@ Barto: Looks like there's a lot more going on in your story than you're explaining here; you haven't shown what you did to get that strong reaction from "Pomaikai" or why SOE has banned you, other than a vague statement of, "I am not a saint when it comes to EQ. I have done some dirty stuff in the past that raised some eyebrows..."

But this isn't the right place to hash that out, in any case.

And you wander why people feel helpless sometimes. I have had my rl phone number published in the game by a player I felt they were connected to SOE in some way. The GMs spent a week following this guy around constantly changing this message on his profile. He was never banned nor suspended for this.

I have been threathen by SOE with the world ban and I have been talking with SONY corporation of some legal action. Now I realize that Smedley is a busy man but my petitions went as high as Andy Zaffron with no help. Most peope would have gave up or bought a gun. I tried a peaceful solution so I called the man. John's secretary answered and she was nice in the beginning and said she would have someone call me back on this. So I gave her my new number. About 30 hours later no word so i called her back and I got the switchboard. The operator saw my number and told me that she was not allowed to transfer the call to customer service or any of the executives. She said you are not getting thru again. Talk about Shocked. I knew they did not like me but man that takes the cake.

I would like to say being a hard core gamer for almost 8 years with EQ. I understand Liz's story. Trying to be a unbias gamer I have listen to Liz on more than one occassion on the phone. I dont totally agree with her everything or on the theory "EQ is devil" but I seen its ugly horns a few times. I would like to repost a thread from the xegony board and tell me what you think about this guy's comments. They are pretty scary but this how gamers talk.

Pomaikai
Clerics save souls and redeem them for valuable prizes


Posts: 3422
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see my
magelo
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 1:54 am Post subject:

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Hahaha! Tough shit motherfucker! That's just not the way it works. You will forever be tainted by this site you have spewed forth onto our boards. These posts will follow you like a little lost puppy dog as you vainly attempt to app to one guild after another until you finally stop trying. Now is the time to make that server move and never ever post here again, because if we ever find out what server you have moved to, we will post a link to this forum and these threads on that servers message board. Welcome to the joys of karma bitch! Fun ain't it?
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@ Konstruct: If you're going to attempt to correct someone else's use of terminology, you'd best be sure that you're using it correctly. The "definition" you offer for addiction has nothing actually relating to addiction.

I've debated this many times myself, and the core issue is simply: Are these things habituating? Any activity can be habituating, including overeating; pointing at gambling or video games is somewhat disingenuous. Drugs that are physically addictive also have physical withdrawals, but that isn't the sole defining trait of addiction.

I do think that some distinction needs to be made between physical addiction and habituation (I'm loath to use the phrase, "psychological addiction"), but that distinction (or awareness of that distinction) isn't generally made by anyone, either in or out of the treatment industry.

Wooley won't accept that she failed as a mother, seeking to blame external sources instead. Pathetic.

@ Keith Bakker

Please use the proper terms for these people.

Addiction - psychoactive substance (for example alcohol, tobacco and other drugs) which ingested cross the blood-brain barrier, altering the natural chemical behavior of the brain temporarily.

Last time I checked this was not the case for gamers, tv junkies, etc... I'm so sick of opportunistic organizations and people who come up with new illnesses for government funding. These people have self control issues, compulsive behavior, but they are NOT addicted in the proper sense of the word. Its organizations that coddle and enable the mindset that these people are victims that do more harm than good. Instead of taking charge of their lives you've just given them an excuse for their irresponsibility. This is like telling an overeater that the reason they are fat is because of a imbalance in their system instead of the 3 bags of twinkies they had for lunch. You don't give them an excuse you take the damn junk food away. These gamers don't need "drug counseling" they a quick smack across the face and to be sent on their way. At the very worst case scenario medication to control their compulsive behavior.

So next time you come on here, have some scientific data to back up your words because all I'm seeing from your organization is pseudo-science and quackery.

XD @ Thefremen

I was going to make a "She's like the video game equivalent to Cindy Sheehan" but I didn't feel like getting into that whole mess.....

Oh well...

One of these days Elizabeth wooley will get confused and say it's GW's fault for sending her son to Iraq.

Judging from what we've heard from a supposedly close source, he was like "mom I wanna die" and she was like "DO IT FAGGOT!".

[...] Dangers of Internet Gaming [ABC 6 Philadelphia via GamePolitics] [...]

I remember all the "fun" we had when she would argue in the comments back in the LJ days....

@Archgabe

"So what you are saying is that she is trying to make sence out of something that, in her mind, makes no sence. To her, something abstract like depression needs to have a plysical activator like a videogame."

Pretty much. She's blaming the action for the behavior, rather than trying to examine why the behavior manifests itself in the first place.

It's like seeing a nervous twitch, and assuming the twitch is the cause of a neurological disorder, rather than it merely being a symptom. Yes you can try to control the twitch, but it certainly won't cure the underlying problem.

@point09micron

oh... er... I'll just shut up then. sorry ^^;;

This article that I wrote a few months ago may be relevant to those, like Konstruct or Rob, that doubt compulsive use is an issue with some people...

http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=198100422

Jerald

@ Jabrwock

So what you are saying is that she is trying to make sence out of something that, in her mind, makes no sence. To her, something abstract like depression needs to have a plysical activator like a videogame.

