WHO classifies 'gaming disorder' as Mental Health Condition

[Jerzylvania]

World Health Organization has classified 'gaming disorder' as mental health condition.

Video Gaming Disorder (VGD) is rising the charts of mental health concerns while Narcissism has fallen. When I saw the headline, I knew there would be a generational divide in opinion and comments would have a healthy dose of passion.

I think we all have seen people with this disorder. One question for me is, what do you label it without offending or even scaring young people?
I am not so sure the symptoms are strictly limited to video gaming either. What's your opinion on VGD being elevated to a mental health condition and the WHO authorities and scholars that have made this decision?

[Petrolheadia]

And they only needed over four decades to say it...

[Berdan]

As someone who at one point had all these 'symptoms', its not a disease, I wasn't sick, its just having bad priorities and wanting to rush through everything to get to the fun stuff. This strikes me as parents wanting to have something to point to to say that gaming is bad for your health, and as something kids will point to and say "See, I can't control it- its not my fault!".

[Jerzylvania]

As someone who at one point had all these 'symptoms', its not a disease, I wasn't sick, its just having bad priorities and wanting to rush through everything to get to the fun stuff. This strikes me as parents wanting to have something to point to to say that gaming is bad for your health, and as something kids will point to and say "See, I can't control it- its not my fault!".

Ah yes. The blame game shall always rear it's ugly head. No doubt parents will add this to the list of things they point at. Kids will definitely hide behind it for cover too.

[The New California Republic]

I think there are other obsessive human behaviors that are far more worthy of being classified as a mental health condition. For example, the obsession with cellphones or social media, and the radical change in behavior that results...

[Jerzylvania]

And they only needed over four decades to say it...

Better than tobacco did. And booze. Yet we knew this about opioids and that still has to happen to another generation.

It's takes a lot of convincing when big money entities are involved. That usually means decades, and the damaged people just stack up until there is no denying it. Terrible.

[Jerzylvania]

I think there are other obsessive human behaviors that are far more worthy of being classified as a mental health condition. For example, the obsession with cellphones or social media, and the radical change in behavior that results...

That's an excellent point. I wonder if it is he game like aspects of smart phones and social media that cause this?

[Washington Resistance Army]

I think there are other obsessive human behaviors that are far more worthy of being classified as a mental health condition. For example, the obsession with cellphones or social media, and the radical change in behavior that results...

This guy gets it ^

[Evil Dictators Happyland]

While their points are legitimate, they can also apply to every enjoyable activity. I don't see what makes video games special in this regard.
Relevant XKCD.

Also, what do you want to bet that this "disorder" is going to be applied exclusively to people under 30, regardless of how much time older generations might spend on their games?

[TURTLESHROOM II]

What a load of crap. This is yet another example of an attempt to dodge responsibility for one's actions and place the blame on something else. It also makes a mockery of the mental health field of medicine and insults those with actual mental diseases. I have autism, so I am personally offended and disgusted by this ludicrous claim.

What next? Is WHO going to remove Gender Identity Disorder (and its symptomps, e.g. gender dysphoria) from the list of mental illnesses because it hurts the feelings of those with GID?

[TURTLESHROOM II]

It's takes a lot of convincing when big money entities are involved. That usually means decades, and the damaged people just stack up until there is no denying it. Terrible.

A person is not damaged by playing video games for hours a day. I do that all the time.

Unlike this crap, I actually have real mental illnesses that actually exist. This is a mockery of all people who struggle with the yoke mental illness and who actually need help and medical intervention. As a person with autism, this disgusts me to my core.

[Jerzylvania]

While their points are legitimate, they can also apply to every enjoyable activity. I don't see what makes video games special in this regard.
Relevant XKCD.

Also, what do you want to bet that this "disorder" is going to be applied exclusively to people under 30, regardless of how much time older generations might spend on their games?

Human nature isn't going to change either, no matter how smart our phones become or whatever the next device happens to be.

[TURTLESHROOM II]

Also, there exists a "cure" for this """""""disorder"""""". I reccomend employing it liberally on anyone who says "they can't help it". (Yes, BTW, I am now aware this video was staged.)

I play video games for six, eight, or more hours a day because I want to. I only do this because I am currently mentally incapable of holding a job and am unable to drive. I actually have a real mental illness, and I laugh at anyone who says that palying too many video games is a form of mental defect. They don't know what it's like to bare the yoke of autism. They will NEVER understand it.

[Jerzylvania]

Also, there exists a "cure" for this """""""disorder"""""". I reccomend employing it liberally.

Dad should have bought them for the kid at Costco and just returned them for some cold hard cash, then he'd feel plenty better. Dad is addicted to cash. He has Cash Disorder. Also, lol, what about all those Lawnmower Addicts? Gotta make my next LA meeting or I'll smell of grass clippings.

[Free States of Agnosicstan]

Also, there exists a "cure" for this """""""disorder"""""". I reccomend employing it liberally.

Dad should have bought them for the kid at Costco and just returned them for some cold hard cash, then he'd feel plenty better. Dad is addicted to cash. He has Cash Disorder. Also, lol, what about all those Lawnmower Addicts? Got make my next LA meeting or I'll smell of grass clippings.

Oh my christ people, these videos are fake as hell.

[The Burke Islands]

I bet the people who call this a mental illness have never picked up a controller in their life.

As someone who at one point had all these 'symptoms', its not a disease, I wasn't sick, its just having bad priorities and wanting to rush through everything to get to the fun stuff. This strikes me as parents wanting to have something to point to to say that gaming is bad for your health, and as something kids will point to and say "See, I can't control it- its not my fault!".

