In the following paragraphs, I would like to talk about gaming addiction. Nowadays, computer games are being considered to be a kind of addictive events by the public, while I don¡¯t agree with the public opinion to the definition of gaming. Computer games like Counter-strike is just another way to have fun, just the same as watching rugby or having a night out in town, whereas it doesn¡¯t essentially affect life as an addictive activity. The problem with addiction lies within the person, not within the thing they are addicted to. Computer games are not chemically addictive like smoking cigarettes, or taking drugs, the source of the problem is within the mind of the person who allows him to be addicted to it.
There was a surprising event happened in NZ which had been reported by the public just a few weeks ago:
31.05.2003 3.49 am, Two 13-year-old boys went on a six-week crime spree to get
money for an internet game they seemed "addicted" to, Wellington police said.
They believed the boys had broken into up to 40 taxis during the previous six
weeks to get money to play Counter Strike. Police said the boys had been
targeting taxis because they knew they usually had large amounts of change.

because they often ran away from home and slept rough. One of the two

Secondly, gaming is just another way to have fun, to entertainment their spare time as legally hobby (Like board games, drinking with your mates or just the same as watching football). However, the reporters as usual took one comment out of thousands and thousands too decided and manipulate Counter Strike into something bad. Not the best publicity. Though it seems to be a feature of today¡¯s sensationalism based media to look for excuses whenever something bad happens.

boys occasionally spent all night at internet cafes,

Essentially I believe gaming does have an effect on our lives, not only the negative side but also positive. Since playing games on computer, people get more interested in computer technologies at the same time, and they can learn more knowledge from there. I know more about hardware and computers now than I did before; I¡¯ve seen different work opportunities in the computer world which may have never opened to me before, but is it no where near as bad as The Dominion Post have made it out to be? I've never skipped school for a game of CS. I don¡¯t believe gaming affects our lives to the extents of which the reporters put it. I know it does not control my life, but does it control yours? Let's see how many people you know that actually fall into the specific category that the media has so kindly offers us. Addicts, who cannot control themselves or people