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Chinese "Web Addicts" Get Boot Camp, Therapy

itwbennett writes "A large number of Chinese parents are finding their teenagers to be exhibiting such psychological symptoms as depression, antisocial behavior, and slipping grades. The cause: Internet addiction. World of Warcraft and Counter-Strike rank beside Chinese role-playing games as those that hook the most patients, says Tao Ran, the founder of a youth rehabilitation center on a Beijing army base. Online chat programs more often hook girls, who make up a handful of Tao's current 70 patients. The teens are subjected to a 'strict regimen of military drills, martial arts training, lectures and sessions with psychiatrists.' And, most importantly: no Internet."

11 of 279 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Your Rights Online by brkello · · Score: 5, Informative

    Kids probably aren't paying for the Internet connection and they do not have the rights of an adult. The addiction is hurting their intellectual and social progress. Is that their choice? Not while they are dependents.

    Americans send their fat kids to boot camp. I really wouldn't be suspicious.

    --
    Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
  2. Re:Your Rights Online by fishbowl · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's *China*. When it comes down to it, nobody has any rights, in the sense that Europeans or Americans think of rights.

    --
    -fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
  3. Military Strategy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    American - kill all your allies in 'friendly' fire incidents. Full auto on anything that moves, may move or have previously moved. Aw Hell full auto on anything.

    Chinese (according to the Geneva Convention on war ) Day 1 - One million unarmed troops invade Alaska and surrender.
    Day 2 - One million unarmed troops invade Alaska and surrender.
    Day 3 - One million unarmed troops invade Alaska and surrender.
    .
    .
    Day 5 - US economy collapses US surrenders.

  4. Re:I'm not addict! by Red+Flayer · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least the Chinese don't get fat

    Oh, don't worry, they're catching up.

    That's the great thing about exporting American culture... eventually, the rest of the world will be as fat and lazy as we are.

    It's obvious where this is going. Just read all the articles about the billions we're spending on the development of remote control flying killing machines. Our enemies will be too fat too run away, but our technology will allow us to fight even as we need to clean ourselves with a rag-on-a-stick.

    World domination is at hand!

    MWUA-HA-HA-HORK-acktph-[gasp]-[grunt]-HORK-[splat]-HA-HA-HA

    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  5. The most devestating technique in their arsenal.. by Mauzl · · Score: 5, Funny

    .. exposure to girls.

  6. Re:Your Rights Online by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... morbid child obesity without a clear medical explanation should be grounds for child abuse.

    I mean, I am all for fighting obesity in all ways possible, but it just doesn't seem right to beat children or otherwise abuse them simply because they are overweight.

  7. Good idea. by spyder-implee · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Having gone through Boot Camp myself (Not in China mind you) I highly recommend it as a means of turning useless people into productive citizens.

    --
    Take what ye can. Give nothing back!
    1. Re:Good idea. by CarpetShark · · Score: 5, Funny

      Having gone through Boot Camp myself (Not in China mind you) I highly recommend it as a means of turning useless people into productive citizens.

      Of course, having gone through boot camp, you'll never know for sure if that's really what you think, or if that's what they told you to think ;)

  8. More of a health issue.... by hengdi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Most students that I teach in China (18-22) can't afford the computer required, so they play WOW and CS at their Internet bar. These places are usually dark, dingy and full of second-hand cigarette smoke. They make some of my teenage hacker basements look positively healthy. So I think it's not that the parents are really worried about the length of time spent playing, it's the conditions they are played under.

  9. Re:Your Rights Online by rothic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...sometimes I think that we Slashdotters would do well to relax and give them some time to sort things out...

    The Chinese are going to "sort things out" whether Slashdotters relax, don't relax or even throw a massively coordinated e-tantrum. Slashdot isn't actually really all that influential as it turns out.

  10. Re:Your Rights Online by Groggnrath · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean, I am all for fighting obesity in all ways possible, but it just doesn't seem right to beat children or otherwise abuse them simply because they are overweight.

    Not to mention it isn't very fair. It's not like they can run from you. Or if they can, it's not like they can run far.