Addiction issues. - Possible to add a block/roof to Gcash?

[Mushi]

I'd like a way to limit how much I can actually pay gaia each month.
It might sound stupid, childish, or in any way or form ridiculous - but I have issues controlling this.
It's like a gaming addiction, and I am trying to take it seriously.

I've already spent 200 euro of my paycheck, purely on Gaia, this month, and it is becoming a problem.
On other services (Such as Warcraft) you can limit your gametime, for an example, so you can't play after X hour.

Is it possible to get this done on Gaia as well?
Otherwise I want to make a suggestion to add such a "limiter", to help either parents or people struggling with addiction to put up a roof on how much one can spend.
Thank you in advance.

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Tips to others:
~ Adblock is great, I found a feature in it to block the "Sales" sign via it! - if you're not very technical, I recomend Zennethe's help below!!

~ If you spend a lot of money yourself on Gaia (or other things), do inform a relative or close one as soon as possible.
They could help you deal with this before it gets way out of hand!

~ If you're alone and have no possible way of really controlling this, cut your credit cards.
Block yourself from being able to buy online, talk to the bank about options!

~ Feel free to PM me, I know why -I- fall into the "Spend to mend" trap,
so I am more than happy to try talk to you about it if you are in the same situation.

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Zennethe

I've decided to spend a little time making something that might help...

All you need to do is install Adblock Plus ( you can delete the Easy List filter if you wish - it is the one that blocks advertisements ).

I've added a custom filter subscription that only blocks Gaia Cash related features on the gaia cash purchasing page, autocash, and the offers banner/page.

Gaia Cash Adblock Filter - Homepage

[Sahri]

The first thing YOU need to do is grab a scissor and snip your creditcard in half. Then, go to a psychiatrist to have him help you dealing with that addiction. This is EXACTLY what Gaia's CEO wants so that's never gonna happen, no matter how much I happen to be in favor of the idea.

[Mushi]

xSahri

The first thing YOU need to do is grab a scissor and snip your creditcard in half. Then, go to a psychiatrist to have him help you dealing with that addiction. This is EXACTLY what Gaia's CEO wants so that's never gonna happen, no matter how much I happen to be in favor of the idea.

It's only for Gaia things tho that it's a real addiction/problem, I need the credit card for other things. :/
I'm going to be getting help however via my mother, but it would be nice if Gaia could do something on their end too.
Sure they want money, but some serious businesses also take in consideration their costumers, such as Warcraft.

I already go to a psychiatrist amongst other things, but it's just a plea for a change here that could help more than just me.

[Sahri]

Mushi

xSahri

The first thing YOU need to do is grab a scissor and snip your creditcard in half. Then, go to a psychiatrist to have him help you dealing with that addiction. This is EXACTLY what Gaia's CEO wants so that's never gonna happen, no matter how much I happen to be in favor of the idea.

It's only for Gaia things tho that it's a real addiction/problem, I need the credit card for other things. :/
I'm going to be getting help however via my mother, but it would be nice if Gaia could do something on their end too.
Sure they want money, but some serious businesses also take in consideration their costumers, such as Warcraft.

I already go to a psychiatrist amongst other things, but it's just a plea for a change here that could help more than just me.

That's the big difference between Gaia and WoW. One is free to play and one is pay to play, so limiting the spending limits of their users would mean limiting their cash flow so that's why there is no limit.

But I know what you're going through. All those pixelated items are very tempting and it takes a strong will to resist it.

[Dota-chan]

A lot of the cash shop has to do with gambling and advertising how "cool" something is and how you should really want it. This is all ways that companies get people to part with their money. None of them that I'm aware of actually has something to stop someone from overdoing it because they have problems. This is especially FOR those people to get sucked in. It's an awful tactic but one that nets them a lot of money out of how little some people are able to control themselves.

A lot of folks have been off and on telling how this was very dangerous and that they should stop or put it at a much lower scale than what they do. Nothing has come of it.

There is that...what is it... Oink thing? An online bank or something that holds a certain amount of your spending to make sure you don't overspend but they advertised that for "children" so parents wouldn't have to worry about how much they were spending. I don't know how well it works, though.

[zennethe]

Mushi

I'd like a way to limit how much I can actually pay gaia each month.
It might sound stupid, childish, or in any way or form ridiculous - but I have issues controlling this.
It's like a gaming addiction, and I am trying to take it seriously.

I've already spent 200 euro of my paycheck, purely on Gaia, this month, and it is becoming a problem.
On other services (Such as Warcraft) you can limit your gametime, for an example, so you can't play after X hour.

