I'm not quite sure how it all spiralled for me, it's always work and emails, having to keep various aspects of my business under control, and these days people expect an answer within minutes rather than days. Then it was the obsessive cleaning of my inbox, couldn't stand to have unread emails and my Junk and Delete folders full. And then, it sort of spiralled from there, into this forum, my blog, a photo website... And before I knew it, I was 'tidying up" the internet before I would actually do a chore in real life. So I did a test, got 54% on it, which means 'yeah you're addicted but not quite for rehab yet'. Looking at their addictive profiles, I don't do any cybersex, nor do I create 'meaningful relationships' of any kind on the net. I don't do gaming at all, on or off line, I have facebook purely so I can give it to people for work. This is the only forum I use, and I'm quite fed up of blogging. I might be getting lost in research and surfing, on occasion, but that's it. But, aside the issue that I can't, for practical reasons, neglect my inbox, the mere thought of not having internet access fills me with anxiety. And so far, switching off my router is the only solution I see to procrastination. Does anyone else have a similar problem? How did you deal with it?
Hey @Lewdog, I moved your comment, the other was a double thread without a poll. You might be right, though. But I wonder whether the mere fact I was wondering whether I was addicted means that I am bothered about not being able to better control the amount of time I spend on line. Goodness knows how many times I sat down to do some writing, and ended up wasting several hours on the forum or elsewhere. That part really scares me.
Look at it this way, maybe that just means you weren't really focused on writing and what you would have written was going to be utter crap any ways! Then look at the other side, how many times have you come to the forum and read something that gave you an idea for something to either improve your writing or give you something to write about? I know many times that surfing the internet it has helped me to come up with ideas I would have never thought of without it.
I looked at the test and realized I have trouble answering when it comes to the time spent online - I'm online most of the day, whenever I sit at a computer (be it at work or at home), but do not necessarily spend it online as such - I might genuinely work, but I'd notice (and probably react) if anyone sent me an e-mail or messaged me. How does that count? The test aside, I know that I'm a bit addicted, I like to keep up with a handful of forums and I have online friends that I wouldn't like to lose; I waste a lot of time checking and re-checking sites; but I can walk away from it for a few days without much pain.
I've chosen not to tick any of the boxes. To quote the lyric of a well known Canadian rock band, "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." As much as I use and enjoy the internet, I'm not addicted to it. Despite having been connected during the Internets infancy, I have gone through extended periods of time without it, with no ill effect. I reconnected again about a year ago, when I started writing. As a resource tool, its invaluable. Finance conservation is a necessity for me right now, and I can get away without a phone no problem, due to the fact I spend a lot of time at home. I get more for my money with a super fast broadband connection than a cell contract. If anyone needs to contact me, all they have to do is pm me or send me an email. My pc is hooked up to 32inch flat screen, but I have external speakers, so even if I'm watching the gogglebox, I can hear my notifiers sounding. It's up to me whether I decide to flip the channel or not. My friends know, in case of a genuine emergency, to ping me twice in close succession. If pressed, I'd say that the thing I've found most valuable about being online over the years, is that I've become acquainted with individuals who have gone on to become firm friends. I might never have had the chance to communicate with these people otherwise. But, I certainly wouldn't describe this as an addiction or obsession, as it's not something I actively seek out. Even this forum... I enjoy being a part of it, and swing by regularly. But because I have a condition that causes quite severe swings of both mood and ability to concentrate, I HAVE to prioritise. Writing should always come first. I was a late starter and I have a lot of time to make up for as, well as having to write in almost opportunistic fashion. I got on a roll last night and I'm dying to get back to it. I should be writing now, but I'm waiting for the sun to pass my window, as it's blinding. The only reason I'm here right now, is that it has temporarily nipped behind a big, white fluffy cloud. Judging by the speed of travel through the sky, I would say I've got about a minute left before the blue sky is back. I really should invest in some blackout blinds. Roll on 3 o' clock. @jazzabel I do agree with what you say about people expecting an answer within minutes. The degree of connectivity has made for a high degree of impatience on the part of some people. In fact, I always go out of my my to stress, no rush. People have enough on their plates these days without the added pressure of a speedy reply, when its in no shape or form justified.
I check emails, this forum, and Facebook many times a day, and I usually use Google a lot for finding info on things, be that for my writing or for personal reasons. I'm very, very sick. Help me.
