Addiction

Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a hundred times.

-Mark Twain

I have a weakness.

On the spectrum of undisciplined to disciplined, I’m on the far side of being disciplined. I have the willpower to eat one chip and stop, if I commit to doing something, I do it. I get to inbox zero before going to bed each evening. But I’m fallible. I get sucked into shows, books, and games. I’m not sure what exactly attracts me to these things. 

Shows

For shows-- I won’t get addicted to episodic comedies. I enjoy them, but I can stop. I tend to get addicted to serial narratives that have series long arcs. They evoke emotion. Shonen anime are my crack. As an adult, I avoid them like the plague except when I don’t.

Shonen style anime are aimed at young men. The heroes are typically (you guessed it) young men with a story focused on action, adventure, and fighting. Characters struggle with their emotions and life philosophy. The main character tends to be hard headed and steadfast in their resolve. They have a clear goal in mind. They’re not the strongest, but they’re the most courageous. They make friends who are more competent and calculating. 

Shonen follow arcs. Some arcs span multiple seasons where the main antagonist stays the same throughout. Oftentimes, the new arc is foreshadowed as the old arc is coming to a close.

Cheap narrative tricks of random new powers being discovered or new world building mechanics introduced are common. I still think it’s poor writing when done, but I’m more forgiving. While for other shows/books, when they add some new magic to get the main character out of a difficult situation, it completely takes me out of the story, e.g. the beginning and end of Red Rising’s second book. I’m biased towards forgiving animes because animes are structured as a young character learning about a new world. There are going to be things they didn’t know. Things they have to master to get to the next level.

There are times the protagonist thinks they can never come back. Times where they’re too far behind. All is lost. Someone close to them usually dies or is permanently injured. 

During fights, either the characters themselves or a narrator explain attacks in detail. Enemies explain why they’re doing what they’re doing. The calm one in a fight always wins. The aggressor loses. Characters often hold back their strength, “let me show you my true power!”

One of my favorite aspects of anime is the switch from serious to being silly to serious again. When done well, this never gets old. This is something live action can’t pull off.

I now only watch anime when I’m sick or have a large block of time. Another hack is to only watch brand new series as there is only one released per week. When I don’t follow this rule, it’s bad for myself and those around me. 

Games

Certain video games have sucked me in from a young age. I would wake up early and spend every waking hour in front of the TV playing if I could get away with it. I didn’t enjoy playing multiplayer games by myself. I would try to only play multiplayer games with friends and play the single player games myself. 

I remember one Winter break, I got the new Super Mario Sunshine. I beat the game to 100% completion instead of hanging out with friends. It took me the entire vacation. In the middle of a binge, I don’t enjoy each moment as much. I’m feeding a compulsion. Although, I’m sure I received dopamine spikes throughout. 

I had to stop playing single player video games when I went to university, or I wouldn’t have accomplished anything.

Books

Like many in my generation, my first book addiction was reading the Harry Potter series. I couldn’t stop reading them. I needed to keep going. I would forego doing homework, hanging out with friends, and sleeping. When each new book came out, I’d do nothing until I finished reading them.

When I’m engrossed, the rest of the world becomes gray. I don’t care about my other obligations. I want to go back into the other world. An escape of utter bliss. I imagine this is what it’s like for those addicted to drugs. Nothing else matters except the next high. One’s mind adapts to seek that next high.

I don’t think I have much of an addictive personality when it comes to other things. But when it comes to certain shows, books, or games, I can’t help myself. It’s impulsive. I have to finish. It takes up my mental bandwidth.

We all have weaknesses. It’s on us to be aware of them and act accordingly.