Do you believe in internet addiction? (Poll - private)

[smjpl]

Oh cmon, I call bullshit. Do you believe in car addiction? The Internet is a tool that we use, just like we use a car and many other things. The fact that the Internet has so many functions and possibilities is why we spend so much time on it.

Let's be realistic for a moment, all of this can be done online:

-Read the latest news (read the paper)

-watch videos

-play games

-work

-watch tv online

-education

and so much more.

Before we would sit and read the news on paper, watch TV instead of streaming it, play our gameboy/sega/sony/xbox and so much more.

Now we have all of that united online, so instead of spending time individually on those tasks we have them on a single device  that is connected to the internet and provides that content to us so we spend so much time online.

 

Thank you for commenting. Now we can get some discussion going.

 

Do you see a difference between using something a lot and being addicted to it. If I was a taxi driver I wouldn't say I am addicted to driving. But if I get off from work, go home and get anxious because I am not in my car, then yes I would be addicted to driving.

[jezza39]

Wrong. It's an anxiety thing where you have intrusive thoughts that cause you to obsessively perform some kind of action. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder Please inform yourself before you spread more misinformation

 

Thanks doctor Phil, let me re-explain my point, I'm merely pointing out that one can obsess over nearly anything the same way one can  be addicted to anything. I'm not equating the two.

[ManWithBeard1990]

See this is the problem.One say internet will replace face to face communication totally and the problem is that when you want to go face to face you lose yourself or insecurity will kick in and you will behave like a monkey.Had this problem and for more that 4 years i am grateful for my gf that keep me away from this addiction and because of her i started knowing what real fun it and how to behave myself in public and clubs

Nah, my insecurity has always been this way. I've been bullied quite badly for the first 16 years of my life and to be honest I've kind of had it with real people, most of the time. I have a small group of real friends but not many. One of the problems too is that I'm an intern in a hospital now, and all my friends now work as interns in other hospitals. It's a time-consuming job, working 12 hours a day. Emotionally taxing too because it's stressful, human lives are on the line and our future depends very much on how well we perform during the internship. So it's not all that strange that from time to time, I like to be alone for a bit.

[Bogica]

Cellphones should be just a tool and yet they make us spend so much time using them.Yes the internet is useful but slowly iis going to became an addition that will take over most of people.

Sorry, but since I'm not a teenage girl that takes 10k selfies per day I do use my phone as a tool and I see it as just that. I spend most of the time communicating (calls and texting) and the usual access to some information when I need it. I'm not the type to sit at a cafe with friends and stare at my phone, in fact, it's something we punish each other for, such as making the person put the phone face down on the table and not touch it unless it's a phone call.

[smjpl]

Maybe private addiction institutions but not public funded ones the issue doesn't affect enough people nor harms enough to justify the expense to the tax payer.

 

 

I think it's up to the individual. if someone's family or friends think it's becoming an issue, then they should try to help by addressing the issue in a non-confrontational way.

 

I don't mean individual government intervention, I am talking more about public awareness and social acceptability so that people don't get hooked in the first place.

 

(Social acceptability in that it is an actual problem and not "just in your head")

[jezza39]

it's Obsessive COMPULSIVE Disorder. it has to do with repetitive, uncontrollable thoughts, compulsions, and behaviors

 

don't throw around medical terms you don't know anything about.

it's a lot more than just an addictive personality.

 

You seem to have missed the subsequent post explaining what I meant in your rage, so I'll clarify again. What I meant was: One can be obsessive compulsive on anything, just the same way as one can be addicted to anything. I'm not saying psychologically they're the same thing, merely there is an infinite range of subjects that be obsessed/addicted too.

[smjpl]

Sorry, but since I'm not a teenage girl that takes 10k selfies per day I do use my phone as a tool and I see it as just that. I spend most of the time communicating (calls and texting) and the usual access to some information when I need it. I'm not the type to sit at a cafe with friends and stare at my phone, in fact, it's something we punish each other for, such as making the person put the phone face down on the table and not touch it unless it's a phone call.

 

I completely agree but just because you are not addicted, do you believe it is impossible for others to become addicted. I myself would be like you but I certainly see more and more people constantly online (if you are on you're phone that long you are probably online).

[Bogica]

Thank you for commenting. Now we can get some discussion going.

 

Do you see a difference between using something a lot and being addicted to it. If I was a taxi driver I wouldn't say I am addicted to driving. But if I get off from work, go home and get anxious because I am not in my car, then yes I would be addicted to driving.

My point exactly! Here is a cookie, you are my favourite pokemon now! People need to learn the difference between addiction and using something a lot. As you said, anxiety caused by the lack of it means you might be addicted. Don't you all go on vacation and don't go online for several days? I shut down all communication (even my phone) when I was on vacation for 10 days, felt so awesome and relaxing, didn't miss things one bit.

Edit: Don't get offended, I love cookies and usually don't share them so that makes you special. Also I love Pokemon!

[c3p0]

When the internet goes down I'm getting nervous and mad. Think I'm addicted already.

[Vacsol]

You seem to have missed the subsequent post explaining what I meant in your rage, so I'll clarify again. What I meant was: One can be obsessive compulsive on anything, just the same way as one can be addicted to anything. I'm not saying psychologically they're the same thing, merely there is an infinite range of subjects that be obsessed/addicted too.

you compared OCD and addiction, which are two very different things.

one can't just become obsessive-compulsive over something, it's a mental illness.

