There are three problems that arise from WoW:

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the time it requires to do anything "important" is astounding, it gives people a false sense of accomplishment, and when you're a leader, and get wrapped up in it, no matter how much you care or want people to care, you're doing the wrong thing.

First off, let's go back to the time it takes to accomplish anything in the game. To really be successful, you need to at least invest 12 hours a week, and that is bare minimum. From a leadership perspective, that 12 hours would be laughed at. That's the guy who comes unprepared to raid and has to leave half way through because he has work in the morning or is going out or some other thing that shows "lack of commitment". To the extreme there is the guildie who is always on and ready to help. The "good guildie" who plays about 10 hours a day and seven days a week. Yes, that's almost two full-time jobs. Funny, no one ever asks any questions, though.

The worst though are the people you know have time commitments. People with families and significant others. I am not one to judge a person's situation, but when a father/husband plays a video game all night long, seven days a week, after getting home from work, very involved instances that soak up hours and require concentration, it makes me queasy that I encouraged that. Others include the kids you know aren't doing their homework and confide in you they are failing out of high school or college but don't want to miss their chance at loot, the long-term girl/boyfriend who is skipping out on a date (or their anniversary - I've seen it) to play (and in some cases flirt constantly), the professional taking yet another day off from work to farm mats or grind their reputations up with in-game factions to get "valuable" quest rewards, etc... I'm not one to tell people how to spend their time, but it gets ridiculous when you take a step back.

The game also provides people with a false sense of security, accomplishment, and purpose. Anyone can be a superhero here if they have the time to put in. Not only that, a few times I've seen this breed the "rockstar" personality in people who have no confidence at all in real life. Don't get me wrong, building confidence is a good thing and something, if honed appropriately, the game can do very right. But in more than a few cases, very immature people with bad attitudes are catered to (even after insulting or degrading others "in public") because they are "better" than the rest. Usually this means they played a lot more and have better gear. I'd really hate to see how this "I'm better than you attitude" plays out in real life where it means jack how epic your loot is - when you say the wrong thing to the wrong person it's going to have repercussions and you can't just log out to avoid the effects of your actions.

And people put everything on the line for these accomplishments with which they associate much value. I know of children and spouses being forced to play and grind for their parents, threats of divorce, rampant neglect, failing grades in school, and thousands of dollars spent on "outsourcing" foreign help. For what, you ask? Honor. The desire to be the best for at least one week. To get the best loot in the game. What do these "heroes" receive? Why, cheers and accolades of course as they parade along in their new shiny gear... which is obsolete the first time they step into one of the premier instances. The accomplishment and sacrifice itself are meaningless a few days later. Then it's usually off to the races again.

Finally, when you're a leader there is a call (or more appropriately a demand) for success. Usually those you represent want to keep progressing. They want to keep improving. They want more access to the best things. It is on you to provide it. In my experience, when you fail to progress fast enough, waves ripple throughout the guild and people become dissatisfied. It's your fault, no matter what. Everything you've done to keep things fair and provide for everyone does not mean a damn thing. A few will stand up for you, but when you have 150 people who all want 150 different things, you end up listening to 150 voices complaining about the job you're doing. This volunteer job usually takes at least 10 extra hours a week (on top of regular playing). Towards the end of my year of service, I apparently couldn't do anything right with my class. I had to rotate people to make sure everyone was getting a fair shot. I wrote actual mathematical proofs the allowed for fair and effective (yes, both) raid distribution according to efficiency, speed, and guild class population. I even rotated myself more than any other class member. People still took it upon themselves to tell me what I was doing wrong (constantly) and how their way was more fair (usually for them).

The thing that kicked me in the ass more than anything else was I really cared if my guildies were getting what they wanted out of the experience. I truly thought my efforts would make them happy. I wanted to make a difference to them. The greedy and socially phobic high school kid I thought I could help through the game, all of the couples (both married and not) who were falling apart because of the game I thought I could rescue, the girl who was deeply wounded by a guy who left her for the game but was herself addicted I thought I could save, not to mention a host of others, I thought my efforts were helping. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks: I was providing them with an escape from their problems and nurturing the very thing that was holding them back. Oh yeah, it hit me like a ton of bricks after I had changed so much and lost enough of myself that the most wonderful girl I ever met broke up with me.

I remember clearly after fumbling around life for a few weeks that I dragged myself into the bathroom to get ready for work. I was tired because I was up until close to 2 AM raiding. Every week I read though email or I would run into one of my "real" friends and I'd hear "Andy, what's up, I haven't seen you in a while." I looked in the mirror and in a cinemaesque turn of events and a biblical moment of clarity, told myself "I haven't seen me in a while either."

