FYI: First link fails (I mentioned this in my second post). Second link is fine.

I don't care about the image itself any more than any other Slashdotter, I don't consider it to be child pornography and I certainly don't get excited by it. But I am annoyed at the censorship, as poorly implemented as it is.

I'm examining UKFSN as a switch target as we speak (thanks to Pentagram's recommendation).

I believe that doesn't happen until they get to level 20 Humanoid or something.

Seriously though, you raise an excellent point and I think you're absolutely right.

It's odd that people analyzing gaming seem to focus so closely on it that they can't see the forest for the trees; they don't see it in the context of the 'grand scheme of things'. It actually doesn't matter all that much.

People do waste time in other, similarly 'wasteful' ways that could in some cases be seen as addiction in just the same way ("I can't miss American Idle* tonight" etc.) and nobody says anything about those. * [sic] :)

And since when was being a gamer a bad thing. One survey found that gamers generally aren't the social misfits they are perceived to be. I'd personally put 'addicted' gamers above 'addicted' television watchers, arguing that they are ultimately seeing more benefit (hand-eye coordination etc.) than those folk who just slob out in from of the TV. Even gamers who spend every waking hour playing.

I suppose one could argue that gaming addiction exists when it negatively affects aspects of their real world. Family, friends, bills not getting paid, etc. I'd say that's different. What's important to realize is that it is highly unfair to categorize those 90% of gamers in the title as addicted when they just enjoy spending the majority of their free time playing them.

People shouldn't be required to fit in with a perceived norm.

(I'm also sad to report that I read the title as "90% of Gaming Addiction Patents" and thought this was going to be about another stupid patent.)