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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsDr. Phil confronts WoW players
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 22nd 2008 at 3:30PM
Yes, Oprah's psychologist (actually, I heard just the other day on Wait Wait that Dr. Phil was originally hired as a jury consultant on Oprah's beef slander case) has turned his mustachioed and Texas-accented attention to MMO gamers, and it's the usual rundown: someone's been playing the game way too much, and it's time for Dr. Phil to draw out the stereotype to anyone who finds a little fun in the online world of Azeroth.To be fair, I haven't seen the show itself, so maybe Phil does admit that millions of people around the world play these games in their free time, and that the vast majority of them have paying jobs, lead healthy lives and have happy relationships. But he doesn't feature any of those on his website -- instead, he's got the story of lives ruined over and over again because folks without self control took their game too far. And all the usual TV culprits are there -- flash cuts of chaotic keyboard and controller pressing, blurred video, and pictures of pasty gamers playing late into the night while the rest of their lives go ignored. Worried that you might be addicted? Dr. Phil's also got a "gaming behavior audit" that will let you know, in just ten questions, whether you're an addict or not. Here's a helpful question: do you feel you play online games to deal with anxiety or depression in your life? If so, you may have anxiety or depression in your life! Thanks, Dr. Phil!
In all seriousness, sure, it's possible to play these games too much, and if you're playing the game even after you've lost a job or sacrificed a relationship, it's time to get help (or even better, just unplug the computer). But it would be nice to see a healthy gamer on these shows once in a while -- there's definitely plenty of them around, too.
[via BlizzPlanet]
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Humor
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)
James Riggs Oct 22nd 2008 3:41PM
I stopped watching Dr Phil when I figured out that all the problems on his show are attributable to men not knowing how to be men. Uncontrolled game addiction is just another example.
G Oct 22nd 2008 4:01PM
Sally Jessy Raphael made a career on the same premise. Men must be easy targets. Probably because we realize these shows are usually too stupid to bother with a response, so they get a free pass.
mora Oct 23rd 2008 3:59AM
men are the only target you can blame things on nowadays. If you do any other you are a racist or you think women should be at home all day making super and having kids.
You start watching TV commercials they only ever make fun of white men any more.
Modpapa Oct 22nd 2008 3:42PM
This guy needs to get a life. Good Lord, I want to have fun and enjoy the company of other people instead of sitting passively in front of a television watching the drivel they produce--(stuff like the "Dr." Phil Show?)? Yeah go ahead and judge other people, "Doctor", I'm sure you're a model of behavior. Get a grip man.
ayalafatalis Oct 22nd 2008 3:43PM
I remember a show like this was done on the Tyra Banks program-- and there was a couple features. Well at the end, they made they guy promise to destroy the CDs so he couldn't play-- and they actually made him do it on stage.
Yet they are probably ignorant to the fact that you dont need those CDs/DVDs to play.
I know that guy was thinking the same exact thing too.
Just proved how much fail these shows are sometimes.
mora Oct 23rd 2008 4:01AM
I was just thinking about this same thing
xin Oct 22nd 2008 4:30PM
dr phil is a joke lol all he does is point out the obivious. for example, this kid is doing too much drugs, his advice would be "stop doing drugs!!"
superfrank Oct 22nd 2008 3:51PM
tbh addiction is the dark side of mmos!
Byrd Oct 22nd 2008 3:52PM
I actually saw the show as I leave my TV running in the background as I play WoW.
I think that he does bring up "topics" worth thinking about. There are some people that play WoW that do have an addiction. It is worth asking yourself if you play too much and whether or not you should play less so that you can get any neglected areas of your life sorted out.
On the other hand, I disliked what I perceived as ridiculing on the part of Dr. Phil toward his WoW player guest. He seemed to make fun of a lot of what his guest said on the show. I think that he should have still shown respect even if he disagreed with what the guest said.
Toward the end of the show, Dr. Phil briefly introduced a lady who wrote a book asserting that gaming addiction is more the part of the person playing the game rather than the game itself. And I agree with this point. But Dr. Phil seemed to invalidate everything the woman said and tried to make her look bad too (in subtle ways).
So basically I think Dr. Phil did bring up some topics worth thinking about but I disagree with the way he lead the discussion.
