On the “Addictiveness” of Computer Gaming

I just “stumbled” upon this article and felt like I had to make a comment about it: Stop Calling Games Addictive. In summary, the author (Ernest Admas) makes a case for how the computer gaming industry is it’s own worse enemy, by using discriptions like “addictive” to promote games. Adams goes on to make a very convincing argument that computer games are no more “addictive” than any other liesure activity, and generally far less harmful. I particularly like his comparison to kids playing wiffle ball for six hours straight …
As something of an avid gamer myself, it’s always annoyed me when gamers themselves used the term. Maybe they had no particular problem comparing themselves to a drug adict, but I always took exception to it. Having successfully walked away from quite a few games that once occupied hours upon hours of my time, I can say with reasonable confidence that as much as I enjoyed them, I was never addicted. I’ve suffered no withdrawal pangs, and I haven’t had to get any counseling to get over them. I know that isn’t true for everyone, but another point Adams made I think is the most pertinent: someone who is susceptible to truly addictive behaviors is going to pick it up no matter what. And certainly, gaming has to be far less socially damaging than drugs or alchohol.