ABC: Computer Addiction?

Found a surprisingly rational article (compared to some articles we get over here) on computer addiction over on the ABC News site. Amazing how you can go home after work, slump in front of the TV for 6 hours solid before going to bed and no-one would bat an eyelid, but if you do it at the computer… there must be something wrong with you!

“Griffiths believes there’s a large difference between people who use the Internet excessively and those who have problems with it, and even those who have problems may not be addicted. To count as a real addiction in Griffiths’ view, it has to be destructive, cause withdrawal symptoms and prompt ever greater use to maintain the kick…

…In South Korea, a hardcore video-gaming culture was blamed last year for at least four deaths. Three men died after or during gaming bouts, one as long as 20 days. A four-month-old baby suffocated while its parents were out playing games.

In cases like that, game addiction is probably not the only factor, said Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, executive director of NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals. She said mental illness could play into it, for instance.”

Full article (plus annoying ads to click past): ABC News – Computer addiction? [via digg]