Chris Pirillo » addiction http://chris.pirillo.com News and Reviews! Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:38:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 © chris@pirillo.com () chris@pirillo.com() Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. chris@pirillo.com No no http://chris.pirillo.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpgChris Pirillohttp://chris.pirillo.com 144 144 Gaming Addiction Vs Gaming Obsession – Where do You Draw the Line?http://chris.pirillo.com/gaming-addiction-vs-gaming-obsession-where-do-you-draw-the-line/ http://chris.pirillo.com/gaming-addiction-vs-gaming-obsession-where-do-you-draw-the-line/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:03:45 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=18167 Gaming Addiction Vs Gaming Obsession – Where do You Draw the Line? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Last night, I published a post discussing the unfortunate death of an infant, due to its parents’ inability – or desire – to properly care for it. The reason? They were busy feeding their video game addiction. This isn’t the first case like this that I’ve come across online, and I’m afraid it won’t be the last.

During a discussion via Google Buzz about this article, Peter had some excellent insight regarding addiction to things like games vs. an obsession.

For one thing, people throw the word “addiction” around like they know what it means. If gaming kills someone, then it’s likely safe so say that they had an addiction. For the most part, however, when people are obsessed with games, they aren’t necessarily addicted. Addiction isn’t mere obsession. Addiction isn’t the mere compulsion to participate in something.

When ANYTHING reaches the level of “addiction”… then, yes, it has the capability of killing someone. Asking the question is like asking, “If someone is so obsessed with gaming that they stop eating, can it kill them?” The correct answer is, “Yes, if someone stops eating, it can eventually kill them.” It has nothing to do with the “gaming”… it has everything to do with the “not eating”. When something becomes so compulsive that you stop eating, then it is safe to say that it is an addiction.

An addiction, for the most part, is when something negatively affects your life and even when you actively weigh the pros and cons and recognize that the cons outweigh the pros and you decide you would rather no longer participate in the activity, that you find you are unable to stop and know that you need help.

Most hard-core gamers are not reaching out for help. They weigh the pros and cons and the pros win. They enjoy playing. Very few gamers would truly make the decision to continue playing if they knew, for instance, that they were seconds away from death. When someone who isn’t necessarily addicted to gaming (but is obsessed by it) ends up dying or ending up extremely ill, the problem isn’t necessarily an “addiction”… it’s a lack of responsibility.

An irresponsible person can die while doing any kind of activity. It’s the irresponsibility that kills, not the distraction. If you WANT to stop gaming, however, but find that you simply cannot pull away… THAT’S an addiction, and you should seek help.

Very sage advice in that last sentence. If you cannot pull yourself away from your game(s) to attend to your “real” life, it’s time to get some kind of help. Ask a friend, parent, teacher, pastor or any other trusted person in your life to help you, and get you pointed in the right direction.

What are your thoughts on this matter? There’s no debate that the couple in the original article had some type of problem. Let’s discuss the differences between addictions and obsessions, as well as how a person (especially teens) can tell that they may, indeed, have a problem.

]]> Gaming Addiction Vs Gaming Obsession – Where do You Draw the Line? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Last night, I published a post discussing the unfortunate death of an infant, due to its parents’ inability – or desire – to properly care for it. The reason? They were busy feeding their video game addiction. This isn’t the first case like this that I’ve come across online, and I’m afraid it won’t be the last.

During a discussion via Google Buzz about this article, Peter had some excellent insight regarding addiction to things like games vs. an obsession.

For one thing, people throw the word “addiction” around like they know what it means. If gaming kills someone, then it’s likely safe so say that they had an addiction. For the most part, however, when people are obsessed with games, they aren’t necessarily addicted. Addiction isn’t mere obsession. Addiction isn’t the mere compulsion to participate in something.

When ANYTHING reaches the level of “addiction”… then, yes, it has the capability of killing someone. Asking the question is like asking, “If someone is so obsessed with gaming that they stop eating, can it kill them?” The correct answer is, “Yes, if someone stops eating, it can eventually kill them.” It has nothing to do with the “gaming”… it has everything to do with the “not eating”. When something becomes so compulsive that you stop eating, then it is safe to say that it is an addiction.

An addiction, for the most part, is when something negatively affects your life and even when you actively weigh the pros and cons and recognize that the cons outweigh the pros and you decide you would rather no longer participate in the activity, that you find you are unable to stop and know that you need help.

