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How would you describe internet addiction?
14 years ago
General
NOTE: I'll probably end up deleting this, much like any other whiny journal post I make
This got me thinking after reading one of those "recent studies" writings on a news site, detailing the link between excessive internet usage and neurological damage equal to alcohol / drug abuse. I won't go into detail too much, I just want to hear some opinions on this.
I probably could be classified as an addict when I see how much time I tend to spend behind a PC and how rotten it's made me socially... though that still leaves me with some questions.
I have my 9 to 5 job, when I come home I want to relax and play some games, read articles I find interesting, but a lot of time is being spent drawing again these days. Let's say that on average, it's 4 hours behind the PC in the evenings on a weekday, often longer if I'm drawing and it keeps my buzz going. :p
At work I'm using a laptop constantly, using the internet for our business as well. So I'm not count that in...
Online gaming has also been drastically reduced for me, and I'm not really feeling any side-effects from it.
BUT!
I am quick to open up Furaffinity or DeviantArt to see if I have new messages in moments of boredom. Heck, this is one of those moments right now. When I'm in bed, I tend to take my laptop and read online comics. Does this count? I could read the comics I already have at home, but... they're mine, I've already read them all dozens of times and found the little amusing things in the drawings. Online I can read some new things I might not be able to find here.
Nevertheless, during a weekend, my PC time can easily be doubled. Now...
This is purely out of boredom. I do enjoy doing things outside of the house, if the activity interests me or the company is fun. But since my social life has become so retarded, the fun companionship is missing. Heck, when I went to get my PC half a year ago, I was maybe more excited about being with a friend I've had to miss for years, instead of the new PC I was getting.
What would you personally consider as internet addiction? The constant dependancy on social network sites and need to be constantly connected to others through electronical means? Excessive gaming? Or just... being online and not doing anything that's even remotely productive?
This got me thinking after reading one of those "recent studies" writings on a news site, detailing the link between excessive internet usage and neurological damage equal to alcohol / drug abuse. I won't go into detail too much, I just want to hear some opinions on this.
I probably could be classified as an addict when I see how much time I tend to spend behind a PC and how rotten it's made me socially... though that still leaves me with some questions.
I have my 9 to 5 job, when I come home I want to relax and play some games, read articles I find interesting, but a lot of time is being spent drawing again these days. Let's say that on average, it's 4 hours behind the PC in the evenings on a weekday, often longer if I'm drawing and it keeps my buzz going. :p
At work I'm using a laptop constantly, using the internet for our business as well. So I'm not count that in...
Online gaming has also been drastically reduced for me, and I'm not really feeling any side-effects from it.
BUT!
I am quick to open up Furaffinity or DeviantArt to see if I have new messages in moments of boredom. Heck, this is one of those moments right now. When I'm in bed, I tend to take my laptop and read online comics. Does this count? I could read the comics I already have at home, but... they're mine, I've already read them all dozens of times and found the little amusing things in the drawings. Online I can read some new things I might not be able to find here.
Nevertheless, during a weekend, my PC time can easily be doubled. Now...
This is purely out of boredom. I do enjoy doing things outside of the house, if the activity interests me or the company is fun. But since my social life has become so retarded, the fun companionship is missing. Heck, when I went to get my PC half a year ago, I was maybe more excited about being with a friend I've had to miss for years, instead of the new PC I was getting.
What would you personally consider as internet addiction? The constant dependancy on social network sites and need to be constantly connected to others through electronical means? Excessive gaming? Or just... being online and not doing anything that's even remotely productive?
id say being /addicted/ to the internet or web would be more of you do not function outside of it unless you HAVE too. Addictions are things you have almost no choice to change and most of the time an addiction is unwanted. Filling in your boredom with internet I see more as another form of keeping your mind busy just like if you were to go outside for a hike.
If you can go without a computer for a few days with no complaints and enjoy the time you have by doing other things. I dont believe you are addicted x)
The way you put it, I do feel a bit more relaxed about it. Thinking back on the alcohol/drugs addictions, I wouldn't really say it's "unwanted". You obviously made a choice to use it sometime in your life, wether during a moment of depression, peer pressure or just curiousity.
When it becomes a physical dependancy on the substances to "feel good and happy", I would say the addiction starts there.
Also, how long do you really have to "use the internet" to do neurological damage?? Eye strain and headaches I can understand, but what exactly is it about looking at cats doing funny things on the internet that seems to literally melt neurons?
- I barely made friends, made a comment below. The two people I do consider as the true friends are female, one I've already lost all contact with after college graduation, the other one lives an hour away.
- I'm single, they're both in a relationship/engaged. It ain't fun being there without the feeling you're just getting in their way somehow. :( They also have their own lives, their own friends, I've never felt like I would fit in anywhere in any group of friends without being the odd one out.
Some people still may see it as addiction, but it's because they do not use PCs/Internet often or at all, and have other things to do.
Give those dirty addicts an abacus!
I would recommend trying to get some people from your work together sometime and have a after-work thing, maybe once a month?
I barely had a chance to really bond with people during my highschool years. I changed schools every two years, had to deal with depression during one of them (at which point my debatable internet addiction started due to my own naivity, but that's a story for another day), so I didn't really get to know people without feeling like I was unwanted in their little clique they already had for years. So... yeah, I'm still terrible at befriending others because of those times.
I think what really keeps me from being addicited, is that I have a short attention span and I always need to be doing something with myself. If I get bored online, and can't find anything to do, I get up and go outside and mess with the dogs or go to the deer stand ( don't hate, I hunt lol. And we live on 24 1/2 acres so... )
Though I'm also social. I'm no social butterfly, but I need human company. If I don't, I get depressed. I have online friends, but I need physical attention. I've a long distance relationship, but when he comes down I pretty much drop everything and spend time with him. We did play WoW sitting side by side to each other a few times which was so very fun because I could cuddle him while we did dungeons :3c But still, I find it more of my hobby now. After all, the young adults and generations of today use the internet for so many things. I think my generation used it in moderation, and we remember to go have fun and read books and keep up with life. But, I notice that my sister's generation ( not her, but alot of her friends, and my other family members around her age ) spend alot more time on it just waiting for responses on Facebook. I think that's probably unhealthy. Because if you truly want to connect to someone, you can't just rely on internet text messaging which seems to rot the hell out of younger peoples' writing and spelling skills...you need to go visit and talk to them on the phone and shit.
I think that where we live....if there was more to do around here, I wouldn't be on as much as I am. But seriously, we live in the middle of Bee county in texas and it's freaking empty. xD
But if you've got a 9-5 job and you're paying all your bills, any problems you have are relatively minor. It's not like it's keeping you from making a living.
I think i need to consider taking a class or something in meantime before other big events happen. maybe dancing for confidence... or archery cuz itd be neat haha. iuno ;D
you have.. a depressing point there ahahahha ;D
They make the best bowstrings!
I think we both need that class I think.
All is on internet, my friends, my boyfriend, my "job".
As a friend said, for me internet is my IRL XD
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16505521
I mean I might spend every second of free time I have on my computer(lol), but that doesn't mean I don't do other stuff when there's other stuff to be done.
My name is Rodney. I am an Internet Addict. There, I said it.