The New York Times today had a fascinating article about a Korean internet addiction boot camp:

MOKCHEON, South Korea — The compound — part boot camp, part rehab center — resembles programs around the world for troubled youths. Drill instructors drive young men through military-style obstacle courses, counselors lead group sessions, and there are even therapeutic workshops on pottery and drumming.

 

 

Lee Chang-hoon, 15, runs an obstacle course at the Jump Up Internet Rescue School. He spent almost all of his time online before his mother sent him to the camp. “Seventeen hours a day online is fine,” he said at the camp.

But these young people are not battling alcohol or drugs. Rather, they have severe cases of what many in this country believe is a new and potentially deadly addiction: cyberspace.

They come here, to the Jump Up Internet Rescue School, the first camp of its kind in South Korea and possibly the world, to be cured.

Part of me wants to laugh so hard about how sad it is for such a camp, but at the same time I realize that it really can be a huge problem (think of it as a camp for WoW addicts). At least the kids look relatively in shape such that they look like they can compete the courses.

I know that for myself, having to start my first real job and stop playing WoW cold turkey was not a desirable situation, but I realized at the same time that WoW would ruin my career life if I did not cease right away. All that said, I’m still afraid for when Star Trek: Online comes out as it’s an nasty mix of my love for Star Trek and my love for playing games… my wife probably will really be angry at me with that game (that is, unless I can get her addicted to it as well).