Most hard-core gamers are not reaching out for help. They weigh the pros and cons and the pros win. They enjoy playing. Very few gamers would truly make the decision to continue playing if they knew, for instance, that they were seconds away from death. When someone who isn’t necessarily addicted to gaming (but is obsessed by it) ends up dying or ending up extremely ill, the problem isn’t necessarily an “addiction”… it’s a lack of responsibility.

An irresponsible person can die while doing any kind of activity. It’s the irresponsibility that kills, not the distraction. If you WANT to stop gaming, however, but find that you simply cannot pull away… THAT’S an addiction, and you should seek help.

Very sage advice in that last sentence. If you cannot pull yourself away from your game(s) to attend to your “real” life, it’s time to get some kind of help. Ask a friend, parent, teacher, pastor or any other trusted person in your life to help you, and get you pointed in the right direction.

What are your thoughts on this matter? There’s no debate that the couple in the original article had some type of problem. Let’s discuss the differences between addictions and obsessions, as well as how a person (especially teens) can tell that they may, indeed, have a problem.

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/gaming-addiction-vs-gaming-obsession-where-do-you-draw-the-line/feed/ 4 Top 10 Internet Addiction Symptomshttp://chris.pirillo.com/top-10-internet-addiction-symptoms/ http://chris.pirillo.com/top-10-internet-addiction-symptoms/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:26:03 +0000 Chris Pirillo http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=17951 Top 10 Internet Addiction Symptoms is a post from Chris Pirillo

Guess what? Internet Addiction Might Actually Get Recognized By The Official Book Of Mental Disorders. I thought I’d compile a quick list that you might use to better diagnose yourself as a possible crazy person mental patient.

You might be addicted to the Internet if…

  1. You check your email more frequently than you blink.
  2. You tweet important life moments before telling your family.
  3. You end every sentence with the words “dot com.”
  4. You use acronyms like “LOL” and “WTF” in real-life conversations.
  5. You hashtag handwritten notes.
  6. You invited Google to a sleepover.
  7. You refuse to stay at a hotel that charges for WiFi.
  8. You demand that people email you when they listen to your voicemail greeting.
  9. You think the word “flicker” is misspelled.
  10. You prefer reading “top ten” lists on blogs compared to late night TV.

Am I missing any symptoms?

  • You get frustrated because you can’t “like” things you hear on the radio.
  • You think you should be subsidized by the government for not playing Farmville.
  • You believe you have real political power from being the Mayor of your local Starbucks.

]]> Top 10 Internet Addiction Symptoms is a post from Chris Pirillo

Guess what? Internet Addiction Might Actually Get Recognized By The Official Book Of Mental Disorders. I thought I’d compile a quick list that you might use to better diagnose yourself as a possible crazy person mental patient.

You might be addicted to the Internet if…

  1. You check your email more frequently than you blink.
  2. You tweet important life moments before telling your family.
  3. You end every sentence with the words “dot com.”
  4. You use acronyms like “LOL” and “WTF” in real-life conversations.
  5. You hashtag handwritten notes.
  6. You invited Google to a sleepover.
  7. You refuse to stay at a hotel that charges for WiFi.
  8. You demand that people email you when they listen to your voicemail greeting.
  9. You think the word “flicker” is misspelled.
  10. You prefer reading “top ten” lists on blogs compared to late night TV.

Am I missing any symptoms?

  • You get frustrated because you can’t “like” things you hear on the radio.
  • You think you should be subsidized by the government for not playing Farmville.
  • You believe you have real political power from being the Mayor of your local Starbucks.

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/top-10-internet-addiction-symptoms/feed/ 2 Do you Have any Tips to Help Someone Stop Smoking?http://chris.pirillo.com/do-you-have-any-tips-to-help-someone-stop-smoking/ http://chris.pirillo.com/do-you-have-any-tips-to-help-someone-stop-smoking/#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:02:56 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/03/28/do-you-have-any-tips-to-help-someone-stop-smoking/ Do you Have any Tips to Help Someone Stop Smoking? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Smoking is an addiction that can be harmful to your health, and that of others around you. Here are some great tips sent in by a community member to help you stop smoking.

