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Hello, my name is Earthmother, and I am a true MUD addict.
I believe that
1) Yes -- it is good for admin to acknowledge that what they run is something with addictive qualities... most MU*s are _designed_ to keep people coming back for more. Like a casino, it is wise for them to acknowledge that many of us can and do have problems with addiction.
2) Admin cannot be held responsible for HOW people use their game. Admin *should not* be held responsible for it, even though they are the people providing it. The tobacco companies have already taken the first hit in this downward spiral, and that sucks. If admin are held morally or legally responsible for the behavior of users, then *individual responsibility for one's actions* is undermined. There is enough of that going on, especially in the United States. Abdication of personal responsibility for one's actions is the norm, and the courts are full of people looking to blame someone else for what they've done in their lives.
3) I am not a 'victim' of my addiction. I have chosen a lifestyle that is outside the cultural norm of the culture at this time. It is my *choice*, and it always was MY choice. I *do* choose to interact with people online more than I choose to interact with people in real life. People online are real people too, and I LIKE the fact that I get to interact with folks from all over the world, who I would never *get* to meet in real life. I also am not beholden to these people: they are not knocking on my door at 4 am, asking for cash to post bail for their loser S.O. who just got busted for a DWI. The people who remain in my virtual world are people who, for better or worse, are smart enough to cut it. I don't regret choosing to spend time with them rather than random people in my neighborhood, who are looking just to use me.
4) The world is a' changing. The internet is, for better or worse, part of everyday life. Yes, gaming may seem like a 'waste of time,' and when children are neglected, homework, work, or housework is neglected, and family ties are neglected in favor of virtual time, then the person who is gaming should re-assess their priorities. However, computing, whether it be MU*ing, emailing, or simply surfing the web, is an activity that MILLIONS of people are involved in daily. It is an 'addiction' that goes far beyond gaming. People are lonely, and online interaction is as emotionally fulfilling in many ways as 'normal' interaction.
I read the link to Med's page that was referenced... and it is good stuff. The only part I disagreed with was that the players 'joke' about being addicted. The kind of statements they reference are not really jokes, and I doubt people *really* mean them as jokes. They may come across as wit, but every statement like that is tinged with some sadness, I'd wager. There is very real guilt associated with MU* addiction. People outside the community do not understand, and they are very jealous of time others spend there. MU*ing can be a very selfish activity. Many MU*ers I know are people with serious issues in real life, myself included. I do laud Medieva's staff for making a page about the problems, much as I laud the casino gaming commissions for having toll-free numbers addicted gamblers can call. But I refuse to hold any MU* administration responsible for the RL behavior of their players.
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