That did it. I wanted to do the things I wanted to do again and be with the people who appreciated me even if I abandoned them for a year and sucked to high heaven as a friend. The prodigal son returned and my friends were happy. The best advice I got was from the girl who dumped me for being a jackass (and after I decided to really quit and be "myself again" became one of, if not my best friend in the entire world), who said "your real friends like you even when you screw up." It's true.

Funny side note was the reaction I got from the guild that I spent a year pouring my heart and soul into. I made my post in the guild forums saying I was leaving (half of it RPing - something that doesn't happen after you start raiding) and that it was time for me to move on. Three days later I didn't exist any more. The machine kept on moving without this gear. A few people asked me over email (and when I logged on to clean out the old bank) when I was coming back (I'm not going to). There are a few others I keep in contact with and am planning on going to visit sooner or later so I can hang out in person and they can finally meet me. But in the end being forgotten about so soon after still left a bittersweet taste. But one that was a lot easier to swallow than the one I chugged down every day for the better part of a year.

Don't get me wrong, WoW did a lot of things right. At times it was a fun game that allowed me to keep in contact with friends who lived far away. More importantly it introduced me to some of the best real life friends I've ever met. However, it did take an undeniable toll on me and is taking a far greater one on many, many people when taken too far.

40 percent of World of Warcraft players are addicted to the game.

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little difference between drug use, excessive gambling and heavy game playing. And with millions of gamers hooked on mega-popular massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs), the problem is growing rapidly. In fact, as much as 40 percent of World of Warcraft players are addicted to the game.

WoW forgetting their real-life's immediate matters. There are many examples:

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WoW player problems:
Bathroom: This is a vital part of real life matters. Who hasn't been playing hours through feeling the bladder reach the straining limits, but not wanting to take care of business, because you are the healer or the tank, and just reached Drakkisath's hall, or Ayamiss the Hunter? Sometimes we do say AFK a sec. And run to the bathroom ... sometimes missing aim in the rush. Then someone at home yells at us for messing the bathroom and not cleaning up after. Or forgetting to drop down the top of the toilet.


Job: Guild players usually play until midnight, but those who feel like playing a bit more, say ... players in Alterac Valley Battleground can find themselves dragged to stay a bit longer ... they are almost taking Stormpike Bunkers. One Bunker is gone, and you need to take the south Bunker to ensure victory. The clock keeps ticking and now it is 3am in the morning. You need to wake up at 6am to take a shower and dress up to go to work. If you get to punch-in late at the office ... it was not World of Warcraft's fault, or your fault ... it was the traffic's fault or the subway train didn't arrive in time -- you tell the boss or your job teammates.


Shower: Are you one of those who stay 15 hours a day playing World of Warcraft either because of unemployment, or because it is Summer break at school, or a weekend? Some won't take a shower until next day ... some lucky ones may miss a shower for over 40 hours. But there are other less fortunate ones who do take care of getting a shower often and turn on the water faucet of the bathtub and return to play World of Warcraft ... waiting for the water to get warm -- specially during winter. An hour later, your phone rings consistently or your door is knocked furiously. It is your neighbor from the apartment below ... your adventures in Azeroth turn into a grim reality when you realize your home is flooded and is cascading water down the ceiling of your neighbor. You can remember all the commands, and macros on your keyboard, can clear Molten Core in record time and remember perfectly every mob and boss and how to carry out all your melee attacks and spells... but you can't even remember the shower was left running water.


Marriage: Love. The sublime moment in life that is marrying your soulmate, and to be beside him/her through sickness and all that ... but did your partner also mean through World of Warcraft addiction? Some harcore players forget special days such as Birthday, Anniversary, or taking the husband or wife to a restaurant to celebrate a special day ... because that specific day you are required by the Guild to take down C'Thun, Ragnaros or Kel'Thuzad bosses. Maybe your partner is overwarmed and needs some kissing or more, and approaches you while playing the game. But you are way too focused on striking your record highest DPS in Zul'Gurub, or reaching Grand Marshall or High Warlord in Alterac Valley. You get some yelling, and your lovely soulmate leaves to take a sore cold shower. Reality around you is a blur. What matters is your character in World of Warcraft.


Food: When hunger gets the best of you, and have a small window of chance to get off the computer ... usually during buffing up time ... you run to the kitchen and throw the french fries or a piece of any meat on the pan, turn on the stove; or slip food into the microwave and run away like Speedy Gonzalez back to the computer to plug your brain once more into the surreal world of Azeroth. However, time in Azeroth not always matches time of reality for some odd reason. Time passes slower while playing ... whereas it goes pretty quick in the normal world. You only find that out when the fire alarm goes off or a grey cloud approaches the sanctity of your computer space. Hoof! What's that stench? There is no Ogre butt anywhere near you ... your real body senses detect it originates somewhere else ... oh damn ... the kitchen, how could I forget about that? Who hasn't experienced that for months or years?

WoW is one can of worms

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My reason for leaving is that I never started in the first place.

