February 21, 2006
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Computing Addiction
Life over flows;
With self created, stressful addictions
©RSBlain
I am sure there are others who have twirled that thought around in their minds. I am also sure there are probably billions of people who haven’t come close to approaching the reality of what I wrote above. The thought hit home with me a long time ago but continuing in my daily patterns, knowing I needed to change and should change, I allowed myself to become even more addicted.
Addiction … I have never had what I would call a life threatening addiction. I don’t drink, smoke or take illegal drugs. An out and out disclosure, I am addicted to food and the computer.
I don’t like addictions, they aren’t healthy and they create a different person than you may truly be. I thank my lucky stars for the newfound knowledge I have gained concerning computing and the computer. I learn something new almost everyday. I really love all the good parts but I have a real respect for the dangers created by computing and the Internet. When I learned how to use the computer and found Excite Chat and discovered I could write and never use white-out again, I was hooked. I blame it totally on my husband who insisted I could learn how to use the computer and I wonder, though he doesn’t admit to it, if he is sorry now. When I discovered Excite Chat, I spent many an hour there. (I held a record for quite some time remaining linked to Excite playing in the rooms.) I enjoyed the unique chat room situations that were just plain fun. Excite allowed you to chat while surfing almost any page on the Internet taking friends with you shopping and game playing and you felt a closeness to the chatters as you could view avatars (small graphics) of the individuals in the chat room or on any Internet page you happened to travel the Internet to. It was great fun and because of Excite, I lost that “lost in space” feeling that was a part of my computing up until that time. I have been addicted in the true sense of the word, for a long time, to computing and the Internet beginning at about the time the Internet came into existence. I am at this time taking my life back one little kb at a time.
I am a list maker. You may or may not agree with my list but I’ll drop it, with some thoughts, on you anyway.
Computing/Internet, Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
The world of libraries and their information is at your fingertips 24/7. Everything from Directions and maps, World News to the information concerning side effects of the new prescription you were given are here as well. Libraries from around the world, filled with complete books for reading and tons of books on any and all subjects are waiting to be accessed. Museums you may never get to visit in real life are on the Internet along with the histories of every nation that ever existed. Music is here, tons of it and now you can listen to the radio or watch TV or movies (I don’t personally use those features, I prefer my Television and Radio not on my computer).
*A real plus, keep in touch with family with text messaging, emails, voice messaging and instant photo sends.
Lots to learn, tons of hardware and software so you can keep your mind growing.
Creative skills can be honed. No more white-out. I can write and store and save without the use of paper or clips. I love digital photography and can show off what I care to show off in the wink of an eye. I love playing with graphics and Photo Manipulation in Paint Shop Pro.
Website building, I’ve done a lot of that and have enjoyed learning some of the in’s and out’s of html. I’m no expert but no slouch either.
Internet friends, I have made Internet friends who have become, real life friends.
Shop the Internet:
Everything is there and your choice can be stores from Africa to Asia to Europe to the USA if you aren’t happy with close to home.
Always the hacker/terrorist in your emails, web pages and sites I may visit showing themselves for the villains they are. The problem includes just plain meanness to the existence of worldwide terrorism on the net.
Computing isn’t free. The expense of the hardware/software is not minimal and the possibility of one of those hackers, even with improvements in security, destroying what sits right in front of you on your desk in your own home. Hacking is a game to the mean ones.
Pedophiles and Sex predators abound on the Internet. Our children no matter what you have taught them are vulnerable as they are influenced more by others than by us their parents or guardians. The news is filled with what goes on everyday on the Internet and it makes me sick.
Drug selling, you can bet it is here. What an easy way to buy, sell, and make arrangements for drug deliveries.
Internet shopping, yes, its convenient but it is in my mind destroying local business and thieves, tons of thieves on EBay, I have personal testaments to this. Good sellers are there but it is a stronghold and den for selling thieves.
Internet games: Like television, computer games could have been so helpful to the world and such a great educator but instead the worst is the most of what is available to influence. The newest game on the news this week is a game that is cop and robber, giving the player the choice to deliberately target and kill lawmen. Allowing these kinds of games into our homes teaching children this kind of behavior is just plain wrong even if you do have to be 17 to purchase it. Less than strong parenting, added to games, movies, television of this kind is a big part of what is wrong with so many of our young people today.
Computing is a definite intrusion on sports and outdoor activities. There are and will always be the studious nerd but we are fooling ourselves when we allow kids to sit in front of Television and Computers and think it has nothing to do with obesity or how our children are behaving out in the world.
I am sure my list can be added to by myself after some thinking and by anyone reading. To me, even though I am pulled towards the pro’s list, I need to remove myself from the stress of the con list as much as possible. I’m just plain tired of it. That is a lot of the reasoning behind less blog entries from me. I’m not gone, just enjoying some things other than what the Internet has to offer.
Wishing everyone, non addictive high security computing, safe surfing and a great week. Until the next time,
Becca
aka LittleE
Comments (20)
Hmmm—it seems we have the same two addictions!! Those are really the ONLY two I have, also. And agree with your pros and cons, too.
It can be addictive if we let it. Maybe balance is in order…
I kind of had an “intervention” with myself recently!
