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Video Game Addicts Dropping out of School

Posted by Cole Stryker

 

Game Politics reports that FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate has declared the following:

You might find it alarming that one of the top reasons for college drop-outs in the U.S. is online gaming addiction - such as World of Warcraft - which is played by 11 million individuals worldwide.

Taylor provides no hard data to back up this claim, but it got me thinking about some of the casualties I knew, not necessarily from online gaming, but gaming in general.

During my freshman year in college, there was a guy who literally punched a hole through his laptop monitor after repeated losses in Counterstrike. He didn't drop out, but he had to shell out for a new monitor. I don't think nerd rage was covered by the university insurance policy. 

One of my R.A.'s had a then-new Xbox. He was a friendly dude, and invited anyone on the hall to come play it any time. Well, there was this one really smelly, socially awkward kid who spent nearly every waking moment playing the R.A.'s Xbox. They had to kick him out at night. On one occasion he was found playing their Xbox, dripping wet, with nothing on but a towel, after a rushed shower. He couldn't be away from Halo for even ten minutes. He dropped out after a semester. 

Another guy on my freshman hall dropped out on account of Battlefield 1942. Another from Super Smash Bros. Melee. Another missed a final because he had spent the night speedrunning through Prince of Persia.

Do you know anyone who failed epically because he couldn't pull himself away from video games? Let us know in the comments.

Related Links:

Night Elves Anonymous: MMORPG addicts seek psychotherapy
Play Bejeweled Inside World of Warcraft
Boy Addicted to Call of Duty 4 Found Dead


Comments

Cliff said:

That's pretty sad - but other than the weapon of choice, it's not entirely different than folks dropping out due to too much partying.  Or anything else other than schoolwork; you know, what we *PAY* to go to school for in the first place.  Video games are just an easy target for someone trying to get publicity (on them or away from them).

December 12, 2008 12:16 AM

Placebo said:

Unfortunately I myself dropped out of both highschool and college at various points in pursuit of MMO stardom. First Everquest in 7th grade where I spent the entire year playing Everquest, I managed to maintain my D average and fortunately the only class that charged for missing school was gym. My second offense was Counter-Strike (fps) in the early 00's where I only visited my middle-school 14 times in 8th grade; they passed me on to highschool anyways.

Then in 10th grade my addiction to WoW caused me to drop out of highschool where I then started going to school at a college education program, two semesters later I picked up the infamous game once more and lost control yet again.

Now equipped with my highschool diploma, about a year of college credits and a GPA that looks like it just finished a cat fight I've finally pulled myself away from WoW and making attempts to straighten out my life; but I have to say, it was fun while it lasted.

December 12, 2008 3:26 PM

Cole Stryker said:

Yikes...

Well, good luck to you, Sir. You're an inspiration to us all.

December 12, 2008 6:32 PM

Demaar said:

Not games, but books have ruined many days of work due to lack of sleep. I actually got fired from my previous job due to a cock up that was caused by sleep deprivation (was a pretty bad cock up too). I'd gotten like an hour's sleep 'cause I was up all night reading a really good book.

December 13, 2008 1:58 PM

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