Is it possible to get this done on Gaia as well?
Otherwise I want to make a suggestion to add such a "limiter", to help either parents or people struggling with addiction to put up a roof on how much one can spend.
Thank you in advance.

I'm a casino cashier so I deal with identifying addictive behaviors daily and honestly... if you find that you're harming yourself financially with Gaia then you should block the website from your computer completely.

Google Chrome: Blocksite Extension

Firefox: Blocksite Addon

Tutorial: Blocking websites on Windows Internet Explorer.

[dreamsk]

They did this with paypal and limited gc payments to 300 USD, but then when the summer sale rolled around with the 1000$ halo, users were unable to accumulate enough gc in time to buy the halo so they took off the limit.

This sounds like a "you" problem.

[Karastorm]

Mushi

I'd like a way to limit how much I can actually pay gaia each month.
It might sound stupid, childish, or in any way or form ridiculous - but I have issues controlling this.
It's like a gaming addiction, and I am trying to take it seriously.

I've already spent 200 euro of my paycheck, purely on Gaia, this month, and it is becoming a problem.
On other services (Such as Warcraft) you can limit your gametime, for an example, so you can't play after X hour.

Is it possible to get this done on Gaia as well?
Otherwise I want to make a suggestion to add such a "limiter", to help either parents or people struggling with addiction to put up a roof on how much one can spend.
Thank you in advance.

First off well done for identifying you have a problem. I'd recommend what some one else has said and ban your self from the sight for a while till you can gain control of it. But also agree with you there should be a limit you can put onto your account on how much G-cash you get per month. Even if it's a limit of say 10 euro's worth ( I know it's not much but it's a good start) once you reach that limit that's it no more cash will be accepted or taken from you.

Good luck with the addiction problem.

[Lucht]

Somehow, I don't think Gaia will do anything to help you out here. Gaia's marketing methods have been pretty dodgy for a while now.

But I understand this kind of addiction. I've been there myself. I used to blow a LOT of money on TinierMe before it shut down. I just couldn't stop myself, that is until they upped the prices.

It did take a sheer amount of will power but I managed to stop spending altogether on pixelated items. But if that's not going to work for you, I would defiantly try Zennethe's method and simply block the site for a few months.

Best of luck!

[Erynne]

I remember there was a block either by Gaia or Paypal to certain newer accounts where you cannot spend more than $200 a month and you had to file a billing inquiry to get rid of it. Maybe the reverse will work? File a billing inquiry for Gaia to put a cap of your choosing?

Not sure how possible this is since Gaia will be losing money instead of gaining.

[Whispers of Delusion]

Maybe there's a way to instead of blocking Gaia,
because I get that after spending so much money on here it would suck to throw it all away,
you can just block the payments page?

[Spookypie]

Whispers of Delusion

Maybe there's a way to instead of blocking Gaia,
because I get that after spending so much money on here it would suck to throw it all away,
you can just block the payments page?

I was going to suggest the same thing. Instead of blocking the site, just make it so you can't possibly buy the cash. That'd probably include having the block the cash tree too, because there are offers on there you pay for and that could be tempting too.

[KittieCupcakes]

I agree with the others who say that you really should just block the site. You can PM a mod to ban your account, if you want to go that far (and if you have a gambling addiction, I honestly think that you should).
Gaia will not help you with this problem, as they have no incentive to do so. They have proven repeatedly that they don't care about their customers, they just want the money.
Good luck, and good on you for admitting that you have a problem.

[Adnama Lavode]

Since it's no secret they use tactics to get people addicted to being here/buying items, I'd say they should at least post some way for people to get help with their addictions.

It would be nice if Gaia management would at least try a little to see us as people, and acknowledge that they're hurting some of their users. Doing my suggestion or your suggestion would be admitting that using this site is unhealthy for some, and I doubt they'd want to make that apparent by acknowledging it. I wouldn't count on Gaia helping you out here, realistically speaking. It took them a year to admit that gold generators might be a problem, and even then they didn't outright admit it.

I hope they take your suggestion, but for issues such as this, it'd be best if you keep working to take matters into your own hands.

[O.T.L.]

The problem, unfortunately, is that Gaia's current management just plain doesn't care about you or your problem.

Actually, no. Scratch that. They DO care, just not in any compassionate way. If they had their druthers, EVERY user here would have an addiction that they could exploit, consequences (to you) be damned. (And if you think I'm being unfair, I've got two words for you: "Dopamine, baby!".)

Best of luck to you; I hope you're able to get the help you need and get your problem under control.

Unfortunately, though, don't expect Gaia to offer any of that help.