Posted on 08/11/2006 7:04:56 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
A Canadian survey this month warns that the Internet can cause antisocial behavior. The survey dovetails with a decade of horror stories about people who can't stop spending too much time in front of their computer, even as their lives fall apart. An entire cohort of experts has sprung up to diagnose and treat what they call Internet Addiction Disorder, or IAD. Other experts, so far unwilling to elevate the behavior to addiction level, instead refer to PIU--Pathologic Internet Use, or simply, "internetomania."
Whatever it's called, it must be serious, because there are so many professionals and facilities now offering help for the condition and so many grim statistics accompanying warnings of a virtual epidemic--e.g., that 20% of children may be affected. Look closely, though, and most of the statistics are wild guesswork. In fact, the only thing certain about Internet addiction is that it has created a fresh niche for people who make their living marketing services to deal with the latest disorder.
The symptoms of this one, we are told, are not unlike those of alcoholism or compulsive gambling--featuring. similar destructive urges and psychological dependence. The effects range from ruined marriages to bladder problems caused by an unwillingness to take a break from the screen.
Accounts of the scourge pour in from around the globe. The University of Texas at Dallas offers advice for compulsive Internet users alongside information about eating disorders. In some countries, it has become an official matter, too. A government public-awareness campaign in Zurich cautions the Swiss: "Spending lots of time in virtual worlds, especially chat rooms, online games and sex sites, can lead to a dependence comparable to other addictions."
-snip-
And so it will surely go. For all of our sakes: You Internet addicts, real or imagined--please get a life.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
What in the world do you do with all of that extra free time? I'd go NUTZ!
You are obviously suffering from FrAd - Free republic Addiction Disorder. Get help.
Don't read the internet or you may find out Progressives and the MSM are lying thieves.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
We have the winner here!
As Mark Twain once said, 'If you don't read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed.'
Me too!. In fact I'm using it right now!
Ahhhh!
Oooh, that was gross!
What in the world do you do with all of that extra free time? I'd go NUTZ!
We may become corrupted by the truth the bloggers bring 100X faster than the lying MSM.
Freep on good people.
>>Hi, my name is Netmilsmom and I am an internet addict.
*smiles warmly*
Hi Netmilsmom!<<
LOL!!!
The address on your checks begins with http:.............
***n fact, the only thing certain about Internet addiction is that it has created a fresh niche for people who make their living marketing services to deal with the latest disorder.***
A lovely tongue-in-cheek article. LOL
It's not habit, it's cool, I feel alive,
If you don't have it your on the other side,
I'm not addict, maybe that's a lie.
gee. so can public schools, pornography, crime, drugs, Air America and a long list of other things.
Thanks to my Internet addiction, I almost never watch TV any more. Is there a cure for this?
My name is tdewey10 and I'm an Internetaholic.
Dang! Beat me too it!
I prefer a tv snack tray in the bathroom with the laptop.
*smiles warmly*
Hi tdewey10!
geez, I'm starting to feel like a 12 step leader here!
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