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Addiction


Army of One

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Some people out there (and I assume a few of you guys) have become and / or are still addicted to various things. Addictions are very largely looked down upon (mainly addictions to substances) but the one I would like to discuss here today is not that kind – and I see this a fitting place to put it – I’d like to talk about my addiction to RuneScape.

Today I was legitimately offered $500 NZD from my mother to stop playing RuneScape forever. I declined instantly, without a second thought. I myself had many reasons, which I will list here:

 

1. Nobody is bribing me out of doing what I love doing. I’m stronger than that.

2. Long before this, I’ve told myself over and over that I would never sell my RuneScape account for anything. Which I firmly believe in. In this situation, I’d literally be selling my ability to even play the game.

3. I didn’t put 202 days and 10 hours (over roughly 7 years and 7 months) of my life into an amount of money I could earn in a week’s work of minimum wage.

4. I don’t even need $500. There’s nothing I would do with it – it would sit in my wallet / bank / under my damn desk or wherever I decided to put it forever, whilst I sat and contemplated what to do with my time instead of play RuneScape.

5. Similar to above, I didn’t put 202 days and 10 hours into RuneScape to quit this close (or far) from Maxing my account. I still have goals, and I’ve no desire to give up right now for money that I’d do nothing nearly as fun with and could never give me the same sense of achievement.

6. You guys. I’m not leaving the clan chat anytime soon. I could still frequent the forums, I know, but if I was never playing again in my life, I’d probably want to break the deal and play again by watching all of you rise up and Max and achieve your goals around me, so that would probably deter me. Which I don’t want at all.

My declination to the offer was met badly by my parents (and sister, who could hear us). I thought declining it was a show of how I wasn’t weak willed into accepting money. They said it was a sign of my addiction – turning down $500 to play “flippin runescape”. In case you haven’t guessed already, they’re sick of me playing it. Which in all honesty ,I’d rather they kept to themselves. Every time they say “Daniel, why don’t you just stop playing, you’re wasting your life” or “RuneScape is never going to help you in life? Why do you even play it, it’s such a waste of time!” I get a little more insulted. I’m not sure if you guys would agree, but when my own family tries to stop me doing what I enjoy doing, and shunning it, and trying to find reasons why I shouldn’t be playing it out of nowhere, I find it insulting. And now to be offered money to quit? That takes the king. I couldn’t believe my parents would think I’d accept that, can’t believe they’d try that, and can’t believe they’re so desperate for me to stop playing. I think it’s kind of selfish.

 

What do you guys think. I may have overreacted in my last blog post but this time I think I’m justified.

22 Comments


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My parents have done something similar, they offered me $250(us) to quit playing minecraft(at the time I played mc for like 12 hours a day at least), I said no.

 

In the long run, all of the time you spent playing games instead of doing something productive will hurt you, it will hurt me, and hurt anyone else who lives like that. Your parents see that and they want you to live better than that.

 

If you really don't want to stop, then don't, its a video game, not heroin, but cutting back can always be a good idea(ironic that I say this when I just watched 16 episodes of requiem for the phantom in one sitting).

 

I guess my whole point is that it's just as video game, take that as you will.

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tell them its ur life man and u should be allowed 2 do what u want u know. but if ur parents are offering u money to quit playing, maybe it's not a bad idea to cut back a bit. how much do u play per day, if i can ask?

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tell them its ur life man and u should be allowed 2 do what u want u know. but if ur parents are offering u money to quit playing, maybe it's not a bad idea to cut back a bit. how much do u play per day, if i can ask?

I only really play after school - from which I go about 3:45 to 10:30, but there is a 2 hour gap implemented in there. Including homework / tutoring on thursdays / ice skating on fridays I average about five hours.

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I only really play after school
but the one I would like to discuss here today is not that kind
I think it’s kind of selfish.

 

I think you're in denial. I'll be blunt here because I feel it'll work best - you do have an addiction and it is detrimental to you. "Only" playing five hours a day (on weekdays, no less) is definitely an unhealthy amount of time spent. When you get to a point where someone is offering you money to stop doing something, you should realise what that actually means.

