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Overcoming The Video Gaming Syndrome (VGS)-Part Two - Adults

By: Bob Carper

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We now come to the adult world that is facing VGS. Unlike the VGS world that is trying to take control of our kids'minds, the adult world of VGS has little to oppose it. VGS has its own heroes and creatures. They all will take total control of the adult user. No longer does the adult user have his mind free. He is totally enslaved by the scheming Captain Zappo, the muscular Lieutenant Spook, and the voluptuous LollyBird LollyPop.

Numerous forums are out there on the web that deal with VGS. Their members post articles describing how VGS has altered or destroyed their lives. Other articles staunchly defend VGS because as their writers put it, if it weren't for video, they would have gotten into worse trouble.

There are many conflicting opinions from psychologists claiming there is a problem with people being addicted to video games. Although there has been some research on VGS, the issues are still unresolved. Unlike alcohol or drugs, there is no chemical dependency issue.

VGS is a self-created addiction. In that respect, it ranks with gambling, anorexia, and bulimia. If this holds true, then medical professionals and social workers can develop treatment plans that are not based on chemical dependency issues.

However, there are multitudes of video game players that describe themselves as being addicted. That is good enough for many psychologists. They point out that self-described video game addicts often end up having family conflict and romantic failures as a result of their involvement with VGS.

A psychologist might claim that the family conflict or romantic failures exacerbate the onset and spread of VGS. This depends on the individuals involved in specific cases. It is too early to establish which came first, the chicken or the egg. The purpose of this article is to establish what is the severity and extent of VGS and to make some preliminary recommendations how to fix the problem.

The consensus of opinions and observations contained in forum posts appear to be as follows:

Unless VGS players use drugs to stay awake and improve sharpness of the mind, there is no chemical addiction associated with involvement with VGS.

VGS players have collapsed their entire family structure. Employers that have detected use of the company computer system have put such employees on probation, and have ultimately fired these employees. The burden of maintaining the family income has fallen upon the other spouse.

VGS players will rarely admit they have a problem. In some cases, they will maintain that family or other issues have brought about the problem. This is nonsense and represents a weak attempt to hang the blame on an issue which he or she has brought on himself.

VGS players have formed social relationships with people they can neither see, feel, nor claim as a true friend. The best that is available is a secure web conference that may be a part of the game itself.

The game will not allow participants to fall back upon their own lives. There is always an electronic war going on somewhere on the planet. Missing a key battle might cost the participant key points.

Serious side effects have resulted from initial VGS involvements. For example, the VGS participant may be in one or more sexual relationships, even though the participant has never seen his sex partner. Moreover, the participant may have fallen in love with a robot that has taken the place of the participant's spouse. This is a bizarre version of The Stepford Wives.

Divorce appears to be the only permanent remedy to effect a cure for VGS. However, this has left so many broken hearts and broken marriages in its wake that an entire army of social workers must be recruited to fix the damage. Only the attorneys win in situations such as this. They are the ultimate victor in VGS games. The Lord of the Mighty Sky Fleet, Admiral Blotz, has indeed done his work well.

Tough love appears to be the only solution how sanity can be restored out of this insane mess. Unlike pre-teen and teen involvement with VGS, the family structure either has collapsed or is on the verge of doing so. Here are several ideas how you might attack VGS. I must emphasize I am not a psychologist or social worker by profession. At best, I am a senior citizen that has not as yet lost his thought process.

Step One. Get Help !

Combating VGS is not a do it yourself project. You must seek out the services of a professional that is not emotionally involved. However, the person you find must have empathy and understanding about what is happening in your lives.

You should begin by seeking out the services of your priest, minister, or rabbi. At the very bottom of the VGS problem lies a loss of faith and belief that there is a living God in your lives, no matter what religious belief you occupy. If they cannot help you immediately, there may be others they can suggest. The most important issue behind Step One is for you not to give up after a single visit to your clergy person. He or she will put forth honest and sincere efforts in your behalf if he or she detects sincere efforts on your part to rid yourselves of the VGS nightmare.

