Obsession with a website

[iZoom]

Obsessions are never pretty. Some hobbies can be considered obsessions, like playing CS:S or browsing Neowin for 4+ hours a day.

However, lately I've noticed that a friend of mine seems to always be on the site Neopets. I've browsed around it once or twice and

didn't really see the appeal of it. Sounds like any one of those online "community" sites where you play games, make fake money and

so on. So...whats the point? I can see having fun after a long day and coming onto Neowin to browse around for a bit. Spending 4+

hours on one site to make some "points" seems like more work than fun to me.

Thoughts? Your own obsession?

[KeR]

Porn? Must be only me though :D

[i_was_here]

Do you know MMORPGs? I hear people spend lots of time/money on those...

[sundayx Veteran]

Porn? Must be only me though :D

If only I could earn points and upgrade my "gear" for that one. :rolleyes:

[sweetsam]

I had to look up what MMORPGs are... guess I have lot to catch up :p

Do you know MMORPGs? I hear people spend lots of time/money on those...

[endtype]

well usually with online games, people get REALLY addicted b/c all their friends play it

[Bloodwork]

Unless your friend is 7 years old or a girl I'd say they have a problem.

[dead.cell]

Neowin 1-2 hours a day, depending if there's good stuff to read or reply to.

Other than that... simply checking for updates to WoW/Fallout 3.

[MovieFanatic07]

outwar, its eats my money and all spare time.

[_bobcat_ Veteran]

One of the good things about being human is that we're all different. Hurrah!

Some people find forums completely boring and useless you know. Just because you personally wouldn't enjoy something doesn't mean that someone else shouldn't.

Doing one activity a lot is only a problem if it means you stop doing other more important things. It's not a problem because someone else can't see why it's fun...

Unless your friend is 7 years old or a girl I'd say they have a problem.

What has being a girl got to do with anything? Just because girls might typically be more attracted to a particular activity doesn't mean to say that guys shouldn't. That's like saying that girls are weird if they study science or try to get into politics.

[Bloodwork]

Just because girls might typically be more attracted to a particular activity doesn't mean to say that guys shouldn't.

I'm willing to make a bet that says 90% of women wouldn't even like a guy that was involved in playing with cartoon unicorns, fairies, etc. Unless of course said friend is a little "light on the loafers" (as my English teacher so kindly put it) in which case the opposite sex would not much matter to him.

[Matrix XII]

At least playing an MMO feels somewhat rewarding, I'll never understand how people can play on those sites for hours on end. Just seems like a complete waste of time.

[Sil3nt]

I used to play World of Warcraft 6hrs. a day but now after playing it for so much I don't go on it for a couple of days... I guess I just lost interest to it, so I'm guessing that your friend will eventually get sick of it and hopefully quit

[joeblogg]

I had to look up what MMORPGs are... guess I have lot to catch up :p

Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games.

[brilliant naoki]

I'm willing to make a bet that says 90% of women wouldn't even like a guy that was involved in playing with cartoon unicorns, fairies, etc. Unless of course said friend is a little "light on the loafers" (as my English teacher so kindly put it) in which case the opposite sex would not much matter to him.

Actually if you get over the whole cartoon unicorn, fairies etc., there is a decent depth to Neopets that even teenagers/adults can appreciate... namely, a functioning, self-sustaining economy, and it can prove to be rather entertaining to participate in it. At that level, it does rather become like an MMORPG of sorts, by accumulating vast amounts of money...

And I suppose that's wherein the catch lies. It has MMORPG elements in it that can make it addictive; that is, rewarding the sense of productivity. If you can gain the sense of productivity at something you're good at, where you might not be as successful at doing so in other areas at life, people can start to depend on MMORPGs/websites like Neopets to help them feel productive in life, as if they have a place in the world, and a goal to strive for every day that they're able to achieve. I believe this is where it becomes addicting to them.

[NightCrawler.]

Actually if you get over the whole cartoon unicorn, fairies etc., there is a decent depth to Neopets that even teenagers/adults can appreciate... namely, a functioning, self-sustaining economy, and it can prove to be rather entertaining to participate in it. At that level, it does rather become like an MMORPG of sorts, by accumulating vast amounts of money...

And I suppose that's wherein the catch lies. It has MMORPG elements in it that can make it addictive; that is, rewarding the sense of productivity. If you can gain the sense of productivity at something you're good at, where you might not be as successful at doing so in other areas at life, people can start to depend on MMORPGs/websites like Neopets to help them feel productive in life, as if they have a place in the world, and a goal to strive for every day that they're able to achieve. I believe this is where it becomes addicting to them.

Indeed.

[White Cuban]

i visit neopets every day for arround 2 secs for one reason, buying stocks. thats the only fun i get out of that. lol, though lately im lazying to even visit it. i feel bit too old for even its layout lol

[dead.cell]

While I'm sure there are guys out there that play it, the only people I've known to mess with it are girls and this one friend of mine who's gay.

[yeZi]

I had my own little Neopet thing for a while too, as shameful as it is. :| I'm hoping it's normal...

After that, things kept changing. From anime, DA, Wii, MMORPGs, and now 360...

All of which consume much of my money and spare time.

[Kami-]

WTF Crazy!