Internet addiction

I have been doing extensive research into this field recently, and I was just wondering if you think this is a viable sickness akin to substance abuse, or it's just bs that psychologists are trying to pin on a new medium.

I started researching it after I noticed late last year that virtually my entire social life was based around people or events which occured online. I would IM people from down the street rather than walk down there and hang out that way. My phone use went from daily to practically non-existant as I started IMing and e-mailing people instead. During the worst point of it, I would be online for some 8-10 hours a day doing nothing productive but being signed on.

Things have gotten much better with my acquisition of a job and a new school program, but I was a little shocked as to just how long I spent online before, and I'm a little embarrassed about it. I was just wondering if you think this is a legit sickness, or something else totally unrelated to the medium

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by Tanjable

I started researching it after I noticed late last year that virtually my entire social life was based around people or events which occured online. I would IM people from down the street rather than walk down there and hang out that way. My phone use went from daily to practically non-existant as I started IMing and e-mailing people instead. During the worst point of it, I would be online for some 8-10 hours a day doing nothing productive but being signed on.

Things have gotten much better with my acquisition of a job and a new school program, but I was a little shocked as to just how long I spent online before, and I'm a little embarrassed about it.

It sounds to me like you were embarassed because society does not deem online activities to be "cool" enough.

You mentioned that one of the things you felt bad about was IMing people instead of calling them on the phone. What's the difference? The difference is that for years the phone companies have spent billions of dollars on marketing to make people think talking on the phone is the "next best thing to being there." Thus nobody thinks badly about folks who spend a lot of time talking to their friends on the phone.

But talk to your friends via IM and you're a freak.

Obviously ANYTHING can be addicting. People get addicted to collecting stamps or even taking showers. But I think a lot of the guilt people feel is more a factor of the social perception that online/technological stuff is dorky whereas going to a bar and getting shitfaced on booze 3 or 4 nights a week (blowing $100-$200 a night for the privilege) makes you hip and cool.

[Pyrosama]

I agree with Ari that online activities are deemed as dorky. Alot of people at my work are just baffled that I even want to be around a computer when I get off work. The question that they pose that makes me feel awkward is the ole dreaded "..but what the hell do you find to DO on the internet?" With the exception of one other guy in the entire department who also games and participates in forums, everyone seems to have this aversion to the idea of online communications.

They don't realize the tremendous amount of social skills that you can develop online and while participating in online activities. Instead...though you're not out gambling, drinking or shooting up dope, you must be doing something that is not good for you if you're doing it all the time.

People can call it an addiction if they want to, but I call it a hobby. If I want to tinker with a new toy, play a new game, write some poetry or a short story or even demo some new utility that I think is cool, then I should be able to do so without feeling guilty about it.

If I'm not doing something that I enjoy...I log off. Unlike an alcoholic, who may be feeling ill and sick and really not enjoying themselves...will grab another drink.

[Raenna]

Yea, I spend a lot of time online talking to friends, playing games, threshing etc...and its funny because when I'm bored and I call up a friend and say "Hey wanna go out" they'll be like *gasp* YOU MEAN YOUR NOT GONNA SPEND TIME ON THE COMPUTER FOR ONCE??? lol I'm on the computer a lot...but I also spend another large majority of my time doing other things. For example..school..work..going out..family events..friends..etc. But usually when I'm at home I'm on the computer all the time. Before the internet really became popular around here I was on it like I am now...and no one else was they all sat in front of the TV all day and they called -me- a loser or whatever.

Well I'd rather go online and talk to friends, play games, and other things that may actually stimulate my brain..instead of being a mindless drone in front of a television set just watching and nothing else. Online you can do lots of things. Play games. Talk to people. Make things. Do work. etc. Anything else you can only do one thing...on a phone you can only talk to people. On a TV you can only watch things. On a video game system you can only play games. It just gets rather repeatitive and I'm the type of person that likes to mix things up a bit. Well I'm probably just rambling by now but you get the idea

[Aliahna]

The entire scenario of anyone viewing internet activity as an addiction, especially when dealing with those in a "psych"-whatever field, we have to understand a few things first.

The medical profession used to claim heroin as a miracle cure for arthritis, fatigue, amongst many things. In fact, in the early 1900's, it was distributed by the Bayer company. On another note, Psychologists gave LSD to their patients as something to help them touch their "inner self" and deal with anxiety. One famous source was Cary Grant.

That being said, here is my perspective.

Cybercommunities are, in essence, a very new thing, having existed less than a decade for the mainstream participant. And Ari is right, the telecommunications companies have pandered to the "voice" as being the best thing, next to being there, for decades. But, now, aside from the "29.99 a month unlimited long distance" ads, every telecomm company is promoting their online service, and everything dealing with speed, connectivity and interactive communities. Why? It is the way technology moves.

