Slashdot Mirror

... for a chat with a therapist addiction.

The article links to http://www.netaddiction.com/clinic.htm which charges $95 an hour to councel you in a chat room about your addictive behaviour. Talk about cultivating a prime target audience.

I personally have experienced getting "screen sucked" (squandering a large amount of time in front of the computer monitor) with the excuse of doing work. If there is a problem, its the blurring of lines between actual work and other activities. (Like browsing Slashdot).

I've read several articles on internet addiction and there is even a center that helps the ones who have recognized their problem.

Internet is an addiction, but help is on the way....please click here http://www.netaddiction.com/ to read about how you can stop your incessant clicking.

Dr. Young's research can be found here.

You can find out for yourself what the criteria are as defined by Kimberley Young, and find out if you too are an addict, by taking the test (20 multiple choice questions) here. Apparently I'm not addicated to the net though, so the thing must have a flaw somewhere...

The Kimberly Young definition of internet addiction: http://www.netaddiction.com/whatis.htm

So, if we're going to ban porn because of its addictiveness are we going to ban news, too?

I'm an information addict. I spend half my day browsing various news sites (no, not pornographic) and forums to read new information. I rarely remember what I read, I just read for reading's sake. I barely get to do anything else and when I do I often want to stop pretty soon and get back to the information. If you spend your leisure time reading Slashdot (or other news sources) instead of doing other things you usually love to do (e.g. play games if you're a gamer) you are another victim.

Sources: 1, 2 (NYTimes, reg or circumvention required), 3

There might be a connection between these two forms of addiction, after all porn is a form of information, too, right?

Internet Addiction Test

That's right -- ligitimate!

Check out the poll and submit your thoughts to their hi-tech CGI script, and you'll see for yourself:

Thank You For Filling Out This Form
Below is what you submitted to netaddic-data@netaddiction.com on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 at 02:12:49

Ligitimate_Mental_Disorder: No

Wait. I voted "no," so it's not ligitimate, but maybe it's still legitimate. I'm confused.

Aw, screw it -- I'm going to play some Doom3.

..if I hadn't been so busy getting my fix of information, cyberpr0n and coffeine, I might even have read more than the first page.

Luckely, for other addictions there are tests to prove you're in the dangersone =P

No troll: I do think computers in general can be quite addictive AND it's not just what I think.

Psychologists have written quite a number of popular articles on the problem as well as scholarly papers on treatment.

There's even a Center for Online and Internet Addiction which offers treatment... via email and chat (sounds perhaps counter-productive to me?)!

I troll you not!

I'm computer addicted, though I play no online games.

I don't think one can blame the game so much as the medium and what it allows one to do.

There's something very mesmerizing about the screen in general (look at all the TV addicts) and it gets even more compelling with interaction.

Are you addicted? Take this online test and see.

This page also contains some good information and links.

I am trying to wean myself of all but the most necessary computer use, but so far it's not going too well.

I thought of a system that would disconnect my internet connection except at certain hours (since that seems to be the biggest part of the problem), but I would probably just get around it if I wanted to. Or maybe not... could be a good start.

Anyone with any suggestions please reply!

While a gaming addiction is another niche type of addiction, I would guess it is similar to other kinds of addiction especially net addiction. Of course, I suppose it depends upon if you are addicted to LAN parties or solo online or whatever.

As well as the Computer Addiction link mentioned in the article, check out netaddiction.com
and Center for Addiction and Mental Health.

Perhaps enough suggestions to netaddiction.com will get them to post a Self-Test like they have for online traders and online auctioners.

While a gaming addiction is another niche type of addiction, I would guess it is similar to other kinds of addiction especially net addiction. Of course, I suppose it depends upon if you are addicted to LAN parties or solo online or whatever.

As well as the Computer Addiction link mentioned in the article, check out netaddiction.com
and Center for Addiction and Mental Health.

Perhaps enough suggestions to netaddiction.com will get them to post a Self-Test like they have for online traders and online auctioners.

While a gaming addiction is another niche type of addiction, I would guess it is similar to other kinds of addiction especially net addiction. Of course, I suppose it depends upon if you are addicted to LAN parties or solo online or whatever.

As well as the Computer Addiction link mentioned in the article, check out netaddiction.com
and Center for Addiction and Mental Health.

Perhaps enough suggestions to netaddiction.com will get them to post a Self-Test like they have for online traders and online auctioners.

But you *need* to leave your keyboard every few days or so and what would be more wonderful than being able to spend those few off-line sleeping hours dreaming of you and that smart chick riding around on your bike...

You've got your own smell alright - what you need now is simultaneous inhalation of both the chick-smell and some bike grease. Now to the multi-tasking part, and do not crash out until ready:

#1) First, do a thorough Kevin Kline-style masculine armpit-sniffing to establish your own existence the old low-tech way.

#2) Head over to some classic motorcycle site to smell the CO2 and leaked motor oil. If you've ever been riding in India you'll be also rewarded with the smell of sheer fear that comes with that territory.

#3) Now, for the hard-to-find smart chick smell (close your eyes and soon enough such rare bird will be sitting right behind you) open another screen from this link for that elusive pink elephant scent and you're on your way to a gonzo-geek heaven.

If, for some reason, you'll end up with the smell of a Dodo bird in an oil slick you've simply got to work harder on your mental associations.