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Is Go an Addictive Drug
   

This question is inspired by

  • "[ext] Go - An Addictive Game (simpler to just say "An Addiction," no?)
  • "Go is a game with the longest history. Once addicted, most people cannot shake the hobby. It’s addicting power is not less than that of alcohol and sex" (at [ext] Yutopian: Go Stories).
  • a story attributed to Dr. Hong -- "you can't reach first kyu until you've lost three girlfriends to Go" -- mentioned in American Go Journal.
  • And by an intriguing-sounding webpage that seems no longer to exist, "Robert F Nutter's Go" - described as "a personal story of go addiction" -- which I haven't read, but truly would like to.

And of course, by certain personal experiences I shouldn't bore you with.

Thoughts? -- TakeNGive

Well it is an addiction. One of proofs is the fact that nobody edits this page :) (for more than a year since it's creation!) - either because they don't confirm it as truth or because they think it is obvious. The real question is: is this a dangerous addiction? How should people cope with it? MK

mdh?I agree that it is addicting. Any addiction that adversly affects your life and health is dangerous. Potential Addicts should should ask themselves: Is your social life getting worse? Is your spouse and family being neglected? Are you skipping meals? Do you get anxious if you haven't played in a day or two?
Possible warning signs if your answers (not my answers) are similar:
"I have a social life, I went to a Go tournament last week!"
"I'm Single (now)"
"Food and sleep are so overrated"

Zarlan: Do I have a social life: yes
Am I neglecting my family?: Not more than before I played
Am I eating and sleeping right: I've actually gotten better on those points because of Go. I realised that I get far worse at playing when I'm hungry, sleepy or sick and have therefore gotten a bit more careful to avoid being those things.

I'd say that Go is an Addiction, but also a healthy one.

mdh?I do find it harder to go to sleep if I have been playing Go. After I got back from the Go Congress I wanted to play every day. I have had to find a balance in order to keep peace with my wife.



This is a copy of the living page "Is Go an Addictive Drug" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.