I've been a gamer my whole life but WoW is one can of worms I never wanted to touch. I've heard and seen it all about WoW and other MMOG games: a friend of mine was depressed and failed out of college (despite my warning him to stop playing), another friend's girlfriend left him for someone she met on WoW, a girl that I started to date and really like basically turned cold on me and went back to playing WoW to try to get back with her ex-boyfriend (and now has another boyfriend, probably WoW-related, and she doesn't talk to me anymore), a friend of a friend is addicted to WoW and the wife is about to file for divorce because he spends all his time on the game... the list goes on and on.

I'm so glad I woke up from playing games incessantly for hours on end and got to meet new people in real life, party a little, make some more money, enjoy trips to new places, and learn something new and useful. I'm not saying games are bad but MMOG addicts have unfortunately fallen into the trap of the financial and marketing model that is making Blizzard and other companies millions of dollars. This revenue model is the subscription-based games with no end and plenty of expansion packs. They are laughing all the way to the bank - at your expense.

The saddest part is that addicts don't recognize that they have so much potential and there's so much out there to see and do in the world. A lot of them would be so productive in other areas. So what if you're level 100. Will people remember you for what you've done?

Please, make your dreams a reality by waking up and doing something to achieve them. Playing the game all day and night keeps you locked in a fantasy that will never come true.

I still play games but now I try to lead a more balanced lifestyle. I look back on all the time I wasted and wish I had quit spending hours and hours playing online. I would've done better in school, gotten a better job, made closer friends, and had a better life.

Don't waste your life.

World of Warcraft craze or addiction

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My homework suffer quite a bit 'cause I play a 'lil bit too much wow. I'm not going to quit it, since i love it too much. But i have to manage my home work better >.> "I'll do it soon", i usually end up doing it in the middle of the night, which isn't such a good idea tbh. Just wanted to wright something here.

I don't think i'm addicted, not seriously addicted. I've taken a break for a month before, and i might do it again. Meeeh... that's it, i've gotta get some sleep. Farewell, everyone!
I have played wow since 2005. Off and On. I have spent so much money on it its unbelievable. Tbh ive not lost out on life, ive just got mad with the game because im not that good. and it seems liek to get good, i have to trade my life. I have quit around 5 times. The last time was 1 year. Got rid of accoutn everytime, but just got new 1. Now just got account (New) for free, so tryign it out for abit, casually whilst at uni.
e-bay earning real money > auctiion house earning gold
because its too addicting and you have to ge it each month i mean what the hell just make a new cd for pc or something and finish playing like its an online game not real life so dont ge too weird about so if ui los something in it who cares its a video game FOR GODS SAKE!!!!
Help me out here... Ok so I quit WoW about 3-4 months ago and I'm pretty happy without it but Im not any better =\ The only thing I did is replace my WoW habit with WC3 and CS:S and now im thinking about going back to WoW because Im wasting all this time playing games anyway... Halp someone =(
Human Warrior "Mikeyboy" Thunderhorn...still playing. Deleting my account is something that I have considered a couple of times when my RL has looked pretty bleak; and I haven't done it yet. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. May just deactivate it and try going cold turkey for a while - block my WoW friends on MSN, uninstall, stop my subscription. If that works out and I find somehing else in my life that I can cling onto or that makes me feel happy in the same way as WoW then I'll sell my account and So be it.

Feels kind of weird... like contemplating suicide when there are still things to live for in your life (better gear/weapons etc). Thats probably the best way to sum it up I think.

I should really put this in persective: Lost alot of RL friends and the best looking girlfriend I've ever had and am ever likely to have.

Yeah, seriously thinking about it now

Ideas for Changing Pornography Usage:

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Change routines and environments that lead to pornography usage. Avoid high risk situations.

Make a list of the positive and negative consequences of using versus not using pornography.

Spend less time alone. Review the status of your friendships and relationships. Are they meaningful and satisfying? If not, what would make them more fulfilling?

Learn new ways of coping with strong feelings like anxiety, loneliness, anger, depression, and boredom.

Identify activities that can help you relax, enjoy yourself, and feel refreshed.

the Smart Girls' Porn Club

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"I think of porn addiction as a label that's used to put down behavior that's disapproved of socially," Violet Blue, a sex educator and author of The Ultimate Guide to Adult Videos, tells WebMD. "A lot of it is shaming masturbation."

Men are thought to be more easily aroused by erotic imagery than women are, but many women masturbate to pornography, too, she says.

She moderates an online message board for female enthusiasts called the Smart Girls' Porn Club. "I occasionally receive emails from members of the group about different kinds of sexual problems," she says, but none so far have expressed concerns about stopping.

420 million adult web pages online

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Now there are an estimated 420 million adult web pages online. "For the person who has difficulty stopping, more is only one click away," says sex therapist Louanne Cole Weston, PhD.

