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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 5 of 5)
Zep Oct 22nd 2008 7:38PM
TB... I watched that, and then I emailed it to all my friends, and then I showed it to my guild.
You're my hero :D
Jon Oct 22nd 2008 7:46PM
What is up with them labeling gamers as anti social anyway? WoW is how I, and many others, choose to socialize. We are mature adults who would rather do something we *enjoy* that involves logical thinking and team coordination, instead of hanging out at a smoky bar and getting drunk on a saturday night. While I agree it's a bad idea to quit your job to play WoW all the time, I think non-gamers just don't understand that this IS our social outlet.
I would rather spend 20 or even 40 hours a week playing WoW than pretending I like sports and drinking when I really don't. I am an intellectual, and this is my playground.
William Oct 23rd 2008 11:27AM
Amen!
Badger Oct 23rd 2008 12:26PM
"What is up with them labeling gamers as anti social anyway?"
It's quite simple, really. This reinforces and reaffirms the feelings of uneducated, judgmental pseudo-parents who depend upon Dr. Phil for advice on relating to their kids. Oddly enough, these are also the same people who watch his show all the damned time.
inspersia Oct 22nd 2008 7:47PM
I an understand why people are getting defensive, since games get blamed for so much these days. If it's not games, it's music (aka Manson and the school shooting).
Just remember this is coming from older people who are becoming obsolete in our society as the younger generations take over. Just ignore them and don't get defensive about it. The smarter people in our society see how WoW actually helps with teamwork, management and thinking processes; I've seen such articles in management type magazines.
Dr Phil is just a chump, who cares what he says.
FoxOfWar Oct 22nd 2008 8:43PM
/facepalm
Not going to get much on the topic itself since I haven't got much to add... but TB, that video was awesome! I know personally few people who could benefit from watching it with thought.
*sneaks away to bomb a few e-mails*
Soundeyes Oct 23rd 2008 1:00AM
Addiction is all about brain chemistry. Our brains are like a 3D Etch-a-Sketch, but unlike that toy you can't simply shake your head and get rid of what you've drawn.
Doing the same pleasurable activity (and pleasure can come from anywhere really, whatever stimulates you) over and over again will cause your brain to burn deeper and deeper chemical pathways. Thus, the habit is born.
People who claim to have the willpower or strength to control addictive behaviors may very well have a better brain chemistry, or simply a more open minded perspective which allows them to more easily create new habits.
Addiction IS a major problem for many people, but it is ADDICTION that is the problem - not the THINGS you get addicted to.
Sagara Oct 23rd 2008 8:05AM
@ Soundeyes:
Three letters: WOW.
That last point says it all...
Alizar Oct 23rd 2008 9:11AM
mustachioed FTW!!!!
Pye Oct 23rd 2008 11:29AM
lol this is just plain funny, it seems to me that Dr. phil needs to consider if we wernt playing video game what would we be doing, over populating the earth, scoring some smack with the suger crack, or blowing away people because of our stress and anxiety or depression. i gota tell ya wsg is a great strees relifer. (sry for my horrible spelling)
GoRy Oct 23rd 2008 12:10PM
It's just funny though; I missed 2 pages of comments (so apologies if I cover existing ground) but a lot of my friends (myself included) spend usually around 20-30hours a week playing WoW. We all have healthy stable relationships, jobs and finished our education successfully while having - in one case, 4 - active WoW accounts.
It's same old sensationalism. Rock and Roll in the 70's anyone?
Badger Oct 23rd 2008 12:24PM
Dr. Phil is a hack and an imbecile.
I find it ironic that anyone who attempted to refute any of his outrageous and biased claims would be immediately labeled as one of the same "problem children" at whom this ridiculous feature was aimed.