Monday, August 24, 2009

Online Gaming is as Addictive as Heroin

By: Paul Wilson

Gaming is big business but it has its downside. People have died from gaming and the world is recognizing that game addiction is serious and spreading fast. Mental health professionals opine that gaming can destroy lives, keep students from focusing on learning, workers from working, and women from their duties. There are instances where gamers have not left home for years.

Games like EverQuest, Dark Age of Camelot, and others are popularly referred to as heroinware. And symptoms of addiction according to Computer Addiction Services at McLean Hospital are: obsession with the game; inability to stop; neglect of family, friends and work; lying to hide activity; problems with studies and work; health problems, muscular as well as vision related; neglect of personal hygiene; as well as sleep disturbances.

The games provide social interaction to lonely people, gamers gain acknowledgement as well as power denied elsewhere due to their gaming expertise, and the game weaves a spell on the mind-one gets so absorbed by the virtual realities that it is hard to get away. The addiction is so real that it requires intensive therapy. Treatment programs include: behavioral therapy, anti-depressants, as well as prescription drugs.

Not all agree that gaming is addictive. MIT's Games-to-Teach project manager opines that games sharpen critical thinking, improve social skills, and increase empathy. Many others do agree that games inspire imagination, creativity, and team work. However, the problem is real and countries world over are taking measures.

China has set up a clinic in Beijing for net-frazzled addicts to be treated with sports, acupuncture, and medication. The inmates according to the clinic's director have: depression, nervousness, fear, interaction problems, panic, agitation, shaking and numb hands, as well as sleep disorders. Gaming is a serious problem in Korea --- 1-2% of South Korea's online gamers are addicts. The government is taking steps and requesting game developers to create advisory patches to alert gamers to the impeding dangers.

A hard core gamer is one who is completely absorbed by his online fantasy, he isolates himself from family and friends, lets everyday activities fall by the wayside, spends over 16-20 hours a day playing the game and games at work, at home, and while on the road. Gaming becomes his whole life, a thirst that is never quenched. Treatment is long and hard and like other addictions the first stage is the most difficult, getting the gamer to acknowledge that he or she has a problem. Addicts find it extremely painful to "kill" the characters of the game and to erase /destroy the software. Most are unable to "keep away" and return to the game addictively.

Studies indicate that hard core players are often neurotic, shy, have emotional as well as behavioral issues, and problems in the home environment. To overcome the addiction, the player must consider and analyze the issues underlying the game-it is the question of power, social standing, respect, and emotions. Gaming is set to become a global epidemic and needs immediate attention as well as solutions.

Author Bio
Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for www.1888FreeOnlineGames.com, the premier website to play thousands of free online games including arcade games, action games, card games, flash games, strategy games, puzzle games and more. He also freelances for www.1888SoftwareDownloads.com.

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Monday, August 10, 2009

Points to be familiar with first time buyer

Wool buyers' room at a wool auction, Newcastle...

Increasing house prices are making it unfeasible for many first time buyers to get on the property tree, however the potential, probability of auction properties are open to us.

Buying at auction is one of the most excellent ways to discover a property bargain, and that promises well for first time buyers. Buying your first house, particularly auction properties, can be a discouraging viewpoint, so get information properly which helps you to appreciate the processes concerned when buying property at auction.

It has become increasingly difficult for the first-time buyer to protect that initial home. Traditionally finance lenders would anticipate a deposit of at least 10% previous to offering evenhanded mortgage conditions in return. But even at the very lowest end of the current market, the potential home buyer would need to lift up funds in the region of £15,000 - £25,000 to meet these limiting criteria. For those at the commencement of their career, this first barrier may seem irresistible. But neither there is the option prospect of long-term renting any extra comforting. In fact the cost of renting property may at present become equivalent to the cost of a monthly finance repayment, and quite frequently even go beyond it.

One of the primary step and most likely one of the most significant is to look for first time buyer finance suggestion. You must discover out of how much you can have a loan of and what that will price you at end of each month. Good quality finance advisers will be familiar with the entire first time buyer finance contract accessible at one time.

Purchasing a home will unavoidably charge additional than you believe. You should be able to sketch the least amount you can expect to pay, as well as VAT where valid. Information will show a discrepancy around the country. A rising price for many home buyers is that of credit collection fees. Lenders presenting the most excellent rates can attach more than £1,000 worth of fees to contract, or proportion of loan accuse which can be very costly. You will normally be obtainable the possibility to put in fees to a loan, this can be helpful but be conscious you will pay a large amount more then the truthful cost of the amount as interest will be charged on the computation over the life of the advance taken.

You need to also be attentive of your house management costs. You will have to make payments for house insurance, life insurance, gas and electricity bills, council tax and water tax, telephone bills, and daily utilities. So before you plan up for any contract as you are the first time buyer make a note of the entire amount which is needed.

Author:

Nisha is an Expert author for Property Auctions and uk auction list. She has written many articles like Property auctioneers, Uk property auctions, property in uk and Property auction. For more information visit: propertyauctionzone.com contact her at malar.article@gmail.com

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