I had an argument with a guy who was in a shared friend's discord server about this. He was adamant that, if somebody spent too much money on a game, then it was all their fault. Despite me going over several (clearly manipulative) tactics, all he said was that people who fell for these must be stupid and that they deserved it

Yeah later on he was kicked because of other (Similarly dickish) reasons

[–] Vespair@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

I mean....

The unfortunate reality is that both parties, the customer and the game company, are culpable and both share blame

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago

It is as much their fault as it is any addict's fault, which is to say, partially but not entirely

[–] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I mean, he's not wrong. it is something within their power to control, and only they can stop the cycle.

addiction is a hell of a drug though.

companies that prey on the vulnerabilities of humans like that should be regulated no different than drug, alcohol, or firearm companies.

[–] GoodEye8@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

And if we were all smart people we would have far less laws. Sometimes laws protect us from ourselves. Anyone who has experience with addiction knows how hard it is to just stop. Instead of blaming people for their inability to stop we should emphatize and understand that this needs an intervention. If these predatory practices were illegal those people wouldn't need to stop themselves because they wouldn't be put in that situation in the first place.

[–] Ushmel@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Regulation of predatory practice. Taxation on the games to pay for rehab and support services for people that experience negative effects from it. It's really easy to do, but every single gambling operation gets the big bucks from the heavily addicted. The whales are the entire business.