In reply to:

Then again, we humans are never short on ways to screw up our lives with addictions to all sorts of things, and maybe being addicted to a computer game and the pseudo-social contact that comes with it is more healthy than being an alcoholic or a gambling addict...



One of the guys I was talking about in my previous post (addicted to EQ) was really addicted. It worked out best for him. He use to be a hardcore drinker and pot smoker. He figured out that if he skipped drinking and smoking, he could survive on less sleep and feel better at work, ie, more time to play EQ.

He quit the game (and has no desire to start back up), but still doesn't drink or smoke. Given that isn't a very popular scenario, but it has happened.