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#1 Jan 16 2006 at 5:00 PM Rating: Default
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So, my main has been around for about 4 years, give or take.

As of yesterday, he has about 34 days total time /played.

Add up all characters I have, I'm probably sitting around 100 days.

From a mathematical standpoint, once you break it down, that means I have played an average of around 1:40 hours a day, every single day, since I began EQ.

(Days x 24 (hours in a day) x 60 (minutes in an hour) = Minute Grand Total)

(Minute grand total / 4 (years total) / 12 (months in a year) / 30 (days in a month) = Daily total minutes playing

I know that I took a break for about a year at some point.

I know someone, in real life, who started around the same time I did.

His main is currently at 129 days.

The person, with all other 7 characters, well into their 55's or beyond, is probably somewhere around 300 days, at my guesstimate, and I might be really off.

No, this person does NOT dual box.

Using the same math, their total comes to 5 hours.

5 hours a DAY, for the past 4 years, AVERAGE.

Average person works a 8 hour shift, with a total commute time of one hour, for a total of 9.

Avg person also sleeps 8 hours a day. That leaves 7 hours.

7 hours to eat, shower, shop, pay bills, spend time with family, go to the movies, flip on the game, etc.

5 hours of that 7 that is left is being devoted to a game.

Yes, if you havent figured it out already, I am talking about addiction.

1) Is this person playing too much?

2) Should I say something, and if so, how do I bring this up????
#2 Jan 16 2006 at 5:15 PM Rating: Decent
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Did he ever use his main for a mule? I noticed on my mule that it has almost triple the play time of my main. Just a thought.

Plus you have to take in to account vactions and weekends, were maybe thats all they do. I play alot more on than 5 hours on my days off and when I have to work I usually dont play. So it all depends of their schedule too.





edited for bad spelling

Edited, Mon Jan 16 17:19:30 2006 by grovers
#3 Jan 16 2006 at 5:21 PM Rating: Excellent
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Thoryndar wrote:
1) Is this person playing too much?
I can't say, not knowing the person or their play style. Sometimes I'm logged in for six hours but a lot of it is spent AFK to some degree or another. Other times, I might actually be playing for five straight hours (less likely but it happens). On the other hand, if I'm playing from 7pm to 11pm, that's time most people spend watching television anyway so it's not as if my time would be any more fruitful if I spent it how many folks do.
Quote:
Should I say something, and if so, how do I bring this up????
Is it any of your business? I don't mean that in a nasty manner but it's different if it's a close friend or just a guy you know. Is he actually neglecting family and friends? Are his bills going unpaid? Is he missing work or school? I suppose my answer about if *I* thought it was too much would be affected by if he has a wife, children, etc or if he's a single guy who goes to work, comes home, plays during those downtime hours and is otherwise keepin' on.

I'm not making excuses for the guy but I wouldn't be in a giant rush to castigate him either.
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#4 Jan 16 2006 at 5:32 PM Rating: Decent
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Time played is getting more and more useless.

For the last 6 months I have had 2, sometimes 3, of my accounts logged in 24 hours a day (less 5-10 minutes to reboot), 7 days a week. If you could somehow seperate this time.

Yes, I still play too much.
#5 Jan 16 2006 at 6:01 PM Rating: Decent
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First, no, I'm not talking about his mule. His MULE is only 57.

When he gets on, even if LFG, he is soloing SOMETHING. He spends very little time AFK.

Quote:
it's different if it's a close friend or just a guy you know.

How bout someone I've known my entire life?

Quote:
Is he actually neglecting family and friends?

"Hey you wanna do XXX on Sunday?"

"Nah, I'd rather play EQ."
Quote:
Are his bills going unpaid? Is he missing work or school?

Doubt it - his house still stands.
Quote:
I suppose my answer about if *I* thought it was too much would be affected by if he has a wife, children, etc or if he's a single guy who goes to work, comes home, plays during those downtime hours and is otherwise keepin' on.

Married about 5 years now.
#6 Jan 17 2006 at 7:23 AM Rating: Decent
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Well, thats 35 hours a week so maybe for a few days a week he only gets an hour or two and then on some days he goes all night.

Edited, Tue Jan 17 07:28:32 2006 by SuiG
#7 Jan 17 2006 at 7:53 AM Rating: Decent
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Your concern is enviable, but really if it is 'addiction' (not sure what that really means) this person probably knows they have a problem and will need to come to grips with it on their own time in their own way.

Think about a smoker. Do they know they're addicted? Yes, most likely. Is intervention by you gonna prove useful? Most likely, no.

What you've decribed doesn't sound competely over the top. He's holding a job. He has a wife who has either accepted this behavior or who he will eventually lose. He wants to play EQ rather than doing something else?....I'd rather play EQ than go shopping with my girlfriends....doesn't mean much.

