I don’t think that this is always a fair representative of gaming in general. There are problems, definitely, with addictions to gaming (don’t get me started on WoW), but there are social benefits too. Like the Korean e-sports, which is more like a gameshow (with Starcraft) rather than a desperately addictive problem.

There are benefits to strategy-based games - we had a module in primary school on urban planning that was fuelled by spending Geography lessons in with Sim City. There are also benefits to RPGs, in that you have to find solutions to problems, etc. I think the main problem arises when these things become long-term games - such as Massive Multiplayer Online RPGs, which is what has happened with World of Warcraft, Everquest, etc. (My knowledge on MMOs isn’t great, or on games really at all).

There’s nothing wrong with finding a community online. For a lot of people it’s a way to escape the lack of personal connection they feel they have in reality. For those reaching the point of actually becoming addicted, I can only say - try and figure out why you are so attached and find a solution to that concern.