There's no doubt that some people's porn consumption gets them in trouble -- in the form of maxed-out credit cards, lost sleep, neglected responsibilities, or neglected loved ones. But Weston is one who takes issue with calling problem behavior involving porn an addiction. "'Compulsive' is more appropriate,

Masturbation Addiction

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There are many who argue whether masturbation addiction is even real. Just ask the millions of people who struggle with it and they will tell you they don’t know how to stop. Masturbation has many physical and mental health consequences. When you have a problem with masturbation you are not using the body in the manner in which it was designed. You strain your hormonal systems and become isolated emotionally. Your body was meant to be used in more healthy ways.

Used correctly, your body’s sexual organs are meant to bring you and your spouse closer together in a bond of love and also to reproduce. When you are addicted to masturbation there is no bond with anyone but your own fantasies. Masturbation makes you become selfish and anti-social as all your energy is spent on you. Your feelings of guilt and shame make you feel unconfident in the presence of others and hinder your ability to create new relationships. Some may say in their pride they have no problems with this but the truth is a person cannot be a truly loving person by committing such selfish acts. True love involves others and involves self-mastery. If you are struggling and confused with masturbation then browse through the articles I’ve written to understand how to reclaim self-control. If you need additional help please contact me and I will be happy to help.

Some people may struggle with both pornography and masturbation at the same time. These addictions fuel each other and one cannot be stopped so long as the other is still going. It is a known fact that those who sell pornography want you to masturbate and solidify your addiction so you will come back for more. Even when not viewing pornography it can be difficult to avoid masturbating to the images in your head from the last time you looked at pornography. Even if you’ve gone awhile without viewing pornography but continue to masturbate, you can feel weak and desensitized and seek out pornography again.

Am I addicted to pornography?

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This is a self-assessment quiz for determining whether you might be addicted to pornography.

Do you ever find yourself spending more time viewing pornography than you intended to?

Are you spending less time with family and friends than you used to because of time with pornography?

Do you usually masturbate while viewing pornography?

Has your job performance suffered as a result of porn use?

Has your use of pornography caused problems with your spouse or romantic partner?

Do you sometimes prefer masturbation with pornography over sex with your spouse or significant other?

Do you ever wake up tired because of late-night use of pornography?

Do you keep your porn use secret from others, sometimes lying to cover it up?

Do you sometimes fantasize about people you’ve seen in pornography while having real sex with a partner?

Has your pornography use caused trouble with the law?

Do you seek sexual images that are more graphic, hard-core or “forbidden” than you once did?

Have you ever promised yourself that you would stop viewing pornography, then broken that resolution?

Do you ever get upset at yourself for the time and resources you spend on pornography?

Do you keep viewing porn even when you know you should really be going home or going to bed?

Have you lost the ability to find sufficient excitement in pornography and gone beyond that to seek others for sexual chat or illicit sexual encounters?

Do you feel guilty or ashamed after viewing pornography or other sexual activity?

Do you worry that your pornography use is getting out of control?

Is it easier for you to reach climax masturbating to pornography than having sex with a partner?

Have others said that you have a problem with pornography?

Do you find yourself looking forward to porn use as a “reward” or “escape” from the stresses of everyday life?

If you answered yes to 5 or more of the above, you may have a serious problem with pornography. If you answered yes to 10 or more of the above, you are probably addicted to porn.

HIV and HCV by sharing needles

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Time has proven that despite so much information available about narcotics and their paralytic effects on individuals, families and the society as a whole, the matter of narcotic addiction has been a difficult challenge to confront. The association of this sort of addiction to deadly infections caused by HIV and HCV by sharing needles is very well-established. "About one-third of AIDS cases in the United States are associated with sharing of injection equipments". (Stancliff S, et al., BMC Public Health Nov 2003) Increased sexual activity among drug users, either in form of prostitution or due to the disinhibiting effect of some drugs, exposes them at even a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases specially AIDS. Drugs induce a wide array of physical and psychological effects. The excitement caused by cocaine is followed by a period of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and subsequently an acute desire for more cocaine to relieve those feelings. Studies have shown that marijuana interferes with motor control and is a factor in causing motor vehicle accidents. The purity and dosage of illegal drugs are also of concern as uncontrolled drug overdose is a constant risk. Over 10,000 deaths are directly linked to drug use in the United States each year; the drugs most frequently involved are cocaine, heroin, and morphine, many times combined with alcohol or other drugs. To afford the drugs, many addicts eventually get involved in criminal activities, such as burglary and prostitution, and some drugs, particularly alcohol, are known to be associated with violent behavior. (The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Sep 2005) It is worth to know that over 80% of the increase in the federal prison population from 1985 to 1995 was due to drug convictions. ( US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 1996 (Washington DC: US Department of Justice, 1997)The user's preoccupation with the drug, due to its impact on mood and performance, leads to family and marital problems, poor work performance or dismissal. Drug use inevitably disrupts the family life, and creates destructive patterns of codependency. In another term, the spouse or whole family, out of love or fear of consequences such as embarrassment, unintentionally helps the addict to continue using drugs by denial of / or covering up the problem, and even supplying money. The children of pregnant drug users, either due to the effect of drugs or poor self-care, are at much higher risk of low birth-weight than the average. Crossing the placenta, drugs such as crack and heroin, result in addiction of fetus that undergoes through withdrawal soon after birth which can prove lethal. Studies indicate that the pregnant drug users are at higher risk of acquiring HIV which in turn can pass the virus to their infants. Being inefficient, drug users are more likely to loose their jobs, or to be involved in occupational accidents than non-users, endangering not only themselves but also those around them. The associated crime can disrupt neighborhoods due to violence among drug dealers, threatening the safety of the residents. There are incidents of recruiting younger children as lookouts and helpers, because of the lighter sentences imposed on juvenile offenders. (The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Sep 2005) Poverty as in other forms of addiction also plays a major role as a great majority of homeless people have either a drug or alcohol problem, many have both. The importance of this matter is well reflected in $17.9 billion budget of the US Federal Government, on drug control for prohibition, prosecution, international law enforcement, prisons, treatment, and prevention in 1999. In 1998 drug-related health care costs in the United States was more than $9.9 billion. (The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Sep 2005)

