One month without Xbox 360

No 360 for one month. Lets call it a test, I want to see if my hobby is really having a negative affect on my life. So tonight I’m unpluggin’ my baby, and putting her away until March 1.

Just for kicks, here’s a taste of the shit going on in my head:

“Fuck it, just delete the post. This is stupid, what the fuck am I going to do with all that spare time? What about this weekend, it’s -20 out and I’m gonna be stuck inside all day with nothing to do. I hate being alone and bored, I just end up depressed. Shit, what are my friends gonna say. Yah, I bet they’ll be real understanding of this stupid idea. …okay, but after one more game of Halo.“

Investigation

I did a quick Google search and stumbled across Shavaun Scott, a psychotherapist specializing in video game addiction.  I think her best stuff is the four part series she posted on YouTube about her personal thoughts on gaming addiction. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)

Just quickly to summarize, Dr. Scott believes that people who play games excessively are searching for something they cannot find in real life. Her main question to gamers seems to be, is your game play preventing you from achieving other goals in your life. My answer — an unfortunate yes.

Gamer or Addict?

I turned off my beloved 360 after coming to the realization that I may, and I stress the word MAY, be addicted. My head didn’t explode with this sudden epiphany, but a short conversation with my girlfriend has made me question my hobby. Here’s what was said:

GF: Whatcha gonna do tonight?

Me: Nothing, just fart around the apartment I guess.

GF: So you’re gonna play games all night?

Me: Nah, I don’t know if I really feel like it tonight. Why do you say that?

GF: Well what else would you do?

Ouch. I know she wasn’t trying to be mean, but that kinda hurt. Is playing for 2-3 hours a night too much? Shit, now that I think about it, I played from 9:00pm last night until after 1am. Still, ‘addict’ is too strong of a word. I’m not beggin’ for change on the street so I can get my next fix of Halo. I haven’t lost my job or gained 200 lbs. I just like playing video games, what’s wrong with that?

So I guess my question is, am I a gamer or am I an addict.