  • Establish a ‘quit day’. Establishing a day to quit can help you prepare for this event. Quitting is very difficult, and being ready mentally is important to being successful. Don’t choose a time when you know you’ll have something stressful going on at work or school. Choosing a time like this will severely decrease your chances of quitting.
  • Find medications or products to help you stop. In today’s society, it is much easier to quit than it was even ten years ago. Years of research and development have led to creating patches, gum, inhalers and even candy to help you quit. If you’re committed to quitting, some of these will really help:
    • Nicoderm CQ Patches
    • Nicorette gum
    • Nicotrol inhaler
    • Candy and/or gum

    Remember to keep these out of reach of children, as they contain controlled doses of tobacco.

  • Surviving the first week. The first week of quitting will be the hardest, since you’ll be detoxing your body. Don’t give up! Within 24 hours, you will honestly notice a difference in how much easier it is to breathe. Within the first week, your senses of smell and taste will be strengthened again. Smoking “deadens” both of those senses significantly, and smokers never even realize it until they quit. You will not only have the physical cravings while quitting, you’ll also have mental ones. You’re using to having the cigarette in your hand and mouth. Try other solutions, such as chewing gum or sucking on hard candies. Keep celery or sunflower seeds nearby. Find something you enjoy, and use that as your “crutch”.
  • Dietary changes. Since you are quitting smoking, your body will become weaker at first while you go through withdrawl. Drink plenty of water, since it cleanses your body of all the built-up toxins. Make sure to eat enough, and eat healthy… even if you don’t feel like eating. Don’t overdo it, and don’t gnosh on snacks constantly!
  • Rewards and commitment Since you are quitting, you should reward yourself! Think about all the money you will be saving! Save the money, and use it to reward yourself with something nice… such as clothes, gadgets, or a vacation! Make sure you also make a list of the reasons you are quitting, and read it often!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Do you Have any Tips to Help Someone Stop Smoking? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Smoking is an addiction that can be harmful to your health, and that of others around you. Here are some great tips sent in by a community member to help you stop smoking.

  • Establish a ‘quit day’. Establishing a day to quit can help you prepare for this event. Quitting is very difficult, and being ready mentally is important to being successful. Don’t choose a time when you know you’ll have something stressful going on at work or school. Choosing a time like this will severely decrease your chances of quitting.
  • Find medications or products to help you stop. In today’s society, it is much easier to quit than it was even ten years ago. Years of research and development have led to creating patches, gum, inhalers and even candy to help you quit. If you’re committed to quitting, some of these will really help:
    • Nicoderm CQ Patches
    • Nicorette gum
    • Nicotrol inhaler
    • Candy and/or gum

    Remember to keep these out of reach of children, as they contain controlled doses of tobacco.

  • Surviving the first week. The first week of quitting will be the hardest, since you’ll be detoxing your body. Don’t give up! Within 24 hours, you will honestly notice a difference in how much easier it is to breathe. Within the first week, your senses of smell and taste will be strengthened again. Smoking “deadens” both of those senses significantly, and smokers never even realize it until they quit. You will not only have the physical cravings while quitting, you’ll also have mental ones. You’re using to having the cigarette in your hand and mouth. Try other solutions, such as chewing gum or sucking on hard candies. Keep celery or sunflower seeds nearby. Find something you enjoy, and use that as your “crutch”.
  • Dietary changes. Since you are quitting smoking, your body will become weaker at first while you go through withdrawl. Drink plenty of water, since it cleanses your body of all the built-up toxins. Make sure to eat enough, and eat healthy… even if you don’t feel like eating. Don’t overdo it, and don’t gnosh on snacks constantly!
  • Rewards and commitment Since you are quitting, you should reward yourself! Think about all the money you will be saving! Save the money, and use it to reward yourself with something nice… such as clothes, gadgets, or a vacation! Make sure you also make a list of the reasons you are quitting, and read it often!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/do-you-have-any-tips-to-help-someone-stop-smoking/feed/ 111 How to Beat Video Game Addictionhttp://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-beat-video-game-addiction/ http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-beat-video-game-addiction/#comments Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:32:17 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/03/11/how-to-beat-video-game-addiction/ How to Beat Video Game Addiction is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Video games are great fun, and sometimes it’s ok to go on a “gaming binge.” At some point, though, you need to stop yourself. When that time has come, admit that you’ve got a problem and cut it out completely.

