so benign that no one really cares. No one is getting hurt, so why even bother with an ugly name like addiction.

Addiction runs deep in my family. I'm a highly functional family man, who just got treated like a hero during the entire father's day weekend by my wife and children (really, I was astonished at how much appreciation they showed me). I work very hard in my career and, for the most part, I think I have my major priorities straight.

But the addictive tendencies have always been there. When I do something, I usually go overboard and let that thing dominate my thoughts. For a while as I was making my transition from college into my career I started drinking heavily, and would literally go home after work, not even bother to turn the lights on, and sit alone drinking until I went to bed (I was dealing with some stuff back then, but that’s another topic). I managed to pull myself out of that, but I only did so by turning that addictive behavior to gaming. I can honestly say that I became a full blown gaming addict for several years. I got very into MMORGPs and since I was living in my own apartment with no one to tell me what to do, I would spend nearly every moment of spare time gaming. The weekends were the worst, as I would play Friday - Sunday with nary a break to eat or sleep. It was bad.

Somehow I managed to meet an awesome woman and get married in the midst of that, but I had to swear off MMOs to make that work. I still game, when I can find the time, but I still see the compulsive/addictive behaviors below the surface. I don't always game just because there's a really great game out there. Often, go out of my way to find a game just so I can have something that I'm playing. It's subtle, but for me, that's my addictive personality in many cases. However, since I've gotten pretty good at controlling it, I lead a fairly balanced life, and no one is getting hurt, no one really bothers to call me a gaming addict. But just as an alcoholic is always an alcoholic, so it is with me. Even if I'm the only one who sees it.

 

I can relate with what Marceror experienced. I thought it was a simple indulgence, a little bad habit. I live alone and I too have also played computer games or watched DVDs or surf the internet from Friday evening to early Monday morning without sleeping much, but I can't do without eating. And I can recall a couple of times or so, I ended up calling at work saying I'm sick but really I just needed to get some sleep. That bad.

And I have seen a number of colleagues or office workers (clients) or even sales reps in computer shops who are into online chatting/activities (YM, Facebook, Twitters, etc.) or playing Farmville or Mafia more than doing their work. Some even multi-task, chatting with friends while doing on-line troubleshooting. And continues with their online activities when they're home at night.

Habit or addiction? That's up to you but either way, it does have it's negative side. It may look like a harmless habit but given the freedom, it can be bad. I had to get myself into some physical activities (backpacking and mt. biking) partly so I can curve down such loose of control. In a way, I'm just appreciating a leader who's wise enough and got the guts to actually come down hard on some seemingly harmless fad at the right time... before they gets out of hand.

Btw, wasn't there a guy who died due to lack of sleep and starvation in a 24 hour internet cafe before? He was addicted with online forums and spent all his time posting in dozens of forums if I remember correctly.