I agree wholeheartedly.

[TURTLESHROOM II]

Dad should have bought them for the kid at Costco and just returned them for some cold hard cash, then he'd feel plenty better. Dad is addicted to cash. He has Cash Disorder. Also, lol, what about all those Lawnmower Addicts? Got make my next LA meeting or I'll smell of grass clippings.

These videos are fake.

We all figured out it wasn't real, but the point stands that "video gaming disorder" is nor real and, if it was, the video is the cure.

I agree with the man that replied to me: that father must be really addicted to lawnmowers. He mows the lawn for hours a day! He'd better get psychiatric help.

[Jerzylvania]

Dad should have bought them for the kid at Costco and just returned them for some cold hard cash, then he'd feel plenty better. Dad is addicted to cash. He has Cash Disorder. Also, lol, what about all those Lawnmower Addicts? Got make my next LA meeting or I'll smell of grass clippings.

Oh my christ people, these videos are fake as hell.

The lawnmower man (Dad?) sounded convincing. The kids are badly in need of acting classes. BTW, the lawnmower blade will need sharpening. Use your tools correctly!

[Free States of Agnosicstan]

Oh my christ people, these videos are fake as hell.

We all figured out it wasn't real, but the point stands that "video gaming disorder" is nor real and, if it was, the video is the cure.

I agree with the man that replied to me: that father must be really addicted to lawnmowers. He mows the lawn for hours a day! He'd better get psychiatric help.

You have no idea how many times i've dealt with people who think they're geniune. Excuse me exasperation, but please do not "correct" my words.

In other news, we're all addicted to breathing. yippee.

[Jerzylvania]

These videos are fake.

We all figured out it wasn't real, but the point stands that "video gaming disorder" is nor real and, if it was, the video is the cure.

I agree with the man that replied to me: that father must be really addicted to lawnmowers. He mows the lawn for hours a day! He'd better get psychiatric help.

Hmm. Did you see my lol? You may have read more into my comment than was there.

But OTOH... I do know a few guys that are completely obsessed with their lawns. They need deprogramming. I find their father's were usually the same way. Family curse.

[The South Falls]

These videos are fake.

We all figured out it wasn't real, but the point stands that "video gaming disorder" is nor real and, if it was, the video is the cure.

I agree with the man that replied to me: that father must be really addicted to lawnmowers. He mows the lawn for hours a day! He'd better get psychiatric help.

We gotta crush his mower into junk, if we need him to learn.

[The New California Republic]

I play video games for six, eight, or more hours a day because I want to. I only do this because I am currently mentally incapable of holding a job and am unable to drive. I actually have a real mental illness, and I laugh at anyone who says that palying too many video games is a form of mental defect. They don't know what it's like to bare the yoke of autism. They will NEVER understand it.

I think that obsessive videogaming has been classed as a mental illness because the people in the medical community either do not understand videogaming itself or have some prejudice against videogaming. It is like how homosexuality was classed as a mental disorder in many nations (up until relatively recently), because of a lack of understanding or because of prejudice. When said lack of understanding and prejudice began to disappear, homosexuality was delisted as a mental illness. Similarly, I think that videogaming as a "disorder" will eventually be delisted too.

[Ifreann]

What a load of crap. This is yet another example of an attempt to dodge responsibility for one's actions and place the blame on something else.

What responsibility do you think the WHO is trying to dodge?

It also makes a mockery of the mental health field of medicine and insults those with actual mental diseases. I have autism, so I am personally offended and disgusted by this ludicrous claim.

Other people being sick isn't an attack on you.

What next? Is WHO going to remove Gender Identity Disorder (and its symptomps, e.g. gender dysphoria) from the list of mental illnesses because it hurts the feelings of those with GID?

I doubt it.

---

It's takes a lot of convincing when big money entities are involved. That usually means decades, and the damaged people just stack up until there is no denying it. Terrible.

A person is not damaged by playing video games for hours a day. I do that all the time.

There's more to the disorder than playing games a lot.

---

I play video games for six, eight, or more hours a day because I want to. I only do this because I am currently mentally incapable of holding a job and am unable to drive. I actually have a real mental illness, and I laugh at anyone who says that palying too many video games is a form of mental defect. They don't know what it's like to bare the yoke of autism. They will NEVER understand it.

I think that obsessive videogaming has been classed as a mental illness because the people in the medical community either do not understand videogaming itself or have some prejudice against videogaming. It is like how homosexuality was classed as a mental disorder in many nations (up until relatively recently), because of a lack of understanding or because of prejudice. When said lack of understanding and prejudice began to disappear, homosexuality was delisted as a mental illness. Similarly, I think that videogaming as a "disorder" will eventually be delisted too.

What is your basis for this belief?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I chuckled about this, however, anything in excess can lead to addiction. Video gaming can, if done for prolonged times, lead to problems that can be quite serious, especially for people who are prone to addiction.

Much like some people can have a drink here and there and not become alcoholics, while others can't because that leads them to become substance dependent.

[Jerzylvania]

We all figured out it wasn't real, but the point stands that "video gaming disorder" is nor real and, if it was, the video is the cure.

I agree with the man that replied to me: that father must be really addicted to lawnmowers. He mows the lawn for hours a day! He'd better get psychiatric help.

We gotta crush his mower into junk, if we need him to learn.

Maybe get an elephant to step on it. Bring some peanuts for after.