Wiiitis captured, explained by MRI

As gamers, there aren't that many times that we can try to cop a macho attitude and tell a cohort to tough it out. Maybe at a chilly overnight console launch and (in some extreme cases) after a DDR tournament. But chief on that list is injuries sustained from Wiimotes. ... Oh, not you, sweetheart, we totally believe you. We're talking about ... Wiiitis.

Now, much to our chagrin, it seems the affliction has actually been documented by MRI in the May issue of the journal Skeletal Radiology. Apparently, the problem is "awkward deceleration forces," which sounds plausible enough to us, considering our entire medical knowledge comes from Trauma Center.

And now, Joystiq's Putting It All In Perspective Theater:

Ethiopian: Excuse me America, could you please spare more of your medical technology to help our country?
America: Gee, I'd love to Afeworki, but we've got some serious health problems over here we have to deal with first.
Ethiopian: What do you mean? We're dying!
America: Well, I don't expect your primitive brain to understand, but sometimes we play video games so hard that it requires immediate medical attention.
Ethiopian: [Dies.]

Reader Comments (38)

To quote people in oblivion who hate jokes:

"Not funny! Not even a little bit!"

Lighten up, all of you.

Geesh.

_ _

O

*shocked*

So for instance, if I'm out running and injure my ankle, I shouldn't see a doctor because someone in Africa is sick and dying? If people acted like that, life would be worse everywhere.

The engine of productivity that creates the wealth that allows us these excesses also benefits the impoverished people of the world, both directly in the form of resources spent on charity and indirectly in the form of technological advances that they can also use.

An interesting fact about Africa is that the current standard of living there is as bad as it is as a result of medical technology. The things that used to easily kill people, such as common diseases or undernourishment, are now survivable thanks to Western medicine. Instead of dying, these people go on living, but with an unprecedentedly bad quality of life. Still, as long as they are alive, there's the potential to escape poverty and its accompanying miseries.

I think my eyes glazed over at "The engine of productivity that creates the wealth that allows us..."

zzz....

;)

Without taking a side in the "how to distribute wealth for medical research and technology around the globe" debate, 2 things:

1. I lol'd at the post
2. I think regardless of where we each think the money SHOULD go, we can agree at least that researching trivial and possibly fictional diseases is not a wise expenditure. Money spent for research doesn't come from the same place as money spent for treatment, anyway.

Wow McElroy. You Sir have officially outdone yourself today. I hope you intend to pay the drycleaning bill for my now soiled pants. I would like to see more "Putting It All In Perspective Theater." Might I also suggest spelling theatre with the "R-E" at the end to convey the sophistication of the dramatization.

*gots da' itis; licks barbeque sauce soaked fingertips*
...ah cha cha cha, delicious. :d

As for the sarcastic latter part of the article... no kommento.

You're somehow implying that people explaining Wiiitis is depriving much needed medical attention from dying Ethiopians? Excuse me, but that just doesn't make sense.

Anyone who sees this comment section becoming unnecessarily hostile, raise your hand!

(I laughed, McElroy, but, see, the Internet is... well, you'll see.)

Anni, if you laughed then it was all worth it. Just remember that, as the internet rips my corpse limb from limb.

...It was all for you ...

T_T You were always there for me. Give me one last fist pound, man. For... for old time's sake.

I like Joystiq, but I don't read it for Geopolitics Comedy Hour. Even if the political humor were better, it's not something I want to see here. If we give the writers feedback about what we do and don't like, they can use that information to make the site better.

I personally do come to joystiq for my geopolitics comedy hour. Well done McElroy!

Consider my hand raised.

I would raise my hand, but its damn sore with the wiiitis.

I think the problem is that we expect that type of thing from forum posters, but not from the bloggers.

Justin was probably just struck by the initial shock of discovering that we have actually paid Doctors to come up with a condition that covers Wii injuries.

But if you're shocked by that Justin, then don't delve any deeper into other ridiculous ways people waste their time in first-world countries.

"Just remember that, as the internet rips my corpse limb from limb."

I GET THE THIGH!

*plays Carmina Burana*

"Justin was probably just struck by the initial shock of discovering that we have actually paid Doctors to come up with a condition that covers Wii injuries."

It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.

After all, we have a condition called "Tennis Elbow".

So... are you saying ethiopians need more video games?

INB4 class action lawsuit.

Standing Ovation for the Theatre performance.

I laughed.

Justin, more comedy, please.

Rock band drumming is not doing good things to my wrists I can tell you that...I just ordered some rubber cored sticks in hopes of minimizing vibration and avoiding permanent injury.

Oh and I bought a real set of drums too.

Shagi,

You're either gripping the stick too tightly, or you're pivoting from the elbow instead of the wrist.

The main fulcrum is your wrist. You should grip the stick between your first finger and thumb, and then wrap the rest of your fingers around the stick for control purposes only. You should have about an inch worth of stick hanging out past your pinky finger.

/is a drummer

Actually
I is Drummer too

I was always taught the main fulcrum is your hand, be it in using the fingers for touch/feel type moves, or wrist to get some more pop or speed.

If you hold the stick with your Finger and thumb in a standard grip, you can use the other three fingers to produce magically fast sticks. Try it out.

(And play on a pillow to increase speed and strength)

Yes, you are right. The action still comes from the wrist though, which is what I meant. The stick should pivot about the grip between your finger and thumb.

/laugh

It sucks when your religious beliefs mean you have to starve. But hey, enjoy yourself in the next life.

That is an utterly untrue lie, why would you say such horrible things? We all know Ethiopians don't have a next life! Gosh, pick up a bible once in a while...

Nguyen, it's my honor to present you with the Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award.

Thank God a cure is on the way. Between my Wiiitis and Restless Leg Syndrome (not to mention my crippling Erectile Dysfunction), I can't believe I'm even still alive.
I am a triumph...of modern medicine.

Making a note here: Huge succ...god I can't do it anymore.

remember, you do what you must, because you can.
*sobs*

ummm....wasn't April Fool's day 2 days ago??

I find irony that deceleration can be caused by accelerometers.

Technically, "deceleration" is acceleration. As the word is used when discussing physics, any change in velocity (increase or decrease) is called "acceleration".

I actually got this from tennis and baseball on wii sports. It hurts wicked bad!!

Wiiitis captured, explained by MRI

Reader Comments (38)

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