Posted on 12/26/2018 1:16:37 PM PST by Mariner
BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP) — The young men sit in chairs in a circle in a small meeting room in suburban Seattle and introduce themselves before they speak. It is much like any other 12-step meeting — but with a twist.
“Hi, my name is,” each begins. Then something like, “and I’m an internet and tech addict.”
The eight who’ve gathered here are beset by a level of tech obsession that’s different than it is for those of us who like to say we’re addicted to our phones or an app or some new show on a streaming video service. For them, tech gets in the way of daily functioning and self-care. We’re talking flunk-your-classes, can’t-find-a-job, live-in-a-dark-hole kinds of problems, with depression, anxiety and sometimes suicidal thoughts part of the mix.
There’s Christian, a 20-year-old college student from Wyoming who has a traumatic brain injury. His mom urged him to seek help because he was “medicating” his depression with video games and marijuana.
Seth, a 28-year-old from Minnesota, used video games and any number of things to try to numb his shame after a car he was driving crashed, seriously injuring his brother.
Wes, 21, an Eagle Scout and college student from Michigan, played video games 80 hours a week, only stopping to eat every two to three days. He lost 25 pounds and failed his classes.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Confounding, at least.
In the past, life was harder and had less entertainment distractions. Life used to force adults and children to deal with adversity and move on, or suffer greatly.
Now we turn these people into a pseudo-celebrivictim subculture.
I apologize to you all for the freeping I’m about to do.
There, I feel much better.
It’s a “gaming” addiction, not a “tech” addiction.
Tech addiction would be more like spending your weekends building robots and learning a new programming language.
My weekday tech addiction affords me a very nice standard of living.
Everybody here wants to post an article to breaking news and get 300+ responses.
But there’s something else wrong with these guys.
Hi My name is Al Baby Im a Freepaholic
A Video Game Freak is not a ‘Tech addict.’ There is no “Tech” involved.
Yeah, it is a disease...
Hmmm.
We now have 12 step programs for over-eaters, gamblers, porno ‘consumers’, and every other affliction under the sun.
People can not accept the blame for their sins, they join a 12 step program to treat their ‘illness’.
This further enforces their feelings of being victimized by a disease ~ which allows them the built-in excuse of a ‘relapse’.
“It wasn’t MY fault, the disease caused my relapse!”
[Against my will]
Hi Al Baby
What!?? Oh Dang it. I have an addiction.
Instant gratification. it’s the most addicting thing in the world.
I’ll bet none of them can sit still for ten minutes without grabbing their phone/electronic nipple.
But I can quit anytime I want to.
I just don’t want to.
al baby wrote:
Hi My name is Al Baby Im a Freepaholic
HA! Thanks for sharing, Al Baby.
Keep coming back! One day at a time!
Let go, and let God!
I will NOT EVER see you in the ‘rooms’ for “fellowship”!
People should not kid themselves. There are huge numbers of people totally addicted to their smartphones. Just look around you at any shopping mall, or even restaurant.
The gaming and marijuana addicts are a different story. I never allowed video game consoles in my home as I considered them worse than crack cocaine. To see grown men with joysticks in their hands and backwards ballcaps on their heads is a sad sight indeed. No woman should have anything to do those types. Those aren't men! They are overgrown boys with a serious problem.
Women, stay away from those types! But look up al baby on the Free Republic, he'll keep you entertained.
We need a 12 step program for liberals.
And we need it NOW.
I don’t care if they claim it’s their fault or not, as long as they get cured.
ArGee wrote:
**We need a 12 step program for liberals.**
And we need it NOW.
A program for lefties would include hundreds of steps...
No I am sober today
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