nine out of 10 children of ages 8 to 16 have been exposed to online pornography

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In an estimate, the US Department of Justice states that about nine out of 10 children of ages 8 to 16 have been exposed to online pornography. (Prepared statement of Attorney General John Ashcroft at National Prosecutors' Symposium on Obscenity, 6 June 2002) According to Symantec, a software company, about 47 percent of the children of school-age are exposed to pornographic spam (junk e-mail) on a daily basis. (Symantec News Release, Jun 2003) In a hearing, the pornography industry representatives told the American Congress’ COPA Commission that "children are involved in as much as 20 to 30 percent of the traffic to some pornographic web sites". (Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2002) Elucidating the danger of this exposure, Ralph DiClemente, a behavioral scientist from Emory University, says: “[Children] can’t just put [porn] into their worldview, because they don’t have one.” He goes on explaining that "pornography becomes a building block in a child’s mental and emotional development. (Schabner D, “Danger Zone?” ABCNews.com, June 2002) When pornography becomes a filter through which the rest of life is understood, serious damage occurs". According to a report in 2001, more than 50% of all sex offenders in state of Utah, USA were adolescents and children as young as 8 years of age were committing felony sexual assault. (Child on Child,” KSL TV, May 2001) The reason behind persistence of porn industry in fighting laws such as the Child Online Protection Act, which forces pornographers to use age verification systems, is obvious since this flood of pornographic imagery creates a new generation of consumers. The increased culture-wide sexualization is exposing the society to incredible public health risks. In the United States one out of five adults has a sexually transmitted disease (STD), (W. Cates Jr. American Social Health Association Panel, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 1999) and each year 19 million new cases of STD infections occur, about half of which are among youth ages of 15 to 24. (H. Weinstock, S. Berman and W. Cates Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2004) Pornography is a significant factor in occurrence of sexual violence. The FBI reports that "the most common interest among serial killers is hardcore pornography". In another study 87 percent of child molesters were found to be regular consumers of hardcore pornography. (W. Marshall , Report to the Federal Department of Justice, Ottawa, Canada, 1983) In an interview with Focus on the Family Founder, Dr. James Dobson, some hours before his execution, Ted Bundy, the infamous serial killer from Florida described that how early exposure to pornography had consumed and led him down his murderous path. He added that he was responsible for his actions, however; the messages in pornography had primed him for his criminal actions. It is horrifying but we should not get surprised. Lack of preventive measures has permitted this enterprise to have an explosive grow into an unimaginable human global trade. Pornography is an $8 billion-a-year business with close ties to organized crime. (Report of Attorney General's Task Force on Family Violence, U. S. Department of Justice, Washington D.C., 112) Pornography turns humans into merchandise. Men and women are regarded and treated as sexual objects to be bought, sold, used and eventually discarded. Probably nothing would better conclude this article than an article published in Harvard Review of Psychiatry, by Professor. Benedek EP, a clinical professor from Ann Arbor University, Michigan, who concludes that "the main possible effects of televised pornography that must concern us as clinicians, educators, and parents are modeling and imitation of language heard and behaviors observed in televised pornography; negative interference with children's normal sexual development; emotional reactions such as nightmares and feelings of anxiety, guilt, confusion, and/or shame; stimulation of premature sexual activity; development of unrealistic, misleading, and/or harmful attitudes toward sex and adult male-female relationships; and undermining of family values with resultant conflict between parents and children". (Harv Rev Psychiatry. 1999 Nov-Dec) Therefore it is not a surprise to face upsurges of skyrocketing STD infections together with marital and family breakdown, creating a society where, men rape women and children or even children rape one another. These developments are totally logical consequences of the explosive growth in pornography.

binge drinking brings to mind a self-destructive and unrestrained drinking bout lasting

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To most people, binge drinking brings to mind a self-destructive and unrestrained drinking bout lasting for at least a couple of days during which time the heavily intoxicated drinker "drops out" by not working, ignoring responsibilities, squandering money, and engaging in other harmful behaviors such as fighting or risky sex.