Poor lady, in a quest to blame something for her son's losing his mind she has lost hers.

I have epilepsy and also am bipolar. I know what it's like, I know, or at least feel like I know something about how Liz Woolley's son felt if he suffered from the same things I do. You feel like shit nearly all the time, always looking for something to take your mind off of how you feel and obviously he took up playing an MMO, Everquest. Blaming the game for him committing suicide is pretty much to ignore every other reason he could have done it. Also, if he was taking medication, much like I, then they should have realized that some of those same medications talk about an increased amount of thoughts of suicide and the such. So, for all she knows, it could have been a side effect from whatever he was taking to cause him to actually kill himself.

@Agnostotheo

I wasn't arguing with you, I just didn't read your response before posting mine. I agree with what you said.

Kristen Dudley FTW!!

Dudley is also the name of my adorable soft-coated weaton terrier.

Wooley ftl but i think she's kinda sad and in denial.

Liz Wooley has been on this crusade for years, and like many other anti-gaming crusaders, has on more than one occasion resorted to out-and-out lies in order to accomplish her goal. Thankfully, it isn't working.

Kudos for Dr. Kristen Dudley for accurately analyzing the situation. Shawn Dudley was messed up before he ever found Everquest (and yes, there's evidence of this); if there had never been any MMOs, he would have done something else destructive that ended up causing harm to himself and others.

It's too bad I can't watch that story yet. My computer is having some problems and goes bananas whenever I click on a hyperlink. I hope it's fixed soon.

There is no drug addictive quality to these games. If you want to look at it realistically its closer to a soccer club that a fan of a team frequents. They hang out with friends and enjoy their hobby. MMOs "addictive" quality is the sense of progression in an avatar and comradeship with fellow players. There are those who take it too far and play for ridiculous amounts of time and there are soccer club members who get riled up and are labeled soccer hooligans. Anything can be taken too far its up to the person to decide when it is enough.

I played WoW since beta. I was in a hardcore raiding guild. My character could have easily fetched me 1k dollars on ebay. I knew almost every in and out of all the classes due to the time I invested to understanding the game. The game lost its sparkle the more I learned and eventually I quit from boredom. I don't suffer from chemical withdrawals or even a nervous twitch. Its a game same as any other, the people who can't control themselves are usually suffering from something else and all an MMO is an escape for them.

Done and done

I believe in this case the kid did commit suicide in large part due to his in game activities. The story they referring to is quite old and has been widely reported.

While I don't discount that he had other issues, any article you read mention social troubles and continuing depression, however playing an MMO all day everyday certainly did not help him. It may have been the straw that broke the camels back ... but there where a million straws underneath it.

While in a large scope, I don't believe video games lead violent people to violent acts; I do accept that its likely not to help the situation.

yes.. blame the game.. it's not like there were other things going on in the person's life...

I for one can vouch definitevly that videogames dont lead to suicide. I suffer from severe depression. Four years ago I became so suicidal that I was sectioned under the mental health act and had to go into care. At the mere age of 14 it was possibly the worst point of my life, having my freedom taken away from me simply because I had lost the will to live, being forced to take medicine that made me ill and eat poorly cooked NHS funded food.

It truly was hell, once the police were called because a patient friend of mine was cutting herself and wouldn't give the Nursing staff her knife, another time I vomited 11 times in one day after I went on hunger strike and refused my medicine. There really was nothing to get out of bed for. After 2 overdoses and an bringing a train to a holt after waiting on the railway tracks I really was on the edge of loosing it completely.

However it was during those months I discovered Gaming. I remember spending long hours peering over screenshots in the first copy of PC Gamer I bought and reading about the future of games. A future that made me want to stay alive that little bit longer. I spent many a night playing Tony Hawks Pro Skater 4 and Timesplitters 2 being taught the ins and out of each map by my fellow patients and spending hours trying to nab the high score. It took my mind of my otherwise painful existence. It was my escapism. I remember specifically once putting of a suicide attempt because a fellow patient unexpectedly challenged me to a game of Burnout 2, if I hadn't been a gamer I may well have died that night.

You see computer gaming not only kept me sane during the dark days of my existence it might even have contributed to why I'm still alive. Quite simply, gaming did more to help than any of the so called therapy or medication I was on.

Lord be praised! The Gamepolitics banner now links back to the front page!

Also, the concept of a suicide based on Everquest has no more basis in reality than any of the supposed D&D of the 80s.

Gamer

Online gaming is like alchol addiction. I am a firm beliver than you may not take a drink that day but you still have the disease its in how you manage it. Its like thirst that can never be satisfy and it does not pick and choose it takes as its victim. I have not quit turkey yet but I understand that it got the best of me a few times but its hold you manage it. Good days and some bad days.

Btw where are you at Andy Zaffron? I remember a long speech how privacy was important at SOE? Why did you address my issue? Why does SOE hide behind a 10.00 hr switch board operator? Maybe if I grew a pair of tits and changed my name to Terri Johnson? Brad would tell everything.....