 

Now this doesn't mean you have to quit Runescape, that's just total overkill and isn't necessary. What I do recommend you do is cut back your hours though, down to 1-2 hours a day at most (on weekdays). Honestly, is XP in a game really that worth it to you?

 

Your parents aren't being selfish here, they're being the opposite, and it's a good sign that they're actively trying to help you. Give them a chance. They love you. I do too (no homo), which is why I'm posting this. All the best mate.

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The problem with RuneScape, is that 1-2 hours pretty much sums up your dailies. No time for anything else. Which is why I can't wait to get 99 bloody Slayer and never spend half my afternoon doing it again. And also does that have time for Sinkholes? and Warbands? I do plan on playing aless after I max and all that. Thanks for the advice tho.

 

And also that kind = substances.

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when I played a lot every day that wasn't because I was addicted, it was because I had nothing better to do...

 

I really don't see the problem with playing 10 hours a day when you are looking for a job for example

 

beats staring at a wall any time and is much cheaper then going outside and doing something 'social'

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And also does that have time for Sinkholes? and Warbands?

 

Again, do you really need to do these things? Does it matter if you don't do it everyday?

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I don't really know what to think about this. Addiction is technically something you have a dependence on. Just because you play Runescape a lot does not mean you have a dependence on it.

 

I think your choice to turn down $500 to stop playing was good. Your parents may not like it, but it shows courage to at least not be bribed into doing something others want. Although your parents are looking out for your best interests, I disagree with them. A lot of activities provide little or no benefit to you - not just Runescape. If you quit Runescape you would just go onto something else.

 

If you want to reduce your playing time though you need to stop thinking about maxing. This community (including Jagex - surprise they want you to play so its more money for them!) pushes maxing deep into the heart of everybody and you have to be aware of that. Maxing really only has cosmetic uses - a max cape. Right now you are all 90+ and if you maxed you would not be able to do much more than you can now. I would also suggest you stop thinking about doing dailies. I haven't done routine dailies in about two months and the sky hasn't fallen on me yet.

 

But on the topic of addiction it's hard to see if you are actually addicted or just enjoy playing a lot. We know nothing about you in real life. Frankly your family is a better judge of that than we are and they are saying you are addicted - something to keep in mind.

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Very few people are actually addicted to Runescape. for example if you can take a week off without withdrawal or something you aren't addicted. So if you are capable of going on vacation without playing Runescape then you aren't addicted.

 

I play less than most people here but I still don't know if I would take $500 to quit, when I play it's usually because I'm bored and maybe the money wouldn't compensate for the immense boredom that ensues.

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Turn about is fair play, offer mum $500(AU) to stop watching neighbours/home& away/whatever her soap of choice is forever & watch what she does..... then rub it in.

Internet/gaming addiction has been played with enough on mainstream media for people to think its a real thing& they need to "fix" others who suffer it in their eyes. The main point is if its not hurting your other commitments, what else are you supposed to be doing with that time? Everyone needs some downtime, the key being that it is downtime - not your life to the detriment of everything else.

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Simply put: Technology has surpassed the human mind in development speed tenfold. Your parents are acting as if you really are addicted to amphetamines or something. But in all honesty, they are probably scared. They don't know anything (or perhaps very little) about gaming, or the effects it has mental stimulation (keeps your brain healthy) and promotes good motor skills/eye-hand coordination. Of course things like missing meals, sleep, work and other things completely contradict the formula. So where do you draw the line? :P

 

Well, you have to draw it, only you can. Your parent's know nothing about it, they never experienced it, it's foreign to them. You have to be the one that notices if you are playing the game or the game is playing you.

 

Edit: I don't think you overreacted last time either, maybe you were upset, but you had a right to be. You were instigated.

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I think It's fine up to the point where you stop doing other stuff to play RS, like for example go out with friends or practice a sport.