Shinkou Oct 22nd 2008 5:06PM
Like TB constantly says, there is no addiction. I am/was a hardcore raider, playing after work or class for 5-8 hours at a time for days straight and I enjoy it, been doing it for the past 3 years now. I can spend up to 40 hours a week if my guild needs me for raids and such but I can easily walk away whenever I want and I do.
I've gone on 6-9 month deployments and sure I think about WoW every now and then but for the most part it didn't really bother me. Heck, every now and then I'll call out on a SWP/BT raid just go hang out with friends. By all means, the amount I used to spend on WoW would be by Dr. Phil's terms an addiction but it wasn't. THERE IS NO ADDICTION.
Keep spreading the word TB, the media is just a bunch of idiots trying to fool everyone else.
Tobias Oct 22nd 2008 3:55PM
Massively had an article on this subject yesterday.
It had an interesting statement from one of the people who took part in the show saying how they had to sign a contract that made a point of saying that "Dr" Phil is not a doctor at all in any way shape or form.
The person also said that they were completely missrepresented on the show and majour key parts of the story were edited or completely ommited to make it more entertaining.
But hell at the end of the day thats the key word here, entertainment.
He will keep making his show and raking in the money as long as there are still some slack jawed idiots out there willing to watch this garbage.
Starfiyre of Shadow Council Oct 22nd 2008 3:55PM
Took the audit, and the only question I answered yes to was:
1. Do you feel that you need to play online games as a way of dealing with anxiety or depression in your general life?
So apparently having a outlet for my sucky life means I need to seek professional help OMG NOW...yea...um...no.. The same question applies to any hobby. Dr. Phil can kiss off.
Dogmeat Oct 23rd 2008 7:38AM
I took the audit as well, and answered YES to a few of the squishier questions.
Do I get anxious if someone is making me late for a game event? YES.
Do I get anxious when someone makes me late for an Indoor Soccer game? YES.
Am i addicted to Indoor Soccer and need professional help? You won't see that show.
Traumatic Oct 22nd 2008 3:57PM
If anyone has actually watched this crack-pot's show, you will quickly realize that he feeds on the insecurities of women and does his best to "empower" them. This traditionally means he encourages them to outrageous acts of stupidity ala "Jerry Springer". The overlying concern to me is this: there are people that believe, trust, and act on his wisdom -- god(s) save us all.
spacehyena Oct 22nd 2008 4:42PM
The difference between Dr. Phil and Springer is this: at least Jerry KNOWS (and admits) that his show is trash.
Levina Oct 22nd 2008 3:59PM
Dr Phil is a joke and is dangerous and anyone with a addiction or serious problem should seek someone who doesnt have a fake "DR" in front of their name.
daltonj Oct 22nd 2008 4:02PM
I also took the audit and I answered yes to a few. But then I also inserted "drinking", "exercise" and "having sex".
yes, I've lied about thinking about sex.
yes, I feel the need to exercise because it gives me the self-esteem and confidence other activities don't.
yes, I get restless and irritable when restricted from my next drinking event
Maybe I just have and addictive personality?
Vendrill Oct 22nd 2008 4:16PM
Dr. Phil is an abomination. It disgusts me that he considers himself a psychologist. He does nothing to help people, just to humiliate them and exploit them.
CLapie Oct 22nd 2008 4:10PM
There is game addiction, but Dr Phill is being a moron here.
Ive seen it, when a guy has so much gold that he is pooping it as he walks, yet he still makes dailys and doesnt enjoy them.
The guy waiting for the expansion to come and level his main, but still has to play and levels another 70 even though he already has one of each class.
Etc.
Robert Oct 22nd 2008 4:04PM
1.Do you feel that you need to tell other people how to live their lives as a way of feeling superior to other members of your species?
2.Are you preoccupied with trying to come up with the next idea of some sort of "illness" just s that your tv shows rating jump just a couple more points?
3.Have you getten so would up into yourself that you actually believe that you have never made any kind of mistake at all in your life?
4.Are you trying to find a way to diagnoss "restless and Irritable" as some kind of problem, even though restless and irritable can be from anything, including pants-too-tight-itis to that STD that lady had on your show last week?
OK, I'm going to stop here.... but if you answered YES to any of these questions, maybe you need to figure out where you traded your manhood for a Ph.D and the supposed "right" to tell people whats wrong with them.