What is it with the word 'addicting'?

[_Paul]

Is this just an American thing? Or is it just the latest internet fad to misuse words for something? Someone please enlighten me.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

I can't say that I've seen/heard the term being overused lately.  Where are you finding it being abused?

[_Paul]

Just around the 'internetz' in general, forums, stuff like that (noticed it in a post by Keranu and one of spida1a's video reviews recently). I wonder if it's been around a while and I'm just noticing it?

[guyjin]

yeah, people tend to use the word 'addicting' to mean anything that's engrossing.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

I'm addicted to these forums.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

I wonder if it's been around a while and I'm just noticing it?

I think that's the case, as it's not new to use that term to describe habitual activities independent of physiological dependencies.

[_Paul]

I wonder if it's been around a while and I'm just noticing it?

I think that's the case, as it's not new to use that term to describe habitual activities independent of physiological dependencies.

Well as a public service I submit the following.

This is an addictive game. Correct.
This is an addicting game. Wrong.
This game is addicting me. Correct.

 

[rag-time4]

I wonder if it's been around a while and I'm just noticing it?

I think that's the case, as it's not new to use that term to describe habitual activities independent of physiological dependencies.

Well as a public service I submit the following.

This is an addictive game. Correct.
This is an addicting game. Wrong.
This game is addicting me. Correct.

 

Paul, are you British?

[guyjin]

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx

Summary: there is debate, but for now, both addictive and addicting are acceptable unless you're in the presence of grammar nazis.

[_Paul]

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx

Summary: there is debate, but for now, both addictive and addicting are acceptable unless you're in the presence of grammar nazis.

Is this a recent change though? Can anyone remember this usage when they were a kid? I can't recall 'addicting' being used in this way more than a few years back.