Out of curiosity, have you been to a gambling environment? Did you find it hard to eat and drink there?
Do you play board games with a similar intensity? What about marathon TV shows, do you wait until the end of an episode (or story arc) before ablutions?
To elaborate: I've been gambling many times, but have never felt the same compulsion as I get when I drawn into a good video game. Heck, I have trouble sitting at a blackjack table for more than half an hour.
Ditto board games. I've done some all-night Risk games with friends in the past, but those were out of sheer machismo, and no food/bathroom breaks were missed.
On the other hand, for really strongly arced TV shows I do find it hard to tear away. When I discovered the West Wing last week (how did it take me this long to find this show?!) I ended up marathoning the first season over two days, entirely unintentionally.
Aww, you saw through my veil of mystery:P I was just curious to see if games are more addictive for you personally then other "common" addictive activities.
I wonder if it's because games and TV have something in common that the other activities don't: A storyline. I personally get a little engrossed in media, but only for a few hours then I'm bored. Games, however, I can play all day. Other activities just don't have the same pull for me.
Do you play board games with a similar intensity? What about marathon TV shows, do you wait until the end of an episode (or story arc) before ablutions?