Video games, addiction, and two shirts... the gamer paradox

OK, this is old news by now, but for those of you who haven't seen it yet, it is definitely worth sharing.

Here is a story about a Boston area psychologist who claims that treating people with problems stemming from "pathological computer use" is harder than treating people with online porn addictions.

Here is a perfect response from one of the talented writers at the GYG blog.  I'll quote the best part below.

My point in all this, gamers, is simple:

Own it.

Own your hobby.  Embrace what you are.  The fact is, nobody can make you feel inferior if they don’t have your permission.  In many ways, video game enthusiasts need to own what makes them unique in the same way the gay community has owned their uniqueness.  If they want to call you a nerd, screw ‘em — put it on your t-shirt.  If they want to call you anti-social geeks, screw ‘em — put it on your business cards.  Jerks and slapjags feed on your shame.  Cut off their food supply and they go someplace else to eat.

Society will change, but it’s a gradual change that takes awhile.  If you want to stop being ashamed of playing games… then stop being ashamed.  But own up to what you are and what you enjoy.  Nobody can take that away from you but you, and the sooner you embrace what you are, the happier you’ll be.

The two shirts?

I got caught up in gamershame in a big way the other day.  I was facilitating a meeting here at Microsoft to talk about gaming issues.  That morning, I was briefly stunned at my closet when I realized that most of what I had to choose from was gaming schwag T-shirts.  I thought, "oh man, I don't want to look like I only think about gaming... I don't want to look like a gamer dork... lemme just throw on this other thing."  Well, my opportunity to reconsider my poor choice came in the form of a huge stain from my lunch - right in the middle of my non-gaming shirt.  What did I have to replace it with in my office?  Gaming schwag t-shirts, of course!  I laughed, put one on, and led the meeting with quotes from those two sources above, an admission that even those in the industry can fall prey to gamershame, and a promise to OWN IT!

So, game on this week, and game proud!