Don't let the internet control you!!

I just want to start out by quoting some material for your personal reference.

Internet Addiction Disorder
Maria Garcia Duran
December 14, 2003
Abstract

So far addictions have mainly focused on highs that are produced from the use of drugs or other external forces that affect the brain’s chemical responses. However it has recently been brought to the public’s attention that an individual can receive a similar kind of “high” from using the Internet. This malady has been termed Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). The research for this disorder is fairly new and scarce, but the results leave something to mull over. It affects everyone involved with the “user,” and moreover there are a few psychologists who know how to treat it.

Internet Addiction Disorder

The growth of a hardly satisfied and very innovative population has created an environment where the saturated use of the computer, and its additional benefits is an orthodox. It no longer matters where one travels or how much room for luggage one has, a computer can be brought regardless of the inconveniences. This availability opens a door to the Internet that can be accessed from almost anywhere a person whishes to render its services. Just like any other hobby however some of its users start to spend an extended amount of time in it, which can lead to an addiction of the pastime. These people who cross the line are said to be suffering from a newfound diagnosis termed by researchers as Internet Addiction Disorder or (IAD) (Dr. Grohol, 2003, par. 1).

Since the craving people have to use the Internet unrestrained is a fairly new concept that has been brought to public attention just recently there has not been much research done in the field to date. And it is still a very debatable question whether it exists or not. Some say that the Internet is addictive to the point where it controls one’s life, others say that it is not the same as getting high or drunk to an extreme. Nevertheless the Internet is affecting the people who use it extensively whether it be called addictive or not.

According to Dr. John Grohol the original research cases were exploratory surveys which do not explain the relationship between the supposed behavior and its cause (2003, par. 2). In other words, the surveys can explain why a person feels and behaves in certain way, but they cannot conclude that the behavior has been caused by the prolonged usage of the internet (Dr. Grohol, 2003, par. 2). Grohol does, nevertheless, agree that people do have problems from spending too much time on the computer, and he relates to the idea that people engage in the activity because they do not want to deal with the problems in their lives (2003, par. 4). It is similar to the behavior that a person who watches a lot of TV reveals, or the person who reads an abundant amount of books, or that of the person who goes out for a few drinks regularly.

An alternative theory as to why people use the Internet to a great extent is a very plausible idea. Dr. Grohol has made a model (see insertion 1) where the individual is said to go through phases in their discovery of the Internet and its resources. The first stage occurs when the individual is new to the environment, a newcomer, or is an existing user that finds a new activity, it is referred to as the stage of enchantment or obsession (Dr. Grohol, 2003, par. 20). This is the phase that is highly “addictive” to the individual until of course they reaches stage two, disillusionment (Dr. Grohol, 2003, par. 20). In this stage the individual has to become uninterested in the activity they engage is so often, once that is accomplished the individual can safely reach the third stage, Balance (Dr. Grohol, 2003, par. 20). This balance symbolized a normalized usage of the internet, it is reached at a different period by everyone and the phases can still be recycled if the individual finds another interesting new activity (Dr. Grohol, 2003, par. 20).

allpsych.com...

People need to understand that the internet is JUST A TOOL. That is all it is. The internet is just something people use for information. You should not let yourself be controlled by the internet. It is just something that people use to talk to other people. It should not force you to be drawn in to the internet. The internet is just a tool used to talk to other people and gather information.

The INTERNET IS NOT YOUR LIFE. I know this is a hard concept for people to understand. People need to get this, and, understand, that what is on the internet happens on the internet and only there. I mean, it doesn't just happen there- it may carry to the people outside the internet. But like it's like this- I AM JUST A PERSON HERE AT ATS- and I am making threads with a decent amount of information in them because I want for more people to be able to see them, and, learn from my insights about the world. I don't get stuck into thinking what everyone else is thinking, or, following everyone around on message boards. I know there is a life outside the internet. There is something called the real world. The real world is fun. Just because you may hate on it doesn't mean that you shouldn't spend some time on it. I also want to give you two definitions of something that I want to go into more detail about and how you should keep these things in mind with the internet

n
1. the act of enlightening.
2. the state of being enlightened: to live in spiritual enlightenment.
3. (usually initial capital letter) Buddhism, Hinduism. prajna.
4. the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement of the 18th century, characterized by belief in the power of human reason and by innovations in political, religious, and educational doctrine.

dictionary.reference.com...

ra⋅tion⋅al⋅i⋅ty  [rash-uh-nal-i-tee] Show IPA
–noun, plural -ties.
1. the state or quality of being rational.
2. the possession of reason.
3. agreeableness to reason; reasonableness.
4. the exercise of reason.
5. a reasonable view, practice, etc.ra⋅tion⋅al⋅i⋅ty  [rash-uh-nal-i-tee] Show IPA

dictionary.reference.com...

