Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Could You Be Addicted to the Internet?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the all-part-of-the-job-description dept.

Billosaur writes "Over at The Register, Dr Stephen Juan has this interesting article on Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). Apparently this has been around since at least 1995 and there are those lobbying for it to be included in the DSM-IV. While some people use the Internet a lot for work or to keep in touch with family & friends as well as banking and bill-paying, it's interesting to thing that some people actually become addicted. There's still a lot of controversy over the diagnosis, whether this is true addiction or not. There is more detailed information available in this paper from Viriginia Tech."

19 of 261 comments (clear)

  1. Internet? by InterBigs · · Score: 3, Funny

    What is this Internet you speak of?

    1. Re:Internet? by Slashdot+is+dead · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think it has something to do with tubes.

    2. Re:Internet? by crash3 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Televisions the drug of choice?! Guess it's about time I stopped taking crack.

  2. Winstons taste good by allelopath · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can quit anytime I want.

    1. Re:Winstons taste good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, sure you can. Next time you get that patch for your HTTP client, put it on your arm instead of the computer. I hear it cuts the cravings down.

  3. Yes, I'm addicted to the Internet. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Please ban me from Slashdot.

  4. Maybe yes, maybe no... by kclittle · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe I'm addicted to the Internet, maybe not. But it sure has eliminated my TV and newspaper habit...

    --
    Generally, bash is superior to python in those environments where python is not installed.
  5. "Fetal Internet Syndrome" by tlambert · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think there's also an as yet undiscussed "Fetal Internet Syndrome"...

    My friends new Windows box is addicted, and it was never exposed, new from the store... computers with this syndrome have serious mental lapses if they can't get on the Internet to chat with Microsoft in the first thiry days after being turned on, and on a regular basis after that.

    -- Terry

  6. One sign of addiction by Eightyford · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you refresh your Slashdot user page every 30 seconds to see if you have received any replies, you might be addicted to the internet.

    --
    Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
    1. Re:One sign of addiction by ndansmith · · Score: 5, Funny

      If your DHCP lease is older than your first-born child, you might be addicted to the internet.

    2. Re:One sign of addiction by WilliamSChips · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't worry, I'm just waiting for Stargate to come on!

      --
      Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.
  7. whatwhat by riff420 · · Score: 0, Funny

    I'm all for this becoming a medically classified disease, especially if the treatment is WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED

  8. Re:Symptoms list is s/alcohol/internet by cowscows · · Score: 2, Funny

    I couldn't stand the thought of being without internet in any part of my house, so I had a seperate DSL line hooked up to every room in the place. A short time later, a friend tried to explain to me the concept of hubs and switches, but I was too drunk on the internet to understand.

    The $400 per month fees are terrible, but at least I have plenty of bandwidth.

    --

    One time I threw a brick at a duck.

  9. Help! I've got Addiction Addiction by spun · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dear Slashdot,

    I'm addicted to calling everything and anything that people enjoy doing an addiction. I get wads of cash for treating these so-called addictions, and I have a powerful co-enabler called the pharmaceutical industry telling me it's all okay and I should keep doing it. What should I do?

    Signed,
    I'll take 'The Rapists' for $500, Alex.

    (Please, if there are any psychologists or psychiatrists who read Slashdot, don't have me committed. It's a joke, m'kay?)

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  10. Re:Can't ANYTHING be addictive? by nizo · · Score: 2, Funny
    I can think of a few things that can't possibly be very addictive:


    - Jumping off of very tall cliffs
    - Swimming with hungry sharks
    - Watching "Dancing with the Stars"


    Especially the last one; eventually I would have no choice but to poke out my eyeballs or go swim with some hungry sharks or something.

    --
    I Am My Own Worst Enemy
  11. Re:I love it... by Jack+Pallance · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, I remember it well. The porn really sucked back then.

  12. Re:I know I am by eln · · Score: 4, Funny

    Your post has made me realize that I am addicted to foo. Where can I find information about Fooaholics Anonymous groups in my area?

  13. I learned it from watching you, Dad! by 1310nm · · Score: 5, Funny

    I learned it from watching you! :(

  14. Re:No - and shut up by crash3 · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's actually just a placebo but it reduces the ability to sit on chairs for long periods of time... or at all.