internet addiction

does anybody else here think internet addiction is a serious problem? i mean think about how many people in the world are actually addicted. millions? i can honestly say i am addicted. if you use the DSM as the criteria for dependence/abuse, it resonates with internet dependence a great deal:

DSM-IV Substance Abuse Criteria

Substance abuse is defined as a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:

1. Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home (such as repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from school; or neglect of children or household).
2. Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (such as driving an automobile or operating a machine when impaired by substance use)
3. Recurrent substance-related legal problems (such as arrests for substance related disorderly conduct)
4. Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (for example, arguments with spouse about consequences of intoxication and physical fights).

Note: The symptoms for abuse have never met the criteria for dependence for this class of substance. According to the DSM-IV, a person can be abusing a substance or dependent on a substance but not both at the same time.

DSM-IV Substance Dependence Criteria
Substance dependence is defined as a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring any time in the same 12-month period:

1. Tolerance, as defined by either of the following: (a) A need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or the desired effect or (b) Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance.
2. Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following: (a) The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance or (b) The same (or closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
3. The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended.
4. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use.
5. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance, use the substance, or recover from its effects.
6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use.
7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (for example, current coc aine use despite recognition of coc aine-induced depression or continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption).


am i crazy? well i know i'm crazy, but am i wrong?

I am addicting to the internet but to me it's like a free library system. I read all the time online. If I cant find a book on something in the local library or book store I go online and download it and read it. I dont watch much TV so the internet is perfect for me. I learn more with my "internet addiction" than I do watching useless TV so IMO I dont think internet addiction is that bad, but I guess it depends on what you are doing. Personally I love the internet. It's the best place to find information on anything. I love to learn about new things and this is the first place I go after the library or book store.

ok... i mean how many hours a day do u spend at the computer tho... too much of anything is bad. and i think it depends on how you feel when you don't have the internet.

there was a southpark episode titled "overlogging" where the internet stopped workign and the whole world went to sh*t.

if the internet were to completely go away after today... how would that make you feel? would u go through withdrawal? i think people would

ATS is pretty addictive in itself. add to that i can watch any tv show i like when i want without adverts, listen to free music, hunting down new music in the process watching movies, theres so many things you can do with a laptop. and like a poster said before, you can always do research and read online books

I have a Facebook addiction. I check it numerous times a day, sometimes numerous times an hour if I'm bored.

so does anybody think something should be done about internet addiction? i think that it is and can be harmful psychologically... especially if someone were to take it away (somehow)

humanity has in general a problem with over usage. All the typical motages of lifestyle include some facet of over use. I say we stop beating ourselves up about it and go with it, control ourselves in it and relax. Or contrive a good intention gone bad again. As in all things. As in exampled by economic downturns, corporate swindles and the last 100 years. Why is life not more obvious to most?

There is an array of beauty in nature. Mandelbrotian never ending stories of life. Yet in our minimalist minds of materialisms. We equate instantly nature with insects and harsh living in order to pave over it. In that life our addiction which is normal, turns into decaying thought forms, depression, negativity. Now who needs such a large negative charge and for what? Look at cities they are essentially giant circuit boards. People moving the ions along pathways over time. Immitating a form of intentended function.

reply to post by mastermind77


mastermind, very good points. but i mean if we just give in to everything that is harmful to us and accept it, that couldn't be good... i mean what is seriously gonna happen if the internet goes down? you've seen what happens when one person get a virus or something. imagine that exponentially. it would be havoc if u ask me.

i'm talking more on a practical level than a philosophical level when it comes to the internet addiction problem