Boys get sexually abused

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Boys get sexually abused, even though it’s not talked about very much. Estimates are that anywhere from one in four to one in eight men is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.1 In a 1996 study of 600 college men, 28% of those surveyed reported some form of sexual abuse as a child.1 If one in eight males is a survivor of abuse, that means that if you live in a dorm with 50 guys, about 6 of them were sexually abused. If you’re in a fraternity with 100 members, 12 were sexually abused. In a university with 6,000 men, 750 of them are survivors of sexual abuse.

Sexual addiction can be just as devastating as any other form of addiction

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The addiction can start innocently enough, but within a short period the focus of the addiction begins controlling the actions of the person. The person can become so consumed with the sexual addiction that other facets and dimensions in his or her life begin to wither away. Time is always the first thing to go. Time that one would normally spend with a lover, children, family, hobbies, sports, or business begins to quickly be replaced with the focus of the sexual addiction. For example, a man who, prior to the onset of an Internet sexual addiction, would work an extra job, will soon find himself spending more and more time on the Internet, and less time on the extra job. In another example, a man who does not necessarily have an Internet addiction, but rather a general sexual addiction, may find that he is consumed with sexual thoughts throughout the day, constantly feels the need to masturbate, and will spend large amounts of money in topless bars, massage parlors, escorts, and even street prostitutes.

Treatment includes various inventions

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Treatment includes various inventions with a primary focus on techniques from cognitive behavioural and interpersonal psychotherapy to regulate and moderate internet use and to address underlying psychosocial issues often coexistent with this addiction (for example, social phobia, mood disorders, marital dissatisfaction, job burnout, childhood sexual abuse). Finally, it should be emphasised that systematic intake evaluations that assess computer usage among clients are essential to further understanding of the role of compulsive use of the internet in other established addictions (such as alcoholism or sexual compulsivity) and psychiatric conditions (for example, major depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder).

Types of Internet Addiction

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Cyberporn Addiction Online Auction Addiction Obsessive Role Play Gaming Compulsive Online Gambling Chat Room Addiction lCompulsive Surfing Cybersexua Addiction Cybersexual Affairs

Cybersex and Cyberporn Addiction

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l00% of internet addicts are cyberporn or cybersex addicts. People with low self-esteem, untreated sexual dysfunction, prior sexual addiction, or poor body image are at an increased risk for cyberporn or cybersex addiction. Women are more likely than men to have erotic chats, while men are more likely to view cyberporn.

Warning signs of Cyberporn Addiction

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Moving from cybersex to phone sex or actual meetings lFeelings of guilt arise from on-line use Hiding cybersexual encounters from your partner Masturbating while engaging in erotic chat Preference of online cybersex to real-life sexual intercourse

Compulsive surfing

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Compulsive surfing often accompanies other internet addictions. lPeople who suffer from compulsive surfing often exhibit other obsessive compulsive tendencies. lCompulsive surfing often starts as a way to escape problems. lWarning signs include: ¡Gathering and sorting information irrelevant information ¡Any other form of internet addiction is present ¡Fantasizes about next opportunity to surf the internet

US Adult Internet User Demographics

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- Age
Age %
18-24 13.61%
25-34 19.90%
35-44 25.50%
45-54 20.67%
55+ 20.32%

Top Video Porn Producers Top US Erotica Important Cities

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Country Major Producers Cities Importance
1. United States Vivid Entertainment, Hustler, Playboy, Wicked Pictures, Red Light District 1. Los Angeles Adult Production Companies
2. Brazil Frenesi Films, Pau Brazil, MarcoStudio 2. Las Vegas Adult Stars, Sin City Chamber of Commerce
3. The Netherlands Erostream, Midhold Media, Your Choice, Seventeen 3. New York Adult Entrepreneurs, Erotica
4. Spain Private Media Group, Woodman Entertainment 4. Chicago Playboy
5. Japan Soft on Demand, Moodyz 5. San Francisco Adult Websites, Adult Companies
6. Russia Beate Uhse, SP-Company, Dolphin Entertainment 6. Miami/South Florida Adult Websites, Penthouse
7. Germany Trimax, SG-Video, GGG, VideoRama, Zip Production 7. Seattle/Pacific Northwest Adult Websites
8. United Kingdom Hot Rod Productions, JoyBear Pictures, Blue Juice TV, Rude Britannia, Fresh SX 8. San Diego Adult Websites, Strip Clubs
9. Canada Wild Rose Productions, Eromodel Group, Dugmor 9. Phoenix /Tucson/ Scottsdale Club Jenna, Erotica
10. Australia Pistol Media 10. Hillsborough, NC. Adam & Eve
Other Notables 11. Boulder, CO. New Frontier
Sweden Maxs Video 12. Pittsburgh DVD Sales
Italy Adamo Entertainment 13. Portland Strip Club

