Are You Addicted To The Internet?

Discussion time again -

The other day, my Internet connection went down for a few hours and I had a mini-panic but without the distraction of email, facebook, forums, etc., I was able to get some real work done.

I also noticed during the SOPA blackout, that even the supporters of the protest were still going on Facebook and moaning because Wikipedia was down for an entire 24 hours.

So, how bad is your Internet addiction? How long could you go without logging in? Could you live without Google Maps, Wikipedia, live travel information, weather forecasts, Twitter, etc.? And if you're old enough, do you remember a time before the Internet and what you did to cope?

I don't get the moaning about Wikipedia as it's not the most reliable of sources. Plus if you are a student and need to get some research done, there are things called books that you can find in that big building on the campus with the decent drinks machine.

But yeah, I do like to surf. I do most of my shopping online. *Is a girl*

I am addicted. To the internet, to TV and to Coke.
If I go without any of those things for too long (I mean as in days, not hours) I feel very odd and uncomfortable indeed.

Internet, bubble baths, and chocolate. Those are my addiction. I get proper grumpy without them.

Quote: zooo @ January 20 2012, 12:41 PM GMT

I am addicted. To the internet, to TV and to Coke.

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I'm gonna assume the fizzy soft drink and not the Devil's Dandruff. Always weirds me out when I meet middle class people who don't own a television.

People who don't own a TV are not normal. End of.

Yes, just for the avoidance of misunderstanding, I do mean this, not the other:

Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop @ January 20 2012, 12:44 PM GMT

People who don't own a TV are not normal. End of.

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Don't trust 'em.

Whenever I go camping or to a remote ranch there is usually no phone service. I can do 3 or 4 days without checking my e-mail and the news but I get antsy after that.

By internet I assume you mean the web, rather than the... internet?

I know people who use the internet a lot but not the web. Ditto not owning a television. It's usually women as men need images more.

It's quite surprising what some people use the web for but the question can't be debated on here, almost everyone who posts here is addicted to it.

Facebook and twitter is different. That's for hairdressers.

Quote: Godot Taxis @ January 20 2012, 1:04 PM GMT

By internet I assume you mean the web, rather than the... internet?

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Well one is pretty much synonymous with the other in reference to the question poised. If you are using the net and not the web, I can only assume it's for your job and therefore not technically an addiction.

Like a lot of people, I claim not to be addicted to the net, but if truth be told, after sparking up a smoke in the morning, the computer is the next thing to come on.

People have integrated the web into their lives so much, that they probably don't even think it's an addiction. Christ, some people can't even sit through a movie without sending out a Tweet that they're watching a movie.

I'm not addicted, but I am quite reliant on it for info.

I do find myself going web-based when I'm sat around waiting for women to put their lipstick on, or whatever it is they do in public lavatories.

Quote: TopBanana @ January 20 2012, 1:39 PM GMT

when I'm sat around waiting for women to put their lipstick on, or whatever it is they do in public lavatories.

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I'm assuming you mean when you are out with a lady and that you don't just randomly sit close to the ladies lavatories with smart phone in hand. (BTW, they're lezzing it off in there, that's why they take so long).

My favourite new thing is: 'Gah, so busy at work today, don't even have time for a break.' But they have plenty of time to go on Facebook. I'm wondering just how many man hours are lost each day by people pretending to work?

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ January 20 2012, 12:31 PM GMT

Discussion time again -

The other day, my Internet connection went down for a few hours and I had a mini-panic but without the distraction of email, facebook, forums, etc., I was able to get some real work done.

I also noticed during the SOPA blackout, that even the supporters of the protest were still going on Facebook and moaning because Wikipedia was down for an entire 24 hours.

So, how bad is your Internet addiction? How long could you go without logging in? Could you live without Google Maps, Wikipedia, live travel information, weather forecasts, Twitter, etc.? And if you're old enough, do you remember a time before the Internet and what you did to cope?

View original

I'm not sure, generally, people have strategies to cope with things that don't
yet exist. There simply isn't time to worry about everything that has not yet been invented...or any reasonable likelyhood of knowing what those things may be.

Quote: rwayne @ January 20 2012, 1:50 PM GMT

I'm not sure, generally, people have strategies to cope with things that don't
yet exist. There simply isn't time to worry about everything that has not yet been invented...or any reasonable likelyhood of knowing what those things may be.

View original

I see where you are getting at rwayne, but I don't think many new technologies have impacted my life as much as the Internet, with the exceptions of microwave ovens, mobile phones and the VCR. It has totally transformed everything I do now.

I don't think I'm addicted to the internet, even though I use it most days. I can go without it. I don't tweet and only use facebook when friends are overseas so I know they are ok. Otherwise I don't care what cafe/bar you are currently sitting in etc.

I do tend to play with my phone a fair bit but I don't do it company. I guess if I didn't have Google maps I would just get lost a bit more.