Addicted to Sitting?
One of the problems with using the word “addictive,†is that it isn’t descriptive. Addiction can mean so many different things, even to a trained medical professional. Every real drug: meth, cocaine, heroin, etc., works differently. Just ask Ecstasy Mouse. These games attract players by presenting us with a combination of many factors. We know about some of these factors because we’ve seen them before, in these other addictions. Some of them, I think, are brand spanking new.
What about physical activity and nutrition? If you sit for 10 hours a day, for a year or two, could this then possibly alter the way that your body works? Could you get used to sitting? When a game chains you to the computer, as happens when a raid guild starts working on new content, your diet can also suffer. I’ve had some really specific experiences, myself. These, and conversations with other long-time gamers have lead me to suspect that excessive couch potatory may make physical activity less appealing. This is a topic that I’ve been actively interested in for about a year and a half. This last month, though, I saw a Chiropractor for the first time in my life. He said, “Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen somebody your age with a back that was this bad. You have the back of a 40 year old.†I just turned 25.
So I wanted to ask, especially the gamers out there: have you had any similar experiences? Do you, personally, think that sitting for long periods might make people more inclined to recline?
Neils Clark :: Mar.03.2007 :: Games ::
I would agree Neils. Sitting does slow your metabolism and you’re more at rest. It is also a comfort zone. People are habitual creatures and it is hard for them to change and leave their comfortable space.
There’s a line that you cross from habit to addiction, and maybe then to obsession?