View Full Version : Addicted To Internet
theBruiser500
11-02-2005, 07:03 PM
When I'm on my computer I'm mentally in a different place, in internet world. When my computer is disconnected and I'm in the same room I just feel different, no pull to sit at the computer. When I wake up I often go to the computer first thing, when I get back to my room first thing I do is computer. Then I'll refresh some 2+2 and email compulsively and waste time on AIM.
It occured to me recently that this could be more than me being sloppy and wasteful with my time, it could be closer to a real addiction. Kind of like an alcoholic, I can't just have one drink even though that would be nice, I have to cut it out entirely. Or with the internet, I can't use it a little bit even though that would be nice I have to stop using it entirely because I can't handle it (or I need to accept the consequences, which fortunately aren't as bad as some other addictions).
El Ishmael
11-02-2005, 07:06 PM
Who here isn't?
Weatherhead03
11-02-2005, 07:07 PM
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When I'm on my computer I'm mentally in a different place, in internet world.
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I love this feeling, on my computer I am away from all the other [censored] going on in life.
kipin
11-02-2005, 07:08 PM
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Who here isn't?
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jakethebake
He balances internet time and reality and leads a healthy productive life.
slickpoppa
11-02-2005, 07:09 PM
I feel the same way. I think sometime soon I may try to go without the internet for an entire week and see what happens.
El Ishmael
11-02-2005, 07:10 PM
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I feel the same way. I think sometime soon I may try to go without the internet for an entire week and see what happens.
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Problem with this is that when you return you spend 10 hours reading backpages of OOT.
theBruiser500
11-02-2005, 07:10 PM
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I feel the same way. I think sometime soon I may try to go without the internet for an entire week and see what happens.
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Problem with this is that when you return you spend 10 hours reading backpages of OOT.
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no, when i've taken breaks from the internet my experience has been the opposite
I feel this way a lot. I dont have a problem with it, though. When I didnt have internet access for a period of over a year, I didn't find myself in the midst of any kind of "withdrawl"... but when the internet is as close as roll over and click a mouse, its just become a hardwired part of my life.
Voluntarily going a week without the internet?
Better be lots of hot broads to bang.
theBruiser500
11-02-2005, 07:15 PM
"When I didnt have internet access for a period of over a year, I didn't find myself in the midst of any kind of "withdrawl""
That's a big point, when anyone stops using the internet they don't really miss it. It would be impossible to use the internet less and look back on your life in a few years and regret that decision. It is just a matter of willpower, do any of us have the willpower to make the obvious best decision for our lives?
The simplest answer is to get a life that's so busy you dont have time to waste on the internet. You're not gonna have 3 girls calling you, a buncha buddies that wanna go out and get smashed, a guitar lesson and a car that needs work, and decide, oh, I'll go blow 3 hours browsing OOT.
My life is totally lacking all of those right now. Cept for the girls. But I have excuses /images/graemlins/wink.gif
RunDownHouse
11-02-2005, 07:19 PM
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do any of us have the willpower to make the obvious best decision for our lives?
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This assumes that we all have loads of free time to do whatever, but we "waste" it on the internet. The vast majority of my internet time is spent playing poker, doing work, or educating myself on various matters.
If you're a college kid and you spend all day on your computer, that's one thing. But that's not everyone, so not using the internet isn't an "obvious" best decision for all of us.
Ive thought about this too, but since I can bank, pay bills, learn things much more cheaply, play poker and make excellent money, get directions, shop, much faster than I could if I had grown up 20 years ago, I think it evens itself out. Instead of wasting our time trying on pants, we are wasting our time reading bash.org.
Danenania
11-02-2005, 07:21 PM
I experience this as well. An example is it takes me about 5 times as long to read a book in my apartment as when I go on trips with no computer. Even when I'm not connected, the pull of it makes me distracted and anxious. Hate it.
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This assumes that we all have loads of free time to do whatever, but we "waste" it on the internet.
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That's exactly what it assumes, and I think that's exactly what he's trying to cover. Those of you in the world who rely on the internet solely as a (very) necessary tool for your daily use don't really have the "problem" as its being presented here.
That being said, I've wasted hours upon hours doing absolutely nothing online, because my days are suitably empty right now.
If only I had the drive to get good at poker, this could all be considered working /images/graemlins/wink.gif
Matt Flynn
11-02-2005, 07:23 PM
When I was young like you I worried about wasting time. Now I worry about not having time to waste. Puttering is an art form. Embrace it. It just doesn't give back what other things do, like exercise, conversation, reading and sex.
My wise, old and dear departed Grandma used to say, "Everything in moderation, including moderation." Doesn't quite fit here but worth saying anyway.
SomethingClever
11-02-2005, 07:24 PM
Yeah, I'm addicted to the internet, but I mostly browse at work, and I don't watch TV anymore, so I think I'm better off than I used to be.