  • Admit you have a problem- As cliche or cheesy as it may sound, the first step to recovery is to admit to yourself and others that you have a problem. Use the beginning sentence of this article as a starter.
  • Identify the problem Is it a particular game that you’re addicted to? Is it a genre of games? Be sure to find out exactly what it is that you’re addicted to.
  • Identify the triggers Triggers are mental and physical cues that cause you to want to indulge in your addiction, namely play games. Try and figure out what kind of things makes you want to play video games. Maybe its a particular website that you go to online that starts your video gaming frenzy. Maybe it’s being around certain people that make you crave a game or two. Do your best to figure out what kind of triggers make you want to play games.
  • Plan out your recovery Quitting video games cold turkey might seem like the best way to stop your addiction, but in reality, most people fail trying to quit completely. Your best plan would be to gradually wean yourself away from video games. Make yourself an ending date of when you want to be completely free from video games. Then, create steps to that ending date, with mini-goals that you want to achieve. For example, instead of playing for 20+ hours a week, try cutting it down to 18+ hours a week, and so on. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t reach your goals! Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your addiction won’t go away overnight.
  • Carry out your plan Start working on executing your plan. If you find out that your plan is too hard, then ease it up a bit. If you discover that your ending date happens to be the release date of Starcraft 2, postpone your ending date so you can indulge instead of potentially becoming an addict again. Whatever you do, be flexible with your options, but stick to your plan at all costs.

There is a video game addiction clinic in the Netherlands.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> How to Beat Video Game Addiction is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Video games are great fun, and sometimes it’s ok to go on a “gaming binge.” At some point, though, you need to stop yourself. When that time has come, admit that you’ve got a problem and cut it out completely.

  • Admit you have a problem- As cliche or cheesy as it may sound, the first step to recovery is to admit to yourself and others that you have a problem. Use the beginning sentence of this article as a starter.
  • Identify the problem Is it a particular game that you’re addicted to? Is it a genre of games? Be sure to find out exactly what it is that you’re addicted to.
  • Identify the triggers Triggers are mental and physical cues that cause you to want to indulge in your addiction, namely play games. Try and figure out what kind of things makes you want to play video games. Maybe its a particular website that you go to online that starts your video gaming frenzy. Maybe it’s being around certain people that make you crave a game or two. Do your best to figure out what kind of triggers make you want to play games.
  • Plan out your recovery Quitting video games cold turkey might seem like the best way to stop your addiction, but in reality, most people fail trying to quit completely. Your best plan would be to gradually wean yourself away from video games. Make yourself an ending date of when you want to be completely free from video games. Then, create steps to that ending date, with mini-goals that you want to achieve. For example, instead of playing for 20+ hours a week, try cutting it down to 18+ hours a week, and so on. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t reach your goals! Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your addiction won’t go away overnight.
  • Carry out your plan Start working on executing your plan. If you find out that your plan is too hard, then ease it up a bit. If you discover that your ending date happens to be the release date of Starcraft 2, postpone your ending date so you can indulge instead of potentially becoming an addict again. Whatever you do, be flexible with your options, but stick to your plan at all costs.

There is a video game addiction clinic in the Netherlands.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-beat-video-game-addiction/feed/ 45 How to Handle Remote Tech Support <em>Using <a href="http://www.gotoassist.com/chris">GoToAssist</a> is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party. </em> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMThttp://gotoassist.com/chris/ http://gotoassist.com/chris/ Network Tools for Windows You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. <a href="http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome">SolarWinds ipMonitor</a>: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. <a href="http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome">Download your free trial today</a>. Or, try their <a href="http://www.solarwinds.com/products/freetools/">totally free tools</a>! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase <a href="http://store.solarwinds.com/s.nl/sc.16/.f">ipMonitor 9.0</a>. chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome Get Your Own Web Site Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp2">GoDaddy</a> includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp2">code CP2</a> at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order. <p>Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=chris7">CHRIS7</a>, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=chris7">GoDaddy.com</a>.</p> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp1 http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp1 VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/13766/rn_a32755/">Parallels</a> or <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/17081/rn_a32755/">VMware</a> (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/17081/rn_a32755/">VMware</a> and/or <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/13766/rn_a32755/">Parallels</a>. chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/19/parallels-or-vmware/ http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/19/parallels-or-vmware/ Coupons for Online Shopping <p style="color: red">This feed is fueled by Lockergnome <a href="http://www.lockergnome.com/buy/">Online Shopping and Coupon Codes</a></p> <p> Before you shop next time, see if we have <a href="http://coupons.lockergnome.com/">a coupon</a> first. </p> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMThttp://coupons.lockergnome.com/ http://coupons.lockergnome.com/