A couple of my kids played D & D years ago and did not seem to come to any harm. However ther was a case in my town of a young man who became addicted to such a game, played it incessantly, and ultimately committed suicide. His mother is heading up a national effort to point out to poarents and others that some of these gaes can be dangerous for some players.
Your point is well-taken, but I wonder if it was D&D that caused his addiction, or some underlying emotional imbalance that led him to obsess with D&D. I don’t think it’s the subject matter necessarily, as there have been similar cases of addiction to games such as ShadowRun, Second Life, Sims, and Eve Online. There have been cases of online addictions to MMOGs that lead to suicide (or, in at least one case, heart failure from 60+ hours continuous play), and I wonder if it’s like other addictions in creating a positive reinforcement feedback through the endorphin pathways.
I appreciate the point about moderation, but maybe it’d be more precise to say “in balance” - it’s not the amount that you’re playing, but the amount relative to what else is going on in your life. Having an easy schedule that week (say an unexpected furlough) isn’t license to spend all day in virtual reality because your have-to-do list is done. But if your social, spiritual, mental and emotional needs are well-satisfied, you’re entitled to some time in solitary distraction, whether it is with a book, in a warm tub or online.
Likewise, I’d also ask whether this is the sole activity that one takes part in. Strategic games can be very stimulating in one way, but they shouldn’t be the sole stimulation. When my wife goes to bed earlier than I do, I often play games, but just as often I spend time reading (currently, Jared Diamond’s “Collapse”).
Played in moderation and for someone with the emotional maturity to know when an interest is becoming obsessive, there should be no problem. Some of us are blessed enough to have children who know what they need and follow the structure without asking. Some of us have kids who would watch TV for an entire day if we let them. For those of us who lack that emotional maturity, it helps to have an outside moderator - let the game be a reward, and be strictly limited.
When I was studying with evangelicals, they would often say that sin is anything that causes you to fall, and I think the analogy here is apt. Recovering addicts often say that they would feel like they’re “running hot” - thinking only about their addictions (especially gambling, internet and pornography addicts) to the detriment of all else in their lives. Perhaps this should be a trigger to put the game in a box and close down the DSL connection.
