Anya Stark
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Posted - 2003.07.24 18:25:00 -
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I'm just writing this note on the off chance that there may be someone else out there starting to wonder whether they have a problem.
I've been played EVE for awhile now (8 days after release I think), and have been finding that as I get more successful in the game I play more and more, that I play it even if it gets in the way of meals, work and even my marriage. I check my EVE messages several times a day, but haven't read my regular e-mail in a week, and don't think I've called or written a friend who doesn't play EVE in at least that long. BUying the second account probably wasn't a good sign either, but I think I really realized I had a problem when I noticed that I was always grumpy unless I was playing EVE, and was ****ed off if work, my wife or anything else got in the way of a mining run, trade run or pirate hunting. I'd also be checking the boards or calling friends for in-game updates while I should have been working, and I really can't afford to lost my job....
I'm usually not an especially grumpy or nasty person, but I been progressively less nice to be around in RL for at least the last couple of weeks and when I thought about it, it was usually because I wanted to be playing the game. The shorter temper helped to tip me off too.
As a professional social worker, I've got a lot of experience working with people addicted to alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc. so I would have thought I would have seen the signs earlier, but I didn't. Now I know I need to unplug entirely.
For all you folks that can play a bit when you have some spare time, without it getting in the way of your Real Life, enjoy the game. For those of you that privately need to admit that you are online more than you are offline and it's getting in the way of your life, I suggest you try to unplug from EVE and any other MMPOLGs for a full month. See if you can handle it without going into withdrawl. If you are in withdrawl, trust me, you should never go back and find a less addictive hobby.
All the best folks. I'm not just leaving EVE, I'm not ever going to play another persistent online game again. I know I can't handle it.
Stark.
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