Step Two: Do Not Lose Communication

VGS will succeed if one or both parties will break off the negotiations saying that he or she gives up. Remember that any contest will be lost if the team walks off the field while there is any chance of still winning the ball game.

Step Three: Pull The Plug And Take Back Control Of Your Electrical Connection

Unlike the previous two steps, this one means business. VGS can survive only if there is energy coming into your household to empower this VGS monster. Without energy, VGS will surely die. There are a number of options to follow here, some of which may not work to perfection at the time this article is being written.

Your first option is to find out if your browser on your computer systems in your household will support anti-child software. You must do some preliminary work here to understand how a browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape works in your system. Using Google or making a trip to your computer store will get you started. If this proves fruitless, seek out the services of a computer consultant.

Bear in mind that this will send out a clear and unmistakable signal that you mean business and are going to bring VGS to an end. You can expect serious resistance to your plan and could even encounter violent hostility. VGS does not give up easily.
There may be software out there that will disable your browser. This software may act to time out your browser after one hour's operation, thereby cutting off VGS. If this sofware works as intended, your computer should be disabled from any further internet connection for the next 24 hours. If you know how to download and install such software, you're in like Flynn.

In all likelihood, the VGS addict will soon learn ways how to defeat such blocking software to your browser. Video gamers do not give up easily, and for all we know, these are pathways other VGS victims may have already taken to take back control of their computers and their lives. You must prepare yourselves for many rough seas before you can reach your home port.

This next step will be the ultimate. You should contact your telephone service provider or internet service provider such as Verizon, ComCast, or AT&T. Ask that they terminate your high speed broadband system and go back to a duplex telephone connection. VGS is totally dependent on a high speed broadband internet connection. If VGS does not see this, it will slow down and eventually die. No matter how advanced your computer systems are, they all must have a high speed internet connection in order to play the game.

Understandably, if the land line connections are lost, cell phones can still survive to play the game. Here again, the monster needs to be fed. In this case, the feed is money. What you can do here is to block the money that is going to pay the cell phone bill. Companies such as Sprint, ComCast, or Verizon may work with you to remedy the problem. However, be aware that they are no friend. Ultimately, they will want their money. If you have not guaranteed their payment, they will target you for their collection procedures. I recommend you get a competent attorney before proceding with any money shut-off plans.

Step Four: The Final Solution

It is nice to think that the VGS addict will listen to your priest, minister, or rabbi. It may be like trying to put out a brush fire with a garden hose. Reasoning may be equally ineffective, particularly if the VGS addict is so far gone he cannot quit cold turkey.

Taking measures to disconnect your phone service might have the best shot for success. It will send up a signal that this VGS nonsense is going to come to an end. However, VGS addicts are extremely protective of their games. They will resort to any or all of these countermeasures if they fear they will be losing the game.

They might strike back physically. Call 911 if this happens. The police can handle the family beef. You can't.

The VGS addict is skilled at handling internet disruptions. In particular, he can troubleshoot problems involving Windows or your browser. It will not take him very long to discover that Windows or the browser have been sabotaged Anti-virus software may have already corrected the problem. The game thus will go on.

Shutting down your high speed broadband phone service thus appears to be the ultimate signal that the games are going to go or else. VGS cannot operate over low bandwidth telephone lines. The message is clear. Either VGS goes or your spouse or significant other will go.

In conclusion, this article is not advice on getting a divorce. It only provides advice on getting rid of VGS, not on how to get rid of your spouse. VGS need not force you to leave your home, abandon your property, or lose custody of your children. My advice is to document everything. You must document the extent and severity of your particular VGS problem. Keep a detailed account of the VGS problem and its effect on your household.

Describe the measures you took to get rid of the problem, including the people you visited and the advice they gave you. Above all, detail the secondary symptoms of the problem, such as the set up of chat lines and the passing of pornography. Above all, remember the words of the late President Roosevelt: There is nothing to fear but fear itself.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Bob Carper is a veteran information systems consultant specializing in verbal and written communication. He is an ardent writer and belongs to various societies. You may contact him at bobcarper@myexcel.com or visit www.secure-webconference.citymax.com

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