Addicted to Information?

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Posted by michael on Sunday July 6, 2003 @07:36AM from the metafilter dept.

SiMac writes "According to this New York Times article, two Harvard faculty members say that information causes a "dopamine squirt" in humans, a rush similar to that given by narcotics. Just as narcotics are addictive, information is as well. They've given the disorder of information addiction the name 'pseudo-ADD' because it tends to cause somewhat ADD-like symptoms."

36 of 429 comments (clear)

oh my by k0nsept · 2003-07-06 07:37 · Score: 2, Funny

dopamine squirt. that sounds naughty :)
tell me more by frovingslosh · 2003-07-06 07:37 · Score: 5, Funny

Damn this is interesting! I must know more about it! More! More! And for some strange reason I want some twinkies.

--
I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
1. Re:tell me more by WarpForge · 2003-07-06 08:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and see it early!
2. Re:tell me more by PetoskeyGuy · 2003-07-06 09:37 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  It started out when I was just a kid. I got hooked on Phonics. Soon I was reading everything I could get my hands on. I came from a poor family and my parents encouraged me. Said it was the only way to get ahead and I needed all the advantages I could get.
  
  I thought after I read all the books at my local library I would be ok.
  
  Then a "friend" hooked me up with the internet. I started out slow, 14.4k modems, then 33k, 56k. It wasn't so bad, I heard about people using multiple bonded 56k modems. I could still shut if off whenever I wanted to.
  
  Then I heard about broadband. I found a dealer in my area and started with ISDN but eventually switched to DSL so my wife wouldn't notice the extra lines. There's nothing like it. Now I'm always ON.
  
  But it's just not enough. I'm looking at getting a T1 put in or maybe going back to college. I hear they got in room Oc3 or better systems in the DORMS!! Damn - I'm shaking pretty bad now, gotta go.
Don't be silly, it's not an addiction by HiKarma · 2003-07-06 07:39 · Score: 4, Funny

I can stop anytime I want.
1. Re:Don't be silly, it's not an addiction by slittle · 2003-07-06 08:17 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Sweet. I can't, so gimme your ex-computer(s).
  
  --
  Opportunity knocks. Karma hunts you down.
Does this mean we can't get fired... by kaltkalt · 2003-07-06 07:42 · Score: 5, Funny

for playing online at work? Americans with Disabilities Act protects us, eh? Kickass.

--

Stupid people make stupid things profitable.
so thats why when I visit slashdot by Rooked_One · 2003-07-06 07:42 · Score: 3, Funny

I get that orgasmic feeling. I thought it was just for Taco's witty remarks...
Yeah yeah by Dark+Lord+Seth · 2003-07-06 07:45 · Score: 4, Funny

Mr. Lax, a 44-year-old venture capitalist

Did anyone else read this instead?

Mr. Lax, a 44-year-old unemployed scammer

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Hate me!
1. Re:Yeah yeah by Hooya · 2003-07-06 08:48 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  would his ex wife be call ex-Lax?
Re:Ashcroft will love that one by kaltkalt · 2003-07-06 07:48 · Score: 2, Funny

"Must burn all information in order to protect our precious children and preserve the family unit."

--

Stupid people make stupid things profitable.
Need my fix... by WegianWarrior · 2003-07-06 07:49 · Score: 2, Funny

..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

--
Everything in the world is controlled by a small, evil group to which, unfortunately, no one you know belongs.
Like? by pjdepasq · 2003-07-06 07:49 · Score: 2, Funny

You mean like checking /. every 5.67 minutes to see if there's some new story posted?

I mean, c'mon.... I need my fix this weekend, and the new stories have been slow. I'll just keep cliking the refresh button.
Come on by GroovBird · 2003-07-06 07:49 · Score: 2, Funny

And this is the only story you have for me in the last what .. 45 minutes? I need a fix here, people!

Dave
At the local ADDA Meeting... by soloport · 2003-07-06 07:53 · Score: 4, Funny

John: Hi... I'm John.
ADDA Crowd: Hi, John!
John: And I'm a Salshdot addict...
1. Re:At the local ADDA Meeting... by frovingslosh · 2003-07-06 08:07 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  That strange, at my local ADDA meeting it goes like this:
  John: HI... I'm John.
  ADDA Crowd: Hi, ..... err, whoever you are.
  
