Posted on 12/18/2006 6:18:25 AM PST by fight_truth_decay
A lawsuit against IBM may help settle the question of whether workers hooked on the Internet can claim a legitimate addiction
By his own admission, James Pacenza was spending too much time in Internet chat rooms, in some of them discussing sex. He goes so far as to call his interest in inappropriate Web sites a form of addiction that stems from the post-traumatic stress disorder he's suffered since returning from Vietnam. Whatever it's called, Pacenza's chat-room habit cost him his job.
After 19 years at IBM (IBM, news, msgs), Pacenza was fired in May 2003, after a fellow employee noticed discussion of a sex act on a chat room open on Pacenza's computer. IBM maintains that logging onto the Web site was a violation of its business conduct guidelines and a misuse of company property. The company says it was well within its rights to terminate Pacenza's employment.
Pacenza and his attorney sued in a New York federal court, seeking $5 million for wrongful termination.
Pacenza's attorney, Michael Diederich Jr., alleges ......(...More)
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.moneycentral.msn.com ...
Addiction, or just a bad habit?
October, researchers at Stanford University's medical school released a study showing that a significant number of Americans show addiction symptoms with regard to the Internet.
Some 14% reported that it was hard to stay away from the Internet for a several-day stretch. More than 12% said they stayed online longer than intended and nearly 9% said they hid their Internet use from loved ones or employers..."
Dr. Elias Aboujaoude, director of Stanford's Impulse Control Disorders Clinic, which conducted the study, says there are clear similarities between excessive Internet use and other addictions.
"People are very secretive," Aboujaoude says. "People will tell me that they feel restless when they go for a whole afternoon without checking e-mail; there is mounting anxiety when they try to cut back on their online use."
However, he stops short of calling it an addiction. The clinic is designing a more rigorous study aimed at determining whether Internet abuse is an addiction and not just a bad habit, or a manifestation of another addiction or psychological problem............
Just how many lawsuits are coming down the pike isn't clear.................
I could quit the Freerepublic any time I want. I just haven't written my Opus yet. /sarcasm
"alcoholism" Spell check in Title (My number of "letters" squeezed in is my excuse) ;)
I need help.....
lol - exactly. I wondered how long it would take for a post like that. I figured it would already have been "taken".
I hate to say it, but I kind of agree with this. I work in the medical field and know many people who have been fired for drug abuse. Administration says stay off internet, but it is nearly impossible to me and I would have to admit it is addiction. If they don't want me on it, they should remove it from my computer. It is probably going to be removed soon because they are probably monitoring these words as I type. ha ha. But honestly, internet staring me in the face and I can't take a peek. Gee that is tough ha
"I can quit any time I want to. I've done it many times"..........Samuel Clemens.....
I posted this story as a "public service" to fellow FReepers.
Educational.
The lies from the News Media caused my addiction.
Research is timely for the project I am on.
E-mail is faster than snail mail.
My typing skills have improved 100%.
Are these not Positive?
Everyone - but everyone - has an angle these days, and being a victim of someone or something - anyone, anything - is tres, tres chic.
I'm addicted to breathing. Whom do I sue?
Good luck......it's difficult to realize how many Oprah watching people are such ignoramuses....
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