You can 'say' something, but most likely it will go unheeded and you may lose credibility and a friendship. Remember, you are admittedly an EQ junkie yourself.
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#8 Jan 17 2006 at 9:16 AM Rating: Decent
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An Addiction, is normally classified as continued behavior in the face of negative consequences.
Tell me if your friend has negative consequences from his playing, and what they are, and then Ill speak further.
At this time I would say he is not addicted. Are You?
#9 Jan 17 2006 at 9:20 AM Rating: Decent
Average eq week for me:
Monday: 7hours. (4h raiding)
Tuesday: 2hours. (xp day so no raiding)
Wednesday: 6hours. (4h raiding)
Thursday: 7hours. (4h raiding)
Friday: 10hours. (4.5h raiding)
Saturday: 13hours. (5h raiding)
Sunday: 9hours. (5h raiding)

I work 8 hours per weekday (2h of thoose I spend spamming eq forums). I sleep avg 4hours per night, mby 6 on weekends.
My guess is avg I afk 1 hour per day.

Thats a total of 54 hours per week online where 47 of thoose hours is actually playing, and tbh Im counting low.
My girlfriend is unemployed so she is even worse, she is in eq2 tho and allready have 200 days played.

Are we addicted?

lol
#10 Jan 17 2006 at 9:52 AM Rating: Decent
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Quote:
Remember, you are admittedly an EQ junkie yourself.


I took a look back and said to myself 1:40 a day, yeah, I can live with that. I love the game, and I will be around until the day SoE shuts down the servers.

Am I a junkie? Yes. Am I an addict? I doubt it.

Same as some of the posters, I don't watch TV, I play EQ, and I probably play it LESS than most people watch TV.

But even I say to myself every once in a while, hey, I'm on here too much (weekends, mainly.)

I don't know how to completely describe this. Based on some of the hours posted here, it almost seems like I'm on the extreme LOW end of playing, the individual is in the mid end.

/shrugs

Just wanted thoughts of the concensus.
#11 Jan 17 2006 at 12:55 PM Rating: Good
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Quote:
He has a wife who has either accepted this behavior or who he will eventually lose.


And if you lose your wife/husband to/because of a game, there were problems going on there anyway. At least it seems to me perhaps both parties weren't real happy before it reached that point.

If kids are neglegted for EQ that's bad.
#12 Apr 21 2006 at 7:42 AM Rating: Decent
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Well, this answer comes a bit after this was originally posted. I dont read forums that often but i was looking for some answers to some questions and i found this. The person Thoryndar is speaking about is me!! I am his cousin. He is correct about the toons i have and that i DO NOT 2 box. Am i addicted..NO. So T there is your answer. I have a wife and a house and a job. I pay my bills on time, i make repairs to my own house and of the 5 cars i have. 2 of which are show cars. During summer months i take them out to car cruises and car shows. I do have dinner with my wife and also do watch some TV with her as well as time to time w/ some "fun" stuff if you know what i mean:)

EQ is a release for me. I get to relax and meet some nice people andget into groups or just solo.

Many times nothing is on TV..i get home 3 days a wee after 8pm after working and doing side work. So days like that i really need to kick back. People have different likes and desires. I like EQ cause i strive to be a good player and find people of like thoughts. Maybe if T would play a bit more he would feel the same, But he is young..early 20's he doesnt know what life is about really yet. I am in my 40's and have been there done that. I have the things i want so now i can sit back and enjoy them.

Give T about 25 more years and we will see if he changes his thoughts:)

BTW, my toons have advanced 61 BL, 61 mage(and bazaar trader), 52 cleric, 58 ranger, 51 warr, 51 rogue..and my main 70 bard semi retired.

#13 Apr 21 2006 at 9:07 AM Rating: Decent
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Shouldn't you Also take in to accouhnt there is weekend time. Unless he works seven days a week. You might be able to bring into account Bazaar time where you are logged in but you might be sleeping, spending time with family, or other things.


Just my Two cents
#14 Apr 21 2006 at 2:38 PM Rating: Decent
EQ's centered around addiction. This is to say, it's centered around the high end, and the only real way to be high end is to be addicted, dumping time into it constantly.

If someone plays so much, yes, EQ is a core component of their life. Just, is this such a bad thing? If so, fix it. If not, then what's the problem?

Not to sound disconcerted, but life really has no meaning. It's what you make of it. If you chose EQ, then who is to judge you? Most seem to think the point of life is friends and social life. It's whatever does it for you, I suppose.
#15 Apr 21 2006 at 9:01 PM Rating: Decent
People who have never played the game would certainly think that we were all "EQ junkies". I know that my sister thinks that of me and my wife. She has told us that we should take a break from the game and find other "activites". But really, wouldnt those other activites "hobbies" just be time spent doing something else that would take time to do and something that we would get involved in and spend money at and put things on hold (so to speak). What I am getting at is that we both enjoy this Hobby , this past time , this other activity called EQ. about the only draw back is the fact that you spend a lot of time sitting on your backside getting a soft round mushey EQ junkie backside because the only excersize involved is your fingers and maybe vocal chords when you cuss ... lol.
There is and would be the only reason to swap one time consuming activity for another ... to get up and work off the but cheek fat gathering at your backside from to much sitting on it day after day.
Just my two cents worth.
#16 Apr 21 2006 at 9:07 PM Rating: Decent
you know, the man does have a point.