Women, far more than men, are likely to act out their behaviors in real life, such as having multiple partners, casual sex, or affa

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Women and Pornography
Women keeping their cyber activities secret 70%
Women struggling with pornography addiction 17%
Ratio of women to men favoring chat rooms 2X
Percentage of visitors to adult websites who are women 1 in 3 visitors
Women accessing adult websites each month 9.4 million
Women admitting to accessing pornography at work 13%

Children Internet Pornography Statistics

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Average age of first Internet exposure to pornography 11 years old
Largest consumer of Internet pornography 35 - 49 age group
15-17 year olds having multiple hard-core exposures 80%
8-16 year olds having viewed porn online 90% (most while doing homework)
7-17 year olds who would freely give out home address 29%
7-17 year olds who would freely give out email address 14%
Children's character names linked to thousands of porn links 26 (Including Pokemon and Action Man)

US porn revenue exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC

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US porn revenue exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC

Pornography Time Statistics

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Every second - $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
Every second - 28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography
Every second - 372 Internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines
Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic video is being created in the United States

The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology companies combined: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix

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The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology companies combined: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix and EarthLink

Teen Online Gambling

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new data released from the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania show that more than one million young people currently are using Internet gambling sites on a monthly basis. Among males 18 to 22, Internet gambling doubled in the past year.

The new data are being released by the National Annenberg Risk Survey of Youth, which has tracked gambling among young people ages 14 to 22 since 2002. Based on the survey's most recent estimates, approximately 850,000 males ages 18 to 22 gamble online at least one a month. The corresponding number for males between 14 and 17 is 357,000.

Among the 18- to 22-year-old age group, weekly use of Internet gambling sites increased from 2.3% in 2005 to 5.8% this year, a statistically significant increase.

With a rise in online gambling comes a greater danger of addiction, according to Nancy Petry, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut’s Center for Gambling Research and Treatment.

In a recent study, Petry found that Internet gamblers were more likely to have a serious gambling than other gamblers. Furthermore, Internet gamblers were more likely to suffer from health and emotional problems such as substance abuse, circulatory disease, depression, and risky sexual behaviors.

As teens and pre-teens go online with greater frequency, the risk for addiction and the form it takes becomes greater. Old favorites such as sports betting and casino games still dominate the Internet but in the future there will be more opportunities that could draw new gamblers into the fold. People can go online and bet about whether Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will get married or if Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’s marriage will last. They can bet on the outcome of the Oscars or who will win on Survivor. These are the new kind of bets that are done by people who might not normally visit a gambling site.

Are you an obsessive online gamer?

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As a follow-up to my discussion on online gaming addiction, I received this email from a recovered gaming addict that I wanted to share. I wanted to hear from other gamers to see if physical numbing or problems also result from intensive playing.

"Hello: I play World of Warcraft which I'm sure must be responsible for a great deal of online addiction. I have gone through periods of playing somewhat intensively which I may do for up to 4 hours 4 evenings in a week but then I am suddenly so bored with it that I don't touch it for a month or two then repeat the cycle. So maybe a binge addiction! Anyway, the purpose of this message is to comment on your online survey: Are you an obsessive online gamer? I am a nurse and one thing I have noticed is that frequently people are playing to a point of physical harm. I am in a guild that actually meets every once in a while in San Francisco (so real face time with fellow guildies which I think is unusual) and often they have what seem to me to be tendonitis and other repetitive stress/overuse injuries such as Carpal Tunnel (although as a nurse naturally I would leave diagnosis up to the physicians!). Also I often hear (on Ventrillo which many gamers use for audio) or see (in online comments) remarks that people have tingling or numbness in the nerves of their hands, wrists, forearms, shoulders, or necks, any of which could be the onset of more serious conditions. People seem to accept all this as part of gaming, especially heavy gamers who go on "raids" (something I'd never do) which take hours and hours maybe three times a week to complete. Therefore I think you need to add a question to your online gaming questionnaire: HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED/CONTINUED TO PLAY AN ONLINE GAME AFTER YOUR HANDS OR AMRS BEGIN TO HURT? In this case I am not even addressing lower back pain and possible damage to spine/cartilage, or damage to vision, both of which I suspect as a result of computer use. I think it would be good to see something on your questionnaire about this."

