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 ...
This is Geraldo reporting live from an internetaholic household....
My ISP went down for a whole day and I couldn't surf the internet. But, it's OK. I have my strait jacket tucked away in case it happens again.
How else can I find out if that Cruise kid is real or not? I can't stop now.
HA!
after more than 12 years, it's not an addiction it's a career choice
I think you lost me...
Quitting the internet is easy! I've done it plenty of times!
Stupid article. Think of all the highways we'd have to build if we all turned off our computers and drove to work.
I gotta pee....
Does yours have zippers or buttons?
***Does yours have zippers or buttons?***
Locks! But it's a beautiful shade of rose pink.
Downloading, Updating, Refreshing, Deleting, Maintaining.....
Why didn't I think of this? And here I was running all the way to the kitchen sink like a sucker.
APf
No Problem. Just do what me and TS do,
See post # 17. See Post # 26
'Locks! But it's a beautiful shade of rose pink.'
And I assume this is your arousable wear?
I have to go right now... uh... just as soon as I look at this thread.
Not to mention your math skills are a little rusty....
I have proudly earned my tagline. I even bought souveniers.
Sorry - I had a catheter once during a hospital stay. NO.THANK.YOU.
I may do a "G. Gordon Liddy" - if you've heard Don & Mike making fun of GG Liddy apparently weeing into Tupperware containers then you know what I'm talking about.
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