Did Clifford Simak predict MMORPG addiction?

[muxec]

In this post I will discuss "City"(1952) by Clifford D. Simak, in modern context. I will not analyze the book as whole: it is outside of the scope of this post. However, I will explain the connection between “webster” civilization and massively multi player online games (MMORPG).

Many experts are concerned about the growing number of players addicted to MMORGPs. Such games provide a virtual reality for players, and some players may find themselves spending more time in game than living real life. Psychologists often describe this as a pathology and propose doubtful methods of solving the problem.

The problem could become a nation-wide epidemic. The Chinese government defined digital addiction as a clinical disease that, in some cases, must be treated by specialists. It also imposed legal limits on the amount of time players may spend in game. Numerous online resources advise on how to overcome attraction. Some researchers claim, that 40% of World of Warcraft's multi-million user-base can be classified as addicted. The addiction takes its grim toll with human lives.

Virtual worlds are, for some, more attractive than real life. Economists said there is a competition for time, and the real world is rapidly losing its advantages. Digital technologies already provide an incomplete alternative to life itself.

In Simak's "City," human technology has advanced to transform human beings to native Jupiterian lifeforms while preserving consciousness, memories and personality. The life of Jupiterian species is far superior to what humans have. The technology is mature enough to provide a complete alternative to human existence. Mankind is tempted by it and succumbs. Fortunately four our reality, virtual worlds remain unable to feed people with nutritious pixels.

Did characters of Simak's book suffer from "acute addiction to being a Jupiterian"? Did they expose evil behavior? Did they all go mad? Did they fail by not seeking aid of competent psychiatrist?

We do not need to fight addiction to games, but we should try to learn from Simak's wisdom. The real world must become competitive, or the quality of virtual life must be decreased. Is there any other option?

If you have something insightful to say go to my blog, keep all trolling in this thread: http://muxy-rants.blogspot.com/2008/...d-mmorpgs.html

[Kidlicious]

Re: Did Clifford Simak predict MMORPG addiction?

Originally posted by muxec
Virtual worlds are, for some, more attractive than real life. Economists said there is a competition for time, and the real world is rapidly losing its advantages. Digital technologies already provide an incomplete alternative to life itself.

Just goes to show how much real life sucks.

[snoopy369]

Many science fiction authors 'predicted' this sort of addiction, in the sense of writing books about people who are addicted to virtual experiences (usually full-body sensory experiences). I don't recall specific books, but I think that William Gibson and John Barnes are two good examples if my memory serves me. I've certainly read over a dozen books that involve virtualization addiction, which is the logical followup to MMORPG addiction.

[Lorizael]

Jovian.

[muxec]

Please note, that in 1952 when the book was written there were no talks on virtual reality and digitalization.

[Kidlicious]

I don't think that games, or anything like that, can cause addiction, although some people may play too much. Addiction means that it's ruining your like in one or more way. And alcohol and drug addiction are real problems. After that maybe sex, eating and other things are also problems. I don't think games are are real problem, at least not in many cases.

[ZEE]

i find nothing wrong with this, myself. as i have been on this planet 30 years, and 90% of that time i have been around blatent idiots who care nothing about anybody except themselves. I do not enjoy the company of other live human beings much anymore, even those that i have known over 10 years.

If you can afford it, and you enjoy it, i say have fun in your MMORPG's.

but I will never do it, myself, as i have other ways of dodging the crazy lunitics that inhibit our world like a cancer.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Kidicious
I don't think that games, or anything like that, can cause addiction, although some people may play too much. Addiction means that it's ruining your like in one or more way. And alcohol and drug addiction are real problems. After that maybe sex, eating and other things are also problems. I don't think games are are real problem, at least not in many cases.

I know people who have lost wives, girlfriends, jobs, etc because of it.

Jon Miller

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Jon Miller


I know people who have lost wives, girlfriends, jobs, etc because of it.

Jon Miller

Are you sure they didn't just hate their jobs and their wives?

[Jon Miller]

Sometimes yeah, although it is often stress in the real world that makes people disappear into an imaginary.

JM

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
Sometimes yeah, although it is often stress in the real world that makes people disappear into an imaginary.

JM

Playing games to relieve stress isn't a problem. If they have a problem it's because they can't deal with stress normally, and that is a bigger problem than just playing games. So I don't think the games are the problem. They might have real issues.

[DirtyMartini]

Playing games to relieve stress isn't a problem. Playing games to ignore stress is.

Lots of people play games because real life sucks just like lots of people drink themselves stupid every night because real life sucks. Rather than improving real life, they find some way to avoid it, then can't stop the avoidance behavior despite recognizing that it is very bad for them. That's addiction brother.

[Kidlicious]

Beer is a much more effective way to ignore stress though. I mean if you have a ***** wife and she won't STFU, I need a damn beer, a game isn't going to cut it.

[Jon Miller]

I know guys who like their wives, who still ignore them to play games. So much so that it causes problems in their relationships.

JM

[Kuciwalker]

Re: Did Clifford Simak predict MMORPG addiction?

Originally posted by muxec
stuff

Dude, this isn't English class. You aren't writing a formal essay, and even if you were, your audience is not your teacher, it's a bunch of people who post on an internet forum. We know WTF a MMORPG is, we know about the concern that people get addicted to them, and we really don't care if you stick to formal conventions on how to write book names, etc. Most of all, we don't want to read something that we wrote hundreds of times in high school.

And if your writing has to be written in didactic style, at least restrict it to stuff we don't know about, and keep it informal.