Personally I've spent a lot of time playing RS and various other games but only because I've had nothing else to do.

Also, you'll max eventually, no need to rush it. You'll just get yourself tired and annoyed at the game, it's happened to me.

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I think It's fine up to the point where you stop doing other stuff to play RS, like for example go out with friends or practice a sport.

 

QFT

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Try and pick up another hobby alongside RS that you love to do, worked wonders for me. Find something you can dedicate the same amount of time to, preferably something with tangible rewards. I really enjoy exercising because of that.

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You're dependent on the game. Addicted or not is a matter of semantics. At the end of the day playing that much isn't healthy.

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Hell, I'd take $500 to stop playing a game. I never got offered money, my mom always just told me to get off my ass.

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Mmmm

I don't consider RS just a game to me RS and ESP Sal's is an online community.

I can login anytime and find someone to chat with and laugh with, share goals with and learn from.

RS gives me the opportunity to interact with people from around the world not just my own back yard.

My situation is a lot different I suppose cos I'm a lot older but if u feel passionate about something and it keeps u coming back then I see that as a good thing.

Would your parents be the same if it was sport, art, literate etc that was taking up your time?

What exactly do your parents expect you to be doing with your spare time?

Personally I never understood the kids who just hung out when I was younger, I was at home with my head in a book (which again is a fantasy world if it's a fiction book).

I agree with Iam that people fear that which they do not understand and I also agree that as long as you are keeping up with other commitments I see no harm after all at the end of the day it's YOUR free time and YOUR life.

You are still young with the rest of your life ahead of you, do what feels good at the moment who knows if you go on to uni you may find you have other things to feel that passion for.

Anyway better not go on for too long lol

Sal

One last comment, being unable to work atm RS is a godsend to me cos I'm stuck in doors a lot, without it I probably would not talk to anyone except my dad for days on end.

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Are you truly happy doing what you do? If so, then who the fudge cares. To each their own.

I think this can be true while also recognizing unhealthy behavior.

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lilshu, on 30 July 2014 - 08:30 PM, said:

 

Are you truly happy doing what you do? If so, then who the fudge cares. To each their own.

I think this can be true while also recognizing unhealthy behavior.

i truly enjoy myself shooting up heroin

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Honestly, five hours a day of gaming on weekdays when you're in your second to last year of school? That doesn't really leave you any free time to do anything else. I'd suggest cutting down by an hour or two. Start another hobby and put some time into that.

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i truly enjoy myself shooting up heroin

If the personal happiness that one gains using heroin truly outweighed the detrimental consequences, and it didn't affect others, then I wouldn't mind. But considering the fact that it almost certainly does harm to one's life, for physical and pecuniary reasons, I think we can agree that heroin is bad. If the net value of Army of One's consistent playing RuneScape is positive, and it isn't doing harm unto others, then I believe there's no justification by which to criticize him, according to lilshu.

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Want to know if you're addicted? Try quitting or cutting back for a week (quitting is easier, you won't be able to sneak in extra playtime) or longer. Have problems? You're addicted. Have none? You're fine. Not taking the $500 does make sense to me - you enjoy RS too much and have friends here.

 

Let me tell you in all honestly what I think of reasons 2 and 3:

2. Silly excuse. You wouldn't actually be selling your account, you'd stop playing. Taking $500 to quit playing has nothing to do with selling your account.

3. 202 days and 10 hours in seven years is 8% of seven years. 12% of all your time spent awake assuming you sleep 8 hours. It is quite a lot.

Please don't take offense, I'm only trying to be realistic. Just honestly answer these questions to yourself (we don't need to know the answer): have you ever considered the possibility that you might play too much? Do you think your parents may have a point?

If your parents are up for it, have a frank discussion with them. They obviously find it to be a serious problem, and the fact that you disagree evidently only makes it worse to them.

 

Let me end this by saying that I don't necessarily see a problem with what you're doing. I also play a lot of videogames. Just don't drop the ball socially and do things beyond RS.

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