[Bogica]

When the internet goes down I'm getting nervous and mad. Think I'm addicted already.

Don't worry. It's the same situation. If I'm gaming and my net lags/goes down I will be mad, it's normal. If you drive your car and your tire falls off/the car stops you will be mad and nervous!

[jezza39]

you compared OCD and addiction, which are two very different things.

one can't just become obsessive-compulsive over something, it's a mental illness.

 

I didn't say it just happens, I said that you could be obsessive compulsive about an endless range of possibilities, such as light switch position, arrangement of clothes, position of items on desk etc etc. All I'm saying is, you can be obsessive over any topic, and you can be addicted to doing, consuming or thinking anything. 

 

And addiction is very close to if not already a recognised mental illness. 

[smjpl]

I for one do spend quite a bit of time online. I really enjoy the community we have here, the various forms of entertainment from hobbiest/professional Youtbers and I basically watch all my TV shows online now. I rarely turn the TV on anymore. I don't think I am addicted to the internet. I use it a lot but when I am offline, I am actually offline. I don't use my phone to go on LTT or social media. The only thing I use mobile data on is music, email, the odd google search and GPS navigation.

[Nomy]

Yeah I believe internet could be an addiction, heck even phone addictions exist. Take some kids phone away and enjoy the rampage they'll go on. Same goes with internet.

[Bogica]

I for one do spend quite a bit of time online. I really enjoy the community we have hear, the various forms of entertainment from hobbiest/professional Youtbers and I basically watch all my TV shows online now. I rarely turn the TV on anymore. I don't think I am addicted to the internet. I use it a lot but when I am offline, I am actually offline. I don't use my phone to go on LTT or social media. The only thing I use mobile data on is music, email, the odd google search and GPS navigation.

Exactly, I barely turn on the TV these days, except when I hook up my PC and want to watch something on a bigger screen. But as you said, most TV shows are online with barely any or no ADS at all, movies too. Most educational stuff is available written down or even in a form of a video which is much more enjoyable and practical for learning.

[murratri]

I don't mean individual government intervention, I am talking more about public awareness and social acceptability so that people don't get hooked in the first place.

 

(Social acceptability in that it is an actual problem and not "just in your head")

Yeah but that needs to be applied to alot more things first ie, drugs ect.

[smjpl]

Don't worry. It's the same situation. If I'm gaming and my net lags/goes down I will be mad, it's normal. If you drive your car and your tire falls off/the car stops you will be mad and nervous!

 

Completely agree. I am not saying anyone who gets pissed off when the internet goes down is addicted either. The key point I am trying to make though is control. I believe addiction becomes very real when we loose our control of how much time we spend online. When you loose time, then you are addicted.

 

When you said "I  call bullshit", were you referring to spending a lot of time or actual addiction? Can I ask if you voted NO to question 1? (is net addiction real?)

[smjpl]

Yeah but that needs to be applied to alot more things first ie, drugs ect.

 

An addiction is an addiction. We should treat addiction as the illness, not the substance that causes us to loose control (be it drugs or internet addiction). I know the two are not the same but the start and end affects are very similar.

[smjpl]

Yeah I believe internet could be an addiction, heck even phone addictions exist. Take some kids phone away and enjoy the rampage they'll go on. Same goes with internet.

 

Are they addicted to the phone or the internet? I would think most phone addicts are internet addicts.

[murratri]

An addiction is an addiction. We should treat addiction as the illness, not the substance that causes us to loose control (be it drugs or internet addiction). I know the two are not the same but the start and end affects are very similar.

Yeah, but not necessarily as a disease as mush as a debilitating habit that needs corrected, and needs to be accepted as something that happens

[Nxl8]

I think the only way to prove whether or not it is a true addiction is an extensive study into whether or not there is a bio-chemical change when someone is no longer on the internet, causing them to "crave" the internet to satisfy their addiction. But I do not think that just spending extensive amounts of time on the internet constitutes addiction.

[smjpl]

I would love to hear from some people who voted "NO" to "Do you believe internet addiction can be a real addiction?"

 

Do you think people are just acting up because they are not getting their way or what? Also, do you not see a difference between using something a lot and being addicted to it.

[smjpl]

Yeah, but not necessarily as a disease as mush as a debilitating habit that needs corrected, and needs to be accepted as something that happens

 

Either way, would you be in favour of seeing more posts and simply more awareness that people can get addicted to being online. I think this has hit home with some of our own LTT members. I hate to see good active people leave because they feel that they can't handle being here anymore.

[murratri]

Either way, would you be in favour of seeing more posts and simply more awareness that people can get addicted to being online. I think this has hit home with some of our own LTT members. I hate to see good active people leave because they feel that they can't handle being here anymore.

Yeah

[Bogica]

Completely agree. I am not saying anyone who gets pissed off when the internet goes down is addicted either. The key point I am trying to make though is control. I believe addiction becomes very real when we loose our control of how much time we spend online. When you loose time, then you are addicted.

 

When you said "I  call bullshit", were you referring to spending a lot of time or actual addiction? Can I ask if you voted NO to question 1? (is net addiction real?)

I said "I call bullshit" because of the people claiming that they are addicted (and we know tons of them) when in reality they are just spending a lot of time and consider it an addiction because of that fact. So I made the point below how the internet is multi purpose and that's why we spend a lot of time on it, not because we are necessarily addicted to it, but more because we find it practical. Do I believe it is a real addiction? YES. Do I believe we and the media are blowing things out of proportion? HELL YES!