12.01.2005
Ha, ha! No, I can't relate at all!
to this. This (below) is the sidebar to the article, which is about Internet addiction.
I found the article itself to be interesting and somewhat amusing. To some extent, I think the time people now spend on computers used to be spent watching TV or reading books or something. I've certainly been accused of "burying myself in a book," as if that was unhealthy or anti-social or something, whereas nowadays, the anti-social activity that's most popular is going online. You could say that it's worse because it's possible that you think more while reading books or that books cause less eyestrain (except for certain people who think that reading with a 40 watt bulb is "reading in the dark"). Or you could say that it's better because being online and chatting, e-mailing, commenting on blogs, etc., is more social than reading a book alone. Up for debate, I would say.
In any case, there is no doubt in my mind that people are spending more and more time online, possibly to the detriment of other things, and that people who have other addiction issues to things that are readily available online (fill in the blank yourself) would have more of a problem with overuse of the Internet than other people. That's basically what the article said. There--now you don't have to read it yourself!
December 1, 2005
Danger Signs for Too Much of a Good ThingFIFTEEN signs of an addiction to using the Internet and computers, according to Internet/Computer Addiction Services in Redmond, Wash., follow:
- Inability to predict the amount of time spent on computer.
- Failed attempts to control personal use for an extended period of time.
- Having a sense of euphoria while on the computer.
- Craving more computer time.
- Neglecting family and friends.
- Feeling restless, irritable and discontent when not on the computer.
- Lying to employers and family about computer activity.
- Problems with school or job performance as a result of time spent on the computer.
- Feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety or depression as a result of time spent on the computer.
- Changes in sleep patterns.
- Health problems like carpal tunnel syndrome, eye strain, weight changes, backaches and chronic sleep deprivation.
- Denying, rationalizing and minimizing adverse consequences stemming from computer use.
- Withdrawal from real-life hobbies and social interactions.
- Obsessing about sexual acting out through the use of the Internet.
- Creation of enhanced personae to find cyberlove or cybersex.
I found the article itself to be interesting and somewhat amusing. To some extent, I think the time people now spend on computers used to be spent watching TV or reading books or something. I've certainly been accused of "burying myself in a book," as if that was unhealthy or anti-social or something, whereas nowadays, the anti-social activity that's most popular is going online. You could say that it's worse because it's possible that you think more while reading books or that books cause less eyestrain (except for certain people who think that reading with a 40 watt bulb is "reading in the dark"). Or you could say that it's better because being online and chatting, e-mailing, commenting on blogs, etc., is more social than reading a book alone. Up for debate, I would say.
In any case, there is no doubt in my mind that people are spending more and more time online, possibly to the detriment of other things, and that people who have other addiction issues to things that are readily available online (fill in the blank yourself) would have more of a problem with overuse of the Internet than other people. That's basically what the article said. There--now you don't have to read it yourself!
# posted by Abacaxi Mamao : 12/01/2005 11:36:00 PM
