18-10-2003 02:04									#1
	Videogames combat phobias! Got spare money?

Yes, now it's official. Half-life and other games can conquer your fears, or at least that's what cnn says:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/fun.ga...reut/index.html

quote: Regular, off-the-shelf computer video games are an effective method of treating people's fears, using a style of therapy that exposes people to what scares them in a controlled setting, according to a new study released on Friday. ... The researchers used the game "Half-Life" to create a spider-laden environment for arachnophobic people, and "Unreal Tournament" to simulate heights for acrophobics and tight spaces for claustrophobics.

Well, there. I thought it was neat.

	18-10-2003 02:13									#2
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Hmm, I played half life to death, completed it, and then went off to play a real painball game, thinking it would be just the same (afterall, paint won't kill you).

How wrong I was ..

After 5 minutes id been hit between the eyes, and it slowly dawned on me ... I was dead if that was real.

Never did seem to pick up the courage to charge after that.. those that did, had the bruises to show for it later.

Brilliant day though, have to say if you've not done paintball before, you have to try it out. Just don't expect half life to give you any advantage..

	18-10-2003 04:44									#3
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Neat.

	18-10-2003 04:56									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

yeeeeah, NO. Ive played plenty of games with spiders and heights in them and Im still very afraid of both.

	18-10-2003 09:49									#5
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

I got rid of my fears by going into isolation for five weeks and then meditating heavily upon all my faults. I used to have to restrain the urge to bolt from spiders. Now I think they're cute.

	18-10-2003 11:41									#6
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So does Civ do anything?

	18-10-2003 11:59									#7
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One problem to this kind of approach: I have acrophobia while playing video games. I cant stand having to see my character fall off a height thats tens times higher than his height

	18-10-2003 12:07									#8
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quote: Originally posted by The Viceroy Hmm, I played half life to death, completed it, and then went off to play a real painball game, thinking it would be just the same (afterall, paint won't kill you). How wrong I was .. After 5 minutes id been hit between the eyes, and it slowly dawned on me ... I was dead if that was real. Never did seem to pick up the courage to charge after that.. those that did, had the bruises to show for it later. Brilliant day though, have to say if you've not done paintball before, you have to try it out. Just don't expect half life to give you any advantage..

How typical. I knew some losers who thought they could be good at paintball/sniping in real life just because they took great command with their mouse and keyboard. They make me laugh. At least you learned

At least you got shot between the eye for you first paintball experience. If you were wearing a decent face mask you wouldnt have felt a thing. My first time playing skirmish w/ modified airsoft guns, I was shot by an automatic shot that went all the way from my cheek down to my neck to my thigh at point blank range. and I was only wearing a T-shirt and goggles you wear in shooting ranges.

	18-10-2003 12:09									#9
	Tired of ads?

Don't play Spider-man.

	18-10-2003 14:36									#10
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quote: At least you got shot between the eye for you first paintball experience. If you were wearing a decent face mask you wouldnt have felt a thing.

precisely.

Oh, and you're both right. Sure video games don't make you an elite fighter or whatever, but that's not what the article claimed. It claimed that it helps to conquer your fears.

And what's with the knowledge that you'd be dead if you were hit by a real bullet? OF COURSE YOU'D BE DEAD.

	18-10-2003 14:41									#11
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quote: And what's with the knowledge that you'd be dead if you were hit by a real bullet?

I think what he means is, that how surpising easy and quick one can get killed...and that bullets don't discriminate.

	18-10-2003 15:14									#12
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Thanks Alva .. yes, thats exactly what I meant.

I did have a face mask on, and it still stung like hell.

I don't think I went into it thinking id be ace though, what I was talking about was being fearless ..

	18-10-2003 16:59									#13
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

quote: Originally posted by Smiley So does Civ do anything?

Yeah, it causes you to lose your fear of building up an empire from the stone age

	18-10-2003 18:06									#14
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quote: I think what he means is, that how surpising easy and quick one can get killed...and that bullets don't discriminate.

Yeah, well, I don't think that thinking about death while playing paintball is smart.

which remind me... faded liked paintballing.... *sigh*

	18-10-2003 18:06									#15
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I no longer have any fear of seeing myself from outside myself.

	18-10-2003 19:27									#16
	Remove this text

I no longer fear giant demons, imps, repitilian-like aliens, military robots, or the illuminati. My life is so much better now.

	18-10-2003 21:23									#17
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quote: Originally posted by Zero One problem to this kind of approach: I have acrophobia while playing video games. I cant stand having to see my character fall off a height thats tens times higher than his height

even mario?

	19-10-2003 10:24									#18
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I no longer fear death.

	19-10-2003 10:39									#19
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WTH is the pause button? I need to stop and think about the strategical situation of life and decide what I'm going to do.

	19-10-2003 11:26									#20
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quote: Originally posted by The Viceroy I did have a face mask on, and it still stung like hell.

what kind of face mask? usually if a mask you shouldnt feel anything under 800 fps. Im pretty sure for paintball anything over 340fps is illegal to use in arenas so it shouldnt have been too bad if you were wearing a decent face mask.

	19-10-2003 12:02									#21
	Put an end to popups!

Dude, those things hurt like HE11 if they don't break when they hit you.

	19-10-2003 13:30									#22
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Sure, the hurt like HE11, but do the hurt as much as an agiel wielded by a Mord-Sith?

Edit: Found a better page to link to.

Last edited by geeslaka on 19-10-2003 at 13:36

	20-10-2003 18:55									#23
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

how about fears of not getting plus one's due to a games related thread being posted on Off topic instead of other games? Is there a cure?

	20-10-2003 22:13									#24
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I have a fear of certain social situations, what game can I play to fix that?

	20-10-2003 23:09									#25
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quote: Originally posted by Smiley So does Civ do anything?

It causes you to lose your fear of seeing the world dominated by an all-powerful late capitalist democracy.
Very useful for some folks around here.

	21-10-2003 10:42									#26
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by Dissident I have a fear of certain social situations, what game can I play to fix that?

Ones involving drinking.

Social situations are easy - I just look for someplace to sit and then try to look as inconspicuous as possible to avoid any unwanted human contact.

	21-10-2003 10:48									#27
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by lord of the mark, but edited by Tassadar It causes you to lose your fear of seeing the world dominated by an all-powerful late communist democracy. Very useful for some folks around here.

	21-10-2003 10:56									#28
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

What about my fear of crates? HOW WILL VIDEO GAMES SAVE ME FROM THE CRATES OH GOD THE CRATES AAAAGGH

	21-10-2003 10:58									#29
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Heh, STC ratings.

I miss Old Man Murray.