according to a relatively recent berkeley study, the average american adult spends three hours a day watching TV. With all the adults who don't watch any, five hours a day of EQ doesn't seem too absurd. I'd imagine if you filtered out the people who watch none, his number would be pretty close to american tv useage.
#17 Apr 21 2006 at 9:34 PM Rating: Decent
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I'm usually watching TV as I play. Right now, for examples, TCM is showing Crimes and Misdemeanors. Discovery and Science channels are my favorites. A lot of my play time is idle, though, since I'll it for long periods of time doing other things (as I am doing now). I have no idea how long my mains have racked up.
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#18 Apr 21 2006 at 11:36 PM Rating: Decent
All things being equal, Id choose an EQ addiction over just about any other. Why?

1. Its darn cheap. 15 bucks a month, per account. I just went gambling last week and it cost me around 100 dollars. In one day. Everytime I go out, I spend around 15-50 dollars in one night. My EQ addiction causes me to not go out much so Im savin a heap of dollars.

2. Most people dont steal to support their EQ habit. Drug addicts steal to support their habit because drugs are EXPENSIVE. EQ is a cheap high.

3. EQ doesnt cause physical damgage to your internal organs. Alcohol destroys your liver. Smoking destroys your lungs. Crack destroys... uh all I know is its bad. The worst things that EQ can do to your body is carpal tunnel syndrome and a really fat ***.

Rather be addicted to EQ than smokes, crack or heroin, but thats just me.
#19 Apr 22 2006 at 3:42 AM Rating: Decent
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The worst things that EQ can do to your body is carpal tunnel syndrome and a really fat ***.
Heart disease is the UK (and i imagine the USA's) biggest cause of death, due to bad eating habit and lack of exercise.

Moral of this story, hook up a cycling machine next to your PC, Job done.
#20 Apr 22 2006 at 10:06 AM Rating: Good
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tarv of the Seven Seas wrote:
Quote:
The worst things that EQ can do to your body is carpal tunnel syndrome and a really fat ***.
Heart disease is the UK (and i imagine the USA's) biggest cause of death, due to bad eating habit and lack of exercise.

Moral of this story, hook up a cycling machine next to your PC, Job done.

Hehe

This reminds me of a tv show I saw once. The parents allowed their kids to watch as much television as they wanted. The television was hooked up to a generator that was powered by a exercise bike. Keep the bike going a certain rpm and the tv stays on. If you wanted to watch a movie, the rpm's had to go up to power the vcr.
#21 Apr 22 2006 at 10:20 AM Rating: Decent
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tweelisT wrote:
This reminds me of a tv show I saw once. The parents allowed their kids to watch as much television as they wanted. The television was hooked up to a generator that was powered by a exercise bike. Keep the bike going a certain rpm and the tv stays on. If you wanted to watch a movie, the rpm's had to go up to power the vcr.

Sheesh...how much would you need to pedal to keep a PC and monitor running? I guess a laptop would be more convenient (mounted on the handlebars) and efficient.
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we all know liberals are well adjusted american citizens who only want what's best for society. While conservatives are evil money grubbing scum who only want to sh*t on the little man and rob the world of its resources.
#22 Apr 22 2006 at 12:38 PM Rating: Decent
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Quote:
Sheesh...how much would you need to pedal to keep a PC and monitor running? I guess a laptop would be more convenient (mounted on the handlebars) and efficient.
using the mouse while pedalling could prove a challenge.
#23 Apr 22 2006 at 12:54 PM Rating: Decent
tarv of the Seven Seas wrote:
Quote:
The worst things that EQ can do to your body is carpal tunnel syndrome and a really fat ***.
Heart disease is the UK (and i imagine the USA's) biggest cause of death, due to bad eating habit and lack of exercise.

Moral of this story, hook up a cycling machine next to your PC, Job done.


Yup, you're right about heart disease being the leading killer in the USA, too.

Personally, I keep a dumbbell next to my chair here in the study. It's not exactly great aerobic excerise, but there's a million exercises you can do with these things that at least get the heart beatting and the blood moving. It's not a heavy one, nor even a third of the weight I do free presses with, but even a lighter one could do; it's just about having something to fidget around with while you're medding up between MOBs (when I still played EQ!).
#24 Apr 24 2006 at 2:18 AM Rating: Decent
I put my home gym in the same room as my pc's. When I'm waiting on a spawn or waiting lfg, I'll work out a bit. I also use a stability ball to sit on and do crunches on. Kinda had to, Eq was making me fat and lazy. I feel much better now and can almost see my muscles under my belly again :)
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