Kotaku: Dr. Phil

Dr. Phil Tackles Game Addiction

Mike Fahey — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:30:00 MDT

Dr. Phil loves the video games, or rather the amount of attention gamers give him when he talks about them. In today's episode he tackles the dangers of computer game addiction, with the entire show dedicated to people who play games when they probably shouldn't be. The show starts with a virtual Dr. Phil complete with a sword and hair talking about how virtual games let you escape from reality before launching into the story of l34-year-old Fred, who sits at home and plays World of Warcraft all day while his wife supports their three children.

“Apparently he’s got you supporting him and taking care of the house. I wonder what level that is in the real world,” Dr. Phil quips.

Other stories include a 41-year-old man who accumulated $24,000 in debt and attempted suicide, the author of the book "Game Widows", and the return of special guest Liz, whose 21-year-old son killed himself while playing Everquest. Hit the link for the full show notes.

Virtual Chaos [Dr. Phil via Game Politics]

Dr. Phil Fights Xbox Live Racism With Phone Support

Mike Fahey — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:20:44 MST

Television therapist Dr. Phil once again journeyed into the magical realm of gaming this past Tuesday, this time to tackle the problem of Xbox Live racism. He spoke to Terry, a black father of three who claims his civil rights are being violated by fellow gamers tossing about ethnic slurs over Microsoft's gaming service. The name-calling is apparently so rampant that Terry refuses to let his children play online anymore. Before contacted Dr. Phil, Terry contacted Xbox Live.

"I called Xbox Live. I gave them all the information they needed to know, and they told me before they can do anything, take any kind of action, there has to be 10 complaints filed against [the other player]," he continues, incensed. "That's like you coming to my house, robbing me, and I call the police. Are they going to tell me, 'Well, if that guy comes back to your house 10 times, we'll come out and do something about it'? I think that's disgusting. I think Mr. [Bill] Gates needs to change that rule, and I think it needs to be changed immediately."

While I personally believe that harshly singling out someone with slurs based on their race or country of origin is wrong (except for those damn Belgians), I don't think it ranks up their with getting your house robbed. You can't just turn off your headset to keep someone from breaking in to your home, for instance. Still, I can certainly understand Terry's frustration.

Dr. Phil then spoke to Terry's wife Nydia, who shares his frustration and anger over the situation.

"I just feel like on the Internet, in this situation, anything is possible," she replies. "I don't know who these people are. They claim to be the KKK, and I have a really big problem with that. They're calling my children monkeys, that they're going to hang them, they're going to kill them, they're going to kill me. It's crazy, and it's out of control. Nobody is trying to do anything about this. My husband has contacted Microsoft for many years, and I don't understand why the FBI is not all over this."

I would have to say that the FBI isn't all over this because if the FBI was called in every time somebody on the internet made a threat, we'd all have to be FBI agents in order to handle the workload. Certainly some threats need to be addressed, and I am sure if the folks making the comments over Xbox Live indicated that they had any idea where Terry lived they would be all over the situation, but we all know that internet anonymity breeds stupidity. Hell, even Dr. Phil knows it.

"People have a sense of anonymity. They're what I call keyboard bullies," Dr. Phil explains. "They don't have to face anybody. They don't have to deal with it. You see it in road rage. People are in the anonymity of their car, and they go crazy. They would never do it face to face, but on the Internet, they do it."

In the end, Dr. Phil had his show gophers contact Xbox Live, who agreed to set Terry up with one of their security team members to discuss the situation and see if they can't come to some resolution. In essence, the whole entire segment of the show resulted in Terry ending up right back on the phone with Xbox Live. Good work, Dr. Phil. That was possibly the most extravagant telephone runaround ever perpetrated. I salute you.

Cyber Bullies [Dr. Phil via ripten]

Dr. Phil Supports MMO, Scolds Parent

Mike Fahey — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:20:34 MST

While television personality and actor Dr. Phil has come out against violent video games and their influence on children in the past, in a show that aired Monday entitled "Shocking Teen Trends", the good doctor actually comes out on the side of social MMO There.com. After questioning 13-year-old Lexie and her mother Lezlie (awww, their names are so kyoot!) about Lexie's There.com addiction and speaking to There.com CEO Michael Wilson, Dr. Phil actually jumps to a reasonable, well thought-out conclusion.

"The problem is not with the game; the problem is the use of it," Dr. Phil tells Lexie and Lezlie. "The game is very creative and it's there for you to use or abuse. Are you abusing it?"

Lexie, who spends almost every waking hour at the computer making out with her virtual boyfriend, admits that she is. Personal accountability? What are we teaching children in school these days?

Dr. Phil then takes things even further, stepping into downright crazy talk by suggesting that the mother actually stop the child from playing the video game she's so worried about.

Dr. Phil is baffled. "Four hours a day? It's ridiculous!" he says. "Mom, you've got to step up and shut this down. Once she's at a point where she can play the game instead of being absorbed in the game, then perhaps, she can attempt to go back to it."

I am positively reeling here. Not blaming the game for the child's addiction? Telling the mother that the solution to her problem is entirely in her hands? I've been teleported to Bizarro world.

Shocking Teen Trends [Dr.Phil.com]

Dr. Phil Tackles Video Game Violence

Mike Fahey — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 08:41:49 MDT

The folks over at Game Politics have stumbled upon some amusing news. Phil "Not a Doctor" McGraw, the Emmy-award winning star of the Dr. Phil show will be tackling the issue of video game violence in a show set to tape on Thursday. Phil has previously appeared on Larry King following the VA Tech shootings suggesting that there is a link between violent games and violent behavior, so you can rest assured that this is not going to be a well thought out and balanced discussion. This is going to be a circus, as Dr. Phil shows often are, complete with a special mystery guess that GP heard was being labeled as a "game violence specialist.".

I always try to differentiate my stories from their sources, but I am with Game Politics on this one. Uh-oh.

Dr. Phil Taping Video Game Violence Episode [Game Politics]

Clips: Dr. Phil Plays with His Wii

Brian Crecente — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 07:00:17 MST

Dr. Phil got his Wii on with his son in a recent show and then went on to gift the entire audience with a free console. No wonder it's impossible to find these things, Nintendo's giving them all away as promotions. Brian Crecente