Yes, ATS has the power to enlighten you but remember it is just the internet and so is everything else on there. So you should be rational when you use the internet.

Do not let the internet. There are other things you can do besides the internet. I think that people should really be enlightened- but- just remember- the internet is just a tool when you're on ATS- it is not you- the people on there are not your family, we are just people here who go on here to discuss things just like you do. So, just keep this stuff in mind when using the internet. We don't have control over you and there are other things to do other than the internet... I do think that people need to keep track of this when using the net.

(mods, if this is in the wrong place please move it)

I'm on disability and the internet has helped more than hurt me. ATS and the various opinions has been psychothearpy as well. I don't have a cell phone or blackberry etc. and would hate to be limited to the library for 20 minutes. I've had worse addictions such as chat rooms and no sleep on work nights. So, I'm familiar with the addictions to some degree. Spending less time here would be better for many in my position and obviously more exercise. Priorities should be in order....no doubt about it.

Do not let the internet. There are other things you can do besides the internet.

Good point, everyone, remember, internet addiction is bad. What happened to the good ole hedonistic addictions

lol j/k kinda. lol

Yeah, I see kids these days, who freak over the computers!

IAD will probably get worse over the next few years. I can't imagine being 'addicted' to the internet though... seems like a weird thought to me, but I do believe it.

I would think what one does with the Internet is vastly more important than how much time one spends on it. Am I correct? I remember the recomendations that one shouldn't watch television but should read a book instead in order to stimulate the mind. So if one shuns television and physical, written material and uses the Internet to read a book, or possibly even research and learn, that's now some cultural malady akin to total immersion in D&D, right?

reply to post by abecedarian


Hopefully not akin to D&D, that was crazy! Same with WoW!

Never seen people flip like that!

Good point, though, what one does on the internet, is much more helpful or harmful, if one just spends there time looking at nude pictures... then well there not doing anything really to stimulate, there brain, the upstairs one. But if they spent the time, researching learning, then I guess that would be an alright addiction, as long as they don't turn into Mel Gibsons Conspiracist character!

I use the internet for School Work, and ATS If those to disappeared, i'd stop paying the bill and let it go the way of the dodo.

Agree with much of what's been posted here, but should probably add that internet has become THE primary form of communication/interaction for many people, due to a variety of reasons

internet addiction is something i can't stand. I have a lot of friends that are addicted to forums, chats, twitter or games... and it's sad. You call them to go out, don't know, to have a picnic in a park because it's a sunny day, and they elaborate inmediatly an excuse for not going... because the internet is more important than sitting on the grass and share a nice conversation.
Or going to a party. And if you, for one or another reason, can take them outside, they carry their iPhone or Blackberry to keep connected anyway. I have seen people tweting from bars and clubs and that' just sad IMHO...

Oh please.

In *real life* huh?
Whoever came up with that lame line you can be sure was talking about internet porn.

Think about it.

So, in that line of thinking, when you sit in front of the television to watch a program like a nub on a stump, that’s *real life*?

But the internet where you can communicate, interact, search and explore, educate yourself, enlighten yourself, learn something new every day, encounter other cultures and belief systems, meet people you’d never meet walking down your street, continue to learn and stay in touch with local and international issues, stay in touch with family, help yourself and your loved ones, explore your own mind and the mind of others isn’t MORE, it isn’t *real life*?

LOL

Anything taken beyond moderation is considered to be detrimental.

Using the internet in moderation - especially substituting the time you’d normally have spent in front of the idiot tube, for computer time - is time well spent.

And this *real life* idiocy? I’ll leave it top those who believe it. Like I said, they’re probably the ones who use the internet for porn, and their time after that in front of the television.

peace


[edit on 6-9-2009 by silo13]