Hi, My Name is Lisa, and I Am a Social Gaming Junkie

Yes, that is it in a nutshell...I am addicted to the internet, in particular, social gaming. I know that some of you who have known me for quite some time are shaking your heads in disbelief, but it's true. I can't seem to get off the computer. I have tried everything. I have tried not playing computer games; I have tried not logging onto any social networks; I have even tried to disconnect my computer's high-speed internet service. Nothing has worked. The only thing that is left for me to do is to throw the damn thing out of the window.

But I can't...That would kill me. I mean, I would literally die without planting and harvesting animated crops. Seriously. What kind of insanity would lead me to give up living in a posh, country home in cyberspace, for an old one-bedroom apartment in a small Upstate NY community? I have five or six tanks filled with beautiful, digital fish, and I would feel so guilty if all of them died because I didn't log on to feed them everyday.

Of course, the great thing about social networking is that there are hundreds of people from all over the world, who love the games as much as I do. The games are set up so that friends can help each other accomplish goals that are set fourth in the game. The social network purists (who think that I should be more interested that their kid finally learned to poop in the potty on his own) have been pretty vocal in their opposition to social gaming and it's players. The backlash against games on social networks has made me dig deep into my psyche, in order to try and figure out an answer as to why I can't stop playing these so-called, "mindless" games.

The answer is simple, I play them because I don't want to stop...No, I can't stop, I admit it. I work hard for my addiction, and I will do it until either I die or the computer blows up...whichever comes first. It doesn't make any difference to me. So tonight, after busting my ass for eight hours in a demanding and highly stressful job, I am going to sit down in my old,brown computer chair, in my pj's, down a few rum and Cokes, and knock off a few mobster wannabes who keep stealing my fake money.

I am such a freak.