  --
  I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
Re:I'm addicted by Ignominious+Poltroon · 2003-07-06 07:58 · Score: 5, Funny

I'm addicted. This can be proven with that I always check up on Slashdot every fifteen minutes.
No, the article is about being addicted to information. People who regularly read Slashdot are addicted to misinformation.
Re:And I ask you THIS! by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-06 07:59 · Score: 1, Funny

And I'd rather live a life where I can actually get laid.
iADD by More+Trouble · 2003-07-06 08:04 · Score: 2, Funny

In keeping with other 'Net trends, I propose that "pseudo-ADD" is an inferior name compared to "iADD". Thank you,

:w
Re:Wonder if they perscribe ritalin for that by comet_11 · 2003-07-06 08:11 · Score: 3, Funny

No need, they already prescribe public education to counteract knowledge.

--
By reading this comment, you immediately waive any and all rights regarding it.
Heh... by Pinguu · 2003-07-06 08:14 · Score: 2, Funny

A while back I couldn't stop reading stuff... I literally had to read something constantly or it would really annoy me... oh well :P

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Re:treatment by Lost+Dragon · 2003-07-06 08:24 · Score: 2, Funny

Take two 2400bps modems and call me in the morning.
War on drugs, war on terror... by I(rispee_I(reme · 2003-07-06 08:30 · Score: 2, Funny

War on information?
Brought to you by Dick Cheney of the GWB Marionette Co. producing lifelike presidents for nearly four years.
oops by Graspee_Leemoor · 2003-07-06 08:32 · Score: 3, Funny

"Both love the game, and it has an added benefit for Dad: he can play with one hand while using the other to talk on the phone or check e-mail."

An unfortunate turn of phrase considering that slashdot readers were all over the article...

graspee
Busted: the real reason I dont watch TV by rufusdufus · 2003-07-06 08:41 · Score: 2, Funny

I'm always telling people I dont watch TV as if that was some sort superior quality or something. But the truth is, I dont' watch TV because it's like breathing through a straw. I am completely addicted to information and the TV can't meet my dosage requirements.

Happily, age and information overload is taking its toll, and am now able to go camping (for example) with no source of information for days and not start sweating about what I'm missing. I think one day I will disconnect and never look back.

Not today though.
Kind of an OT joke by RALE007 · 2003-07-06 08:51 · Score: 5, Funny

The articles analogy to "ADD" and many references to it within the slashdot article reminds me of a joke I heard recently I'd like to share.

Q: How many kids with ADD does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: Hey! Wanna go ride bikes?!?

--
Beware blue cats moving at .99c
In other news... by mortonda · 2003-07-06 08:54 · Score: 2, Funny

Oxygen can give you a high feeling. I think I'm addicted to air...
alternate name by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-06 08:54 · Score: 1, Funny

They should have named it Slashdotitis!-)
Re:Disorder? by slackergod · 2003-07-06 09:31 · Score: 2, Funny

If there is such a thing as informational anorexia...
I don't want to know about it.
And Love... by Brad+the+Informer · 2003-07-06 09:33 · Score: 2, Funny

...and you know, love is like oxygen. You get too much, you get too high, not enough and you're gonna die.
Of course it is! by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-06 10:15 · Score: 1, Funny

[DUH!] Why the hell else would I be reading slashdot?
This is important! by Vegan+Pagan · 2003-07-06 11:05 · Score: 2, Funny

I better turn my threshold down to -1 to read all about it!
A night of clubbing for the youth of tommorow..... by reality-bytes · 2003-07-06 12:20 · Score: 1, Funny

Forget Ecstasy; they'll all be taking:

Edible Information (tm)
For when you really do have to swallow an encyclopedia This will, of course, lead to an increase in powers for the Information Police who will be entasked to curb such hedonism.

--
Ripping an new rectum in the fabric of spacetime.
It must be pure coincidence... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-06 12:27 · Score: 1, Funny

that upon heading over to the nytimes article, I got this message in a pear tree^W^Wpopup window.
Slashdot is my Sugar Daddy? by ScottZ · 2003-07-06 13:07 · Score: 2, Funny

Oh No! You mean /. is my Sugar Daddy? Sheeeet!

Anyone else get the visual of Cowboy Neal in a Pimp hat? Evil, ain't it ;-)
No introductions needed by gosand · 2003-07-07 01:04 · Score: 2, Funny

Facilitator: Hi, and welcome to the Slashdot addicts group meeting. I see we have someone new in the group today. Would you like to stand up and tell us your name and a little bit about yourself?
new guy: Hi, my name is Dave. I am a Slashdot addict too. But I just visit because everyone there is obsessed with me.
Facilitator: What do you mean?
Dave: Let me show you... [Dave gets up, drops pants, turns around, bends over, and grabs two handfuls]
[The facilitator vomits while the rest of the group cheers]

--

My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.