Addicted to Information?

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."

Comments

tell me more

[frovingslosh]

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

Re:tell me more

[WarpForge]

The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and see it early!

Re:tell me more

[PetoskeyGuy]

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

[HiKarma]

I can stop anytime I want.

Does this mean we can't get fired...

[kaltkalt]

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

so thats why when I visit slashdot

[Rooked_One]

I get that orgasmic feeling. I thought it was just for Taco's witty remarks...

Yeah yeah

[Dark Lord Seth]

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

Did anyone else read this instead?

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

Re:Yeah yeah

[Hooya]

would his ex wife be call ex-Lax?

At the local ADDA Meeting...

[soloport]

John: Hi... I'm John.
ADDA Crowd: Hi, John!
John: And I'm a Salshdot addict...

Re:At the local ADDA Meeting...

[frovingslosh]

That strange, at my local ADDA meeting it goes like this:

John: HI... I'm John.
ADDA Crowd: Hi, ..... err, whoever you are.

Re:I'm addicted

[Ignominious Poltroon]

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:Wonder if they perscribe ritalin for that

[comet_11]

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

oops

[Graspee_Leemoor]

"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

Kind of an OT joke

[RALE007]

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?!?