Is excessive playing of video games an “addiction?” Is being “burned-out” at work a disease?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially designated excessive playing of video games an addiction, but is it? WHO now classifies addiction to video games a mental disorder defined by “a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior” that becomes so extensive that it “takes precedence over other life interests.” We should all agree that obsession over playing video games is a big problem, but to classify it as an addiction serves to create a larger class of victims.
If excessive playing of video games is now an addiction, then what obsessive behavior would escape the classification of addiction? Are people who spend hours and hours watching television addicted to TV?
By declaring playing video games an addiction, individuals, parents and children are relieved of any blame or guilt. If it is an addiction, then the parent is not to blame for the child that has become too attached to playing video games and the child is not to blame because it is not the fault of the video game.
I question addiction to gambling, porn and sex. Just because your mind likes something and motivates you to do it excessively should not be the criteria by which we judge addiction. The WHO is following a pattern of creating excuses for those who fail to maintain personal accountability for their behavior.
The idea that burn-out is now a disease is part of the same problem. Burn-out is real, but it should not be classified as a disease. At the end of nearly every show I feel burned out. My senses have been overloaded dealing with topics, texts and callers. I am in a constant battle with the clock. I reach a point where I want relief from the pressures of doing the show – but I do not have a disease.
By declaring that burn-out is a disease, WHO opens the door for the health industry to treat symptoms of burn-out. This will lead to the creation of more victims in our societies. Could employees claim they are suffering from the disease of burn-out because of the workload from the company? Will there by lawsuits against companies for causing employees to suffer from this new disease?
Burn-out is real; but if burn-out is now a disease, then what will stop people from claiming burn-out to get paid leave or disability?
Both of these status changes from WHO support the idea that everyone is a victim, and we know that there is power in victimization. Politicians and lawyers will now get involved in what they will claim is the solution and money will be generated because there are more victims.
We need to look for ways to hold individuals accountable for their behavior and not support things the increase the victim class. The erosion of personal accountability in society is real, and it is directly contributing to a society that is growing out of control.