InchoateHand
11-02-2005, 07:25 PM
Good point. Seriously. I'm closing this window and yanking out my cable connection for the evening. I have literally hundreds of better things to be doing than following the latest developments in money-for-vomit schemes.
I will be disappointed if I see a lot of replies from you in this thread tomorrow.
Klepton
11-02-2005, 07:28 PM
there are a lot worse things to be addicted to.
JohnnyHumongous
11-02-2005, 07:36 PM
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there are a lot worse things to be addicted to.
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Like charity work.
El Ishmael
11-02-2005, 07:50 PM
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there are a lot worse things to be addicted to.
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http://www2.auckland.ac.nz/bikes/rpos/images/RecCentreBikeStand.jpg
TheMainEvent
11-02-2005, 08:03 PM
I decided that the big threat of internet addiction is that it eliminates boredom. You can literally sit there all day doing nothing and not get bored. I believe boredom is a necessary part of life in that we should associate doing nothing with boredom so we have a motivation to get off our asses and do something. I remember in college when I walked down the hallway and so many people were on their computers I thought of how much more fun we'd probably be having if there were no computers or TV and we just had to make due. I would like to just not have the internet at home period but due to my profession it is not really possible.
Klepton
11-02-2005, 08:04 PM
A+ because of the picture. it's just so shady lookin'
theBruiser500
11-02-2005, 08:42 PM
interesting point, MainEvent
spamuell
11-02-2005, 08:59 PM
I'm definitely addicted to the internet. Right now I should be sleeping, but I'm not.
Ok, I will go now.
NLSoldier
11-02-2005, 10:06 PM
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Who here isn't?
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Zoelef
11-02-2005, 10:09 PM
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I decided that the big threat of internet addiction is that it eliminates boredom. You can literally sit there all day doing nothing and not get bored. I believe boredom is a necessary part of life in that we should associate doing nothing with boredom so we have a motivation to get off our asses and do something. I remember in college when I walked down the hallway and so many people were on their computers I thought of how much more fun we'd probably be having if there were no computers or TV and we just had to make due. I would like to just not have the internet at home period but due to my profession it is not really possible.
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If the internet was a real place, it would be disgusting and intolerable.
Lazymeatball
11-02-2005, 10:34 PM
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If the internet was a real place, it would be disgusting and intolerable.
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yeah but it would also be full of hot cheerleader lesbians.
kipin
11-02-2005, 10:36 PM
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If the internet was a real place, it would be disgusting and intolerable.
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http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/9531/internet1fp.jpg
http://www.susqu.edu/Spotlight/chappelle.jpg
whiskeytown
11-02-2005, 10:54 PM
I had the same issue - didn't have it for 4 days and went on for 6 hrs today.
We joke about weed not having any physical addictive properties but can be psychologically addictive - that applies to ANYTHING - porn, mastburation, cake, food, sex - ANYTHING - if you have an addictive personality, you have to worry about it, but I wouldn't panic - it's not a life threatening situation.
I say everyone is addicted to something - just try to keep it harmless.
RB
Maulik
11-02-2005, 10:56 PM
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Who here isn't?
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jakethebake
He balances internet time and reality and leads a healthy productive life.
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I nominate this for post of the day.
TheMainEvent
11-02-2005, 11:02 PM
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I say everyone is addicted to something - just try to keep it harmless.
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True, but I think it is more dangerous to be addicted to something you don't know is addictive.
whiskeytown
11-02-2005, 11:17 PM
I really struggle with calling something addiction that doesn't have physical withdrawl symptoms - but that's just me...
RB
GoCubsGo
11-03-2005, 12:44 AM
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Yeah, I'm addicted to the internet, but I mostly browse at work, and I don't watch TV anymore, so I think I'm better off than I used to be.
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I'm addicted to the girl in your avatar. Jesus. Has she/will she every take her clothes off?
inyaface
11-03-2005, 01:03 AM
I'm addicted for sure. The only solution as other people have said is to keep yourself away from the internet. When I have essays or tests comming up I usually disconnect the Internet. That's not to say I don't find other ways to procrastinate.
mason55
11-03-2005, 01:30 AM
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Yeah, I'm addicted to the internet, but I mostly browse at work, and I don't watch TV anymore, so I think I'm better off than I used to be.
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Any time I am alone at my house I am on the internet. Some nights it's 8 hours, some nights it's 20 minutes to check my email. I think that this is about equal to many people and the way they watch TV. The difference is that most of the time I'm on the internet I am learning about things, be it poker or rare diseases or history or whatever random website I've stumbled onto.
Also, even in OOT, I'm using my brain to write and think about responses, which is way more than most TV watchers can say. If only the other 95% of OOT used their brains when responding. /images/graemlins/frown.gif
ibankonu
11-03-2005, 01:34 AM
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Who here isn't?
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jakethebake
He balances internet time and reality and leads a healthy productive life.
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I nominate this for post of the day.
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lighterjobs
11-05-2005, 04:38 PM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2d/Saget_on_Full_House.jpg/240px-Saget_on_Full_House.jpg
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