Social drinking kills brain cells.

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This is an old idea in which some people thought that even one drink could kill thousands of brain cells. Alcohol can kill brain cells, but only after many years of heavy drinking. One old study involved giving alcohol daily to a dog for several weeks, then looking at damaged brain cells in the dog at autopsy. A calculation was made of the number of brain cells damaged, and this was extrapolated backwards to determine how many cells would be damaged with one drink! Obviously alcohol given over time leading to brain cell death has nothing to do with single drinks of alcoholic beverages.

It is possible to overdose on marijuana.

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Marijuana has few toxic effects on major organs. Even though it has a well-established effect on mood and can cause dependence, there is no known lethal dose of marijuana in humans.

“Addiction” is an acute problem requiring only 28-day treatment.

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This is an old notion that suggests recovery takes place in 28-day inpatient treatment centers. We have always known that twelve-step programs are a lifetime commitment, and this is why we use the word “recovering” rather than “recovered”. More modern treatment is taking the attitude that dependence is a chronic medical illness that requires longer treatment and lifetime monitoring.

Euphoria = “addiction”.

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Euphoria is “a sense of well-being”. Cocaine produces tremendous euphoria, whereas nicotine produces mild euphoria. Yet most experts agree that nicotine and cocaine are both highly dependence-producing. Euphoria is the reason why people use drugs (“to get high”). Dependence (“addiction”) occurs in some, but not all, people who experience euphoria. People who experience dependence have a brain disease.

"Substance abuse" is a scientifically valid term

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. The word "substance abuse" is a weak, wimpy, confusing, inaccurate, and misleading term when applied to drug problems. Is there any "substance" that is not a chemical or a drug? Do we only treat drug abusers in "substance abuse" treatment centers? Is it any wonder that policy-makers and the public look down on “addicts” and those who treat them, when it appears that many treatment centers are not sure about what they're treating?

Drug abuse leads to dependence. A better phrase is “drug abuse often precedes

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The myth suggests that drug abuse causes drug dependence, when in actuality they are two different drug-use conditions. In many people dependence is preceded by abuse, but some people develop dependence without going through the progression of drug use, abuse, and dependence. In addition, many people abuse drugs for many years without developing the disease of chemical dependence.

Ecstasy is highly addicting

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. Although this may very well turn out to be true, there is no evidence that ecstasy is addicting. Most people don’t use it long enough to produce serious withdrawal symptoms or signs of “impaired control”. Because of this lack of data, it is not clear whether users of ecstasy will satisfy the necessary criteria for “chemical dependence

Everyone who uses cocaine or heroin is an addict

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. Science is doing its best to develop ways to diagnose those people who willfully make bad choices about their use of drugs, and those who are born with or develop pathological dependence (“addiction”) on drugs. Most people (75-85%) can use cocaine or heroin for a while and stop using when they decide to stop. Others (“chemically dependent”) cannot stop without medical and structured therapy.

Club drugs are new, not very dangerous, and affect everyone the same way.

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Club drugs include ecstasy, GHB, ketamine, rohypnol, methamphetamine, and LSD. We don’t have much solid research on club drugs, but most have been around for 20-30 years or more. Emergency room reports indicate they are very dangerous, especially when mixed with alcohol. Finally, they affect everyone differently, based upon dosage taken and an individual’s sensitivity to the drug.

Crack is more addicting than cocaine powder

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Crack is more addicting than cocaine powder. While there are more “crack” “addicts” observed on the streets, this is probably because crack is cheaper and easier to obtain than cocaine powder. But there is no pharmacological reason why the form of a drug or the route of administration should change the “addiction” liability of a drug. In fact, science is beginning to realize that the drug is not the cause of “addiction”; rather, the susceptibility of the person to the drug determines how much “addiction” (dependence) develops.

Sugar is "addicting".

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The term “addiction” as used by the public does not have an exact scientific meaning. A better term is "dependence" (as defined by DSM, see table at the end of this section). Sugar cannot satisfy 3 or more of the DSM criteria for dependence, therefore sugar is not addicting, in a scientific or clinical sense. Also, scientists have not yet found “sugar receptors” in the mesolimbic dopamine system.

A smoke-able form of heroin (“black tar” is one type) is not addicting.

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A smoke-able form of heroin (“black tar” is one type) is not addicting. Does this make any sense? There is no evidence that changing the form of a drug changes its “addiction” potential. This is an on-the-street marketing ploy!

Caffeine is addicting.

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Scientists do not yet agree that caffeine is dependence-producing, according to DSM criteria. While people have marked withdrawal symptoms from using too much caffeine, withdrawal alone is not sufficient to diagnose dependence (“addiction”). Also, caffeine does not have the same “dysregulating” effect on the “dependence pathway” (mesolimbic dopamine system) of the brain, like cocaine or amphetamine do.