I still haven’t made a final decision…until then, it’s SuzyQ lite!
Hey sweety hope your having a good week Im a granny again
((GOD BLESS))
Very interesting post, Becca. I completely agree that we who are overstressed have “self-created stressful addictions” in so many areas. My boss and I were just talking about that this morning…..how we let all these things in our lives dictate what we do and that priorities aren’t always what they should be or what we really want. How to change though? We discussed dropping certain things in our lives and having the ability to say “no” more often. Somehow it has become looked down upon in society to want to spend more time with ourselves and our families.
It is easy to become addicted but very difficult to break the addiction. I ” ration ” my time on the computer otherwise I’d be on here all day and night.
I have deliberately stopped doing many things that took up much of my time but still don’t seem to have any time to ” spare ” 
Marie
This is very interesting. I have taught in my computer classes some of the very things that you listed above in your Pros and Cons. I enjoy using the computer, but I take breaks from it, too.
I think my cure for addictions is to get addicted to something new. There’s probably a flaw in my reasoning somewhere, but if you have an intractably addictive personality, what else ya gonna do? Love you muches,
I never thought of you as one to get addicted to anything. I have to admit that I’m rather surprised to read that you’re “addicted” to computing. It’s not such a bad thing. There are worse things you could be addicted to…
EEEP! I hate admitting to addictions. Hate it, hate it, hate it.
Ok, but I do admit them. I am addicted to ciggarettes, but I am making plans to quit. again.
I am addicted to the internet, but have learned to control my addiction. When I start spending too much time here, I cut myself back immeadiately! Plus, life has a way of intruding on internet time anyhow.
My husband is addited too. He is like me a smoker, but his worst addiciton is what our family calls “Marty Porn”. He is addicted to real estate. He spends hours upon hours looking at property and homes, and buildings for sale around the country. He talks to real estate agents all the time, has his “favorites” list clogged with real estate web sites. We own already 2 houses, and 4 pieces of raw land. We sold our cabin about a year ago. But it is never enough for him. I think he wants to own the whole world. It also runs in the family, his father and sister are both also addicted…
Addictions are often not what we think of them as, and we can become addicted to many things. I guess the key is to recognize them, and not let them overtake our lives. Harder than it is to say it for sure.
Enjoy your life, but remember to come visit once in awhile!
Excellent post, Becca. I’ve been having a bit of a problem convincing my daughter she is a blog/IM addict. One of the reasons I don’t post as often as I used too, is to convince her that one can accomplish MANY DIFFERENT GOALS, if one is not praying to the silicon god.
I hope all is well with you and yours. I thought of ya’ll when I was in Cinci last Saturday.
Peace.
PS: The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.
I definitely think it is a fine line of balance. I knew I was too addicted to xanga so I pulled back. I read often but rarely comment as I limit my time.
I am addicted to the computer as it is my library, my doctor at times, my hidey hole from a stressful day and an outlet for my innerself….I am a computer junkie
Yes Becca I believe we are on the same line . I love Xanga because we have friends on all the horizons . But we have to keep ( not easy ) a just balance .I had to take a break but I am back now ;
Love
michel
Moderation in ALL things . . . that’s the ticket.
It is not hard for me to lay it down for a day or two. But if I am away more than that, I think I start going through withdrawal. Addiction…yes it is. You have been “on” so much longer than I, but one thing that I have found is that I am writing more than I ever have. My thoughts get written down and my children and grandchildren will know me years from now when I sit in that old folks home going gooo gooo gahhh gahh. And there are so many that I would never have known without it…my mind immediately returns to Lord Pineapple and his poems. **Heart pang** Thank you for the thought that went into this post.
Hope you have a great weekend God Bless
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I haven’t been by for awhile for I find it hard to stay here for long periods. I cannot straighten up if I sit too long. I share your addictions. The computer leveled the playing field for me a hearing disabled person and eating is one of the last pleasures I will abandon. I used to be so wary of gaining weight and last year I had an epiphany whereas I realized that there is nothing wrong in wearing a size 16, It was in my mind. I used to get on the scales and if I had gained a pound of two, I would just spit. I haven’t weighed in a year, tho I know I have gained weight for I used to wear a size 12!!! Thank goodness for elastized waists!!!
Come visit sometime. I still blog since it is the only way for me to share, having virtually no family now.
hey sweety hope all is going well for you and yours have a great Patty’s Day weekend hugs and God Bless
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I recently came back from an internet sabatical. I was afraid that I was obsessing over it. I was afraid that my son’s schoolwork was being affected. I was offline for more than 6 months, only checking my e-mail a couple of times a week at the library and I didn’t really mind it. My son’s schoolwork didn’t improve (it actually got worse) and I lost touch with many friends. All of your internet ‘pros’ are beneficial and all of your ‘cons’ are risks that aren’t necessarily that dangerous. Like a great prophet said (I forget which one) “All things, in moderation” So I’m back now
and I no longer feel any detriment to my character because I like to surf and chat and write and read. If it wasn’t the internet making me late for work or losing sleep or forgetting to eat, it would be something else. Just another one of those “self-created, stressful obsessions“. It isn’t an addiction because there was no real withdrawal symptoms for me… just a feeling like I was missing out.