Author |
Message |
Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 11:59 am
Found this on yahoo's front page... Are You an Internet Addict? Fri Nov 3, 2006 7:58AM EST See Comments (175) I was reading through an AFP report on Yahoo! News that says Serbia is now treating people with Internet addictions. This counseling center considers anyone who is not interested in daily activities with family and friends as a potential Internet addict and looks for other signs such as spending prolonged hours online, turning to virtual friends, and isolation. I'm not sure exactly how they treat Internet addiction, but they say treatment usually lasts one year. After reading this, I headed over to Net Addiction and took an Internet Addiction Test (IAT) that told me my Internet usage is causing occasional problems in my life. I won't take that test too seriously because my occupation requires me to be online a lot of the time. However, I will keep that in mind next time I choose surfing the web over, er, household chores. Can you blame me? Internet addiction can be harmful for those who delve into the darker side of the web, such as online gambling, cybersex, online affairs, and online gaming. But how do you know when you or someone you love is addicted to the Internet? When is it time to pull the plug and seek treatment? Here's a list of common symptoms to watch out for: 1. Lying about how much time is spent online. 2. General decrease of physical activity and social life. 3. Neglecting obligations at home, work, or school to spend time online. 4. Spending too much money on computer equipment or Internet activities. 5. Feeling a constant desire to be online when they're away from the computer. 6. Going online to escape real world problems. 7. Disregarding the emotional or physical consequences of being in front of a computer all day. 8. Denial of the problem. There is much debate about the reality of Internet addiction. The bottom line is that anything can be harmful when abused. If you find yourself spending more time online than with real people, then plan for some quality time with the family or friends every other day. Find an activity the whole family enjoys and make a date with them. I personally disconnect completely every weekend and get out of the house so I'm not tempted to check email. I also have movie nights and "Lost" nights during the week, which are a great excuse to turn off the computer. Different things work for different people, so just find something you enjoy and don't hesitate to shut the computer off. What do you do to escape cyberspace? link
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 12:53 pm
my name is landi, and i am an internet addict.
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 12:59 pm
Escape cyberspace? Heck, cyberspace is my escape! 
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Cndeariso
Member
06-28-2004
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 12:59 pm
mocha, i got a http 404 not found error when i clicked on the link.
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Cndeariso
Member
06-28-2004
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 1:03 pm
i was able to find the article and go take the test: You are an average on-line user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage. now, if the test had been about TVCH i may have had different results. LOL
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 1:08 pm
Crap I got an error too, the page must've moved. I'm with you Who lol.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 1:08 pm
My only real escapes are TV shows, school, and my serving job. My other job is as a computer tech, where I pretty much surf the internet all day. Is it not a problem if I ADMIT it?
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 1:12 pm
here is the link: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/hughes/6574 and here is the test: http://www.netaddiction.com/resources/internet_addiction_test.htm
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Native_texan
Member
08-24-2004
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 1:18 pm
But, Cnd, that is using the internet so you should have considered that in your answers. I got a 67: You are experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of the Internet. You should consider their full impact on your life.
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 1:24 pm
Never mind. I fixed the link....got called away from the computer before I could hit "post." Came back and hit post only to find the link already fixed! LOL.
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 1:33 pm
LOL on some of the questions on that test, since I'd have some other answers to them. For instance: 12. How often do you fear that life without the Internet would be boring, empty, and joyless? well crap, now that you put that thought in my head......gee thanks a lot! 17. How often do you try to cut down the amount of time you spend on-line and fail? well, since I've never really tried to cut down, I guess I've never failed! 19. How often do you choose to spend more time on-line over going out with others? well, seeing as nobody ever really wants to go anywhere with me..... My score was a 32: You are an average on-line user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage.
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 1:43 pm
I got a 47 and was considered average, too. That's such BS, because I'm totally addicted. Of course, I'm off on Disability right now, so I don't have much more I can or need to do with myself...
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 2:09 pm
I'm average, too. I have a very busy life outside of the internet.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 2:18 pm
33. You are an average on-line user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage.
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 2:30 pm
some totally addicted person prolly messed up the link so no one could take test...he wanted to keep his online friends online and not feeling guilty about spending too much time online
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Grannyg
Member
05-28-2002
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 2:51 pm
Who, I agree with some of your thoughts. The question about "do you lie about how long you are on the internet" my answer to that is never cause I don't care if anyone knows how long I'm on the internet. Everyone knows I play on a message board and what time I'm not here, I'm at Pogo. lol
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 2:55 pm
They call it virtual friends. We call it Juju's imaginary friends.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 4:10 pm
Uh....I was a 63. 
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 4:16 pm
Until they *do* make the test about TVCH, I am: ....an average on-line user. (I) may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but (I) have control over my usage.
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Shadoe
Member
11-04-2004
| Friday, November 03, 2006 - 4:58 pm
LOL I got an 18. While I am never off line, most of the times I have the screen off and speakers down. I used to spend too much time online, so I made changes. Now I spend maybe 15min in the morn, and a total of maybe an hour in the eve during the week. Unless I am looking for something, I am likely not really online.
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Biloxibelle
Member
12-21-2001
| Saturday, November 04, 2006 - 6:49 am
Mine said I was a 28. I must have lied in my answers .
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Saturday, November 04, 2006 - 9:04 am
Somebody better get in here and score higher than me. I'm beginning to feel pretty bad.
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Saturday, November 04, 2006 - 10:42 am
That aint gonna happen, Eeyore. No one is willing to include time on TVCH. lol
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Saturday, November 04, 2006 - 11:11 am
Maybe you took the "metric" test, Eeyore. That might explain the higher score. I figured that either I lied, or the test is rigged, too, Biloxi. I am online all the time!
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Azriel
Member
08-01-2000
| Sunday, November 05, 2006 - 7:43 pm
I made a low score, but it's only because my husband is addicted to the internet also, so I don't have anyone upset about my time on line, I don't have to lie about time on line and I can stay online as long as I want because if I'm doing something 'important' on line my husband understands if the laundry isn't done and he has to eat a sandwich. LOL!
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