Now, the internet being as bad as substance abuse? That is utter bullshit. Anyone with an addictive personality can be claimed as an "abuser", with anything. But, also, most of us deal with people, in person, on a day-to-day basis. We work with the general public, who are complete morons most of the time, and the last thing we want to do is hitch up with a couple of friends and go to a bar, and deal with a number of drunk morons, being the general public after having imbibed a few too many.

I, for one, find that internet gaming and association to be MUCH more fulfilling than most personal social interactivity, or sitting for six hours watching T.V. Playing a game, talking to people on AIM for ten hours not only stimulates the neural receptors (scientifically proven and documented), but is a lot better than watching fifteen shows that have about as much intellectual content as a flake of dead skin from my scrotum. At least, while talking to people, roleplaying, or even playing something like UT2K4 or Galaxies, Diablo, whatever your desire, your brain is actually responding to a constantly changing environment, instead of just trying to absorb the next few lines of diatribe or shite that is spewed by today's television, or listening to your friends bitch about who they hate at work.

Now, mind you, I do go clubbing on the weekends, I enjoy a good night out, but I don't find it fulfilling, or social, to do so every night. It gets quite dull, lest you find yourself a barfly. And those that endeavour to cry out the praise of hiking, cycling, or just getting out? Work a job where all you do all day is walk, and talk to people. It gets old, quick, and the last thing you wish to do is deal with the general public on your time off. My friends frequently come over, jump on a computer if they wish, and I find myself quite able to interact with them while Threshing, playing a game, or whatever.

As a final statement, how can a group of stuffy old bastards who barely know how to turn on a computer diagnose the general populace with an addiction? If I were to turn the tables, I would call them addicted to psychoanalysis, since it is all they do at work, and while they are away from work. I don't come home, get on Threshold, and try to pierce people (with jewelry, Raeghin, hehe), I get on to roleplay and enjoy myself, getting away from that which I have to deal with day in and day out. This is my escape, and much better than sitting and watching the "boob tube" for hours on end.

As for their "studies", psychs in every field usually place ads or call out the most fucked-up individuals for these studies, people that are already addicted, and place them into two groups: a control group, and a study group. You deprive one group of a thing, and feed the other it constantly, but remember, these people are already geared towards whatever the study is asking for. It's like asking 20 crack addicts to join a study. 10 are removed from crack, and given sugar cubes. All they crave is crack. The other 10 are given crack daily, and they are happy little bastards. That isn't exactly what I call fair evaluation. The reason I say this, I know the study you are talking about, and they placed ads all over the place, asking for people that felt they had an addiction, in one form or another, to the internet. They would be given this or that, and compensated for their time.

If someone paid me to Thresh for 14 hours straight? Hell yes, I'd be there. Or paid to drink, masturbate, or just talk for that amount of time. Pay someone to do something they love to do, yeah, anyone would do it. But, if you ever read the study groups on test subjects, it is NEVER with the general public that they perform these test on. They are always pandering to one specific group of people.

So, no, there is no sickness. At least, not amongst the general public. People with an addictive personality will naturally be addicted to the internet. But they would be as easily addicted to anything else. It's not a fair trial, and no, it's not a sickness. Welcome to the age of technology. We are no more addicted to the internet than people of the 1930's are addicted to cars. It hasn't been around too long, but everyone's using it.

[Korah]

The word ‘addiction’ is bandied about so much that it is nearly worthless. The real issue is when an activity, any activity, begins to adversely affect your quality of life. Most people spend time and money on recreation, as much as they can spare, in fact. I think we’ve all had our recreational marathons at one time or another. Problems arise when one puts recreation before responsibility.

Anyway, here are some warning signs- at least in my opinion.

It seems to me that the greatest risk is obesity. This seems like the most legitimate beef people have with spending time on the computer. Many people have jobs that require them to sit for 8+ hours a day, then they come home and spend 4-6 hours sitting recreationally. If I get my Thresh on after work, that means I can spend up to 14 hours a day sitting! Obviously, I have to take care of my body or I’d get flabby and weak in a matter of months.

Is it affecting your quality of life? The results of spending too much time online may not be as dramatic as say, smoking meth. Sometimes it takes an outside observer (friends, family) to point things out.

Is the computer the sole focus of your life? If the computer becomes your 'friend, teacher, secret lover' there may be some issues. This seems like a common pitfall, since you can vicariously experience just about anything via television or the Internet.

Do you break plans with friends or family to spend more time online?

Do friends or family repeatedly ask you to take a break? That can be a bad sign.

Does being online cause problems with work, school or other responsibilities? Things like calling in sick just to play a game or failing classes because you’d rather surf the ‘net are obvious examples.

I don’t think you have an ‘addiction’, Tanjable. If you’re working, going to school, and otherwise fulfilling your responsibilities, I doubt there’s a problem at all. Raising the issue shows that you are aware of your actions, and can evaluate yourself with a measure of objectivity. Few people are able to do that.

[Aristotle]

Aliahna, that was a brilliant piece of social commentary.

If I had a blog or some other "interesting thoughts" web site I'd definitely be linking it up.

Well said.