Is Internet Addiction a Medical Condition?

PreacherTom writes "Arising from such cases as a recent lawsuit with IBM over employee termination due to online sex chatting at work, recent debate over whether Internet abuse is a legitimate addiction, akin to alcoholism, is heating up. From the article: 'Attorneys say recognition by a court — whether in this or some future litigation — that Internet abuse is an uncontrollable addiction, and not just a bad habit, could redefine the condition as a psychological impairment worthy of protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act.' The condition could even make it into the next edition of the American Psychiatric Association's DSM, making it a full-blown neurosis. It wouldn't be a huge surprise, with a recent Stanford study showing that 14% of people state it would be 'hard to stay away from the Net for even a few days in a row."

Comments

Ridiculous, just ridiculous

[udderly]

Are you joking? A "full-blown neurosis?" That's ridiculous. Nobody is going to get fixated on the internet.

I would expand on my argument but I'm at work and I have to get a lot of stuff done. I'm chatting with s3xygurl15, buying Xmas presents on Amazon and selling my old Xbox on eBay. I also need to email my mom to see if she can bring me some ramen noodles or mac-n-cheese, since I won't have time to eat later 'cause I'm needed on a WoW raid in an hour.

Re:Ridiculous, just ridiculous

[MCraigW]

Got a B on your report card and not an A? Clean. Car won't start? Clean. Overcooked dinner? Clean.

Is there any chance that I can get my children to be addicted in this way?

Well, I had Pac-Man fever in the 80's

[elrous0]

I still get the chills whenever I walk beside the fruit stand.

-Eric

Re:Well, I had Pac-Man fever in the 80's

[FlyingSquidStudios]

To quote the hilarious Marcu Brigstocke talking about the effects of video games on today's youth: "If Pac-Man had affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive music."

yes, an addiction

[Gabest]

... as much as wearing clothes.

It must be an Addiction

[SomeoneGotMyNick]

And if it wasn't for the addiction, I wouldn't be reading this now to know that.

Now, if it became an ADA issue, how would an employer compensate? By putting them in front of an IBM Selectric instead of an ThinkPad?

Re:Bad behavior = disease... why not??

[Reverend528]

Let's just save some time and determine every form of antisocial behavior to be a disease. That way when we fuck up, we don't have to blame it on our character flaws.

Sounds like someone didn't get his prozac this morning...

Re:I have a B.S. in Psychology

[$pearhead]

It doesn't mean I have a problem.

Ah, denial... :-) And remember boys and girls; "Denial ain't just a river in Egypt".

Re:Bad behavior = disease... why not??

[dr_dank]

"Alcoholism is the only disease you can get yelled at for having. 'Dammit Otto, you're an alcoholic.' 'Dammit Otto, you have Lupus'. One of these just doesn't sound right".

- Mitch Hedberg

Slashdot Problem

[Hoi Polloi]

Does checking Slashdot every 5 minutes mean I have a problem? I can stop anytime I want, I swear. I drive better when web surfing too, now give me my keys!

Re:That's Easy.

[mfh]

OMG how did u get a picture of the Intarweb????