@Lewdog: That's good, I'm loving the denial But seriously, you might be right? Although, I feel that I need to get more disciplined about it. @idle: Walking away from ir for a few days is what I wish I could do. As it is, Even if I'm travelling, I am still connected to my emails, and that drives me nuts.
@obsidian_cicatrix: You should seriously move to East Anglia, it's pissing down with rain for weeks now Plus, my study faces north, so it's always doom and gloom in here I envy you for having discipline. I always set out to prioritise, but I've noticed I don't usually manage, the time just flies! I'm psyching myself up for online absence of a few days, but there's always some pressing business which I'm waiting to complete and then I'll do it. It's a losing game. @Thomas Kitchen: Don't look at me, I can't even help myself with this ailment
I guess it is harder when you need it for work. Luckily, I don't. Actually, I'm going away for the weekend tomorrow and was just deciding whether to turn on data on my mobile phone, just in case. An addict would do it, of course, and spend the weekend online anyway. An almost-addict would not, and be very proud of it. Maybe I will, and try not to use it much.
For me it started with work. I work from home and everything I do is via internet with my clients. With them it's mainly just sending and receiving projects, but the market in which I live is very competitive for translation work. If I don't answer a commission request quickly, there are numerous other vendors with which the client can go. I was an OTF interpreter for a number of years which also had me tied down to a spot. As a Spanish interpreter, the calls are nonstop. Some people have a hard time believing that, but seriously, the phone would only just touch the cradle and it would ring with another client. Let too many calls "bounce" and you would be taken out of the network. It was then that I discovered foruming, the monkey which still rides my back. I took a break for a couple of years to reacquaint myself with the outside world, but I'm back.
@idle: Have a nice weekend away! I wish I had a mini-break coming up too, but it's gonna be pretty much non-stop for me until the second week of December, and then it's all the Christmas preparations and cooking, aargh! @Wreybies: I supported myself though med school by doing interpreting, and I remember the rat race. I was pretty much the first person at uni to have a cell phone, for that reason. And running around between dole offices, doctor surgeries and courts (what does that say about my clients? lol). It's nice work, being able to help someone who is lost not understanding a word. I can imagine how busy you are, speaking some of the most spoken languages in the world. I envy you for being strong enough to leave for two years! That seems as unreachable as a beckward bend and head stand in yoga
I do some gaming online, but since I hardly game at all anymore that's very little, I do some blogging and I spent time on about 6 different forums, but I'm only really active on this one. I'm online for about 3 hours a day, but that's mostly for school and I know I can go a day (or a week) without the internet without getting "withdrawal symptoms" or anything
@jazzabel Ta... but I don't know that I'd describe it as discipline exactly, when my kitchen is a mess and my cupboards are bare. Is writing more important than cleaning up and feeding myself? Hmmm... I'll have to think about that one. Writing is my priority. Question is: Should it be? I obviously do have an addiction, just not to the internet.
@Tara: I think it's becoming rapidly apparent I am the worst affected one in here @obsidian_cicatrix: Fortunately or unfortunately, I have a very insistent cat, dog and a husband who get terribly cranky if they don't eat. And since I'm the one who doesn't work full time, it's me who ends up having to feed them all On that note, I'm off to do some writing. If you see me back here before tonight, please kick me out
poll is missing the choice option of 'nothing'! i use the internet only as a tool for my work... not as a crutch, or for entertainment, or out of boredom... thus, while i'm logged online all day, 365 days a year, to be able to get my email that comes in all day every day, i only utilize the internet otherwise, when i need to get info, or to come here daily [and to 2 other writing sites], to do what i can to help new writers...
I used to game for hours and into the early morning. Now I've cut it back to maybe a couple hours every other day. It's just getting boring now and there are too many raging children that ruin the experience anyway. I try to keep myself occupied with non computer related activities like kickboxing.
I'm not addicted but from gaming, writing, reading up on things that interest me, or finding material to use, I'm on the PC more often than not.
I also used to play a lot of video games and now I play maybe one a year. Now it's more about facebook, this forum, e-mails and of course - college,
I'm online all day with the browser in the background. Scrivener is in the foreground, usually. I deal with email as it comes in and I keep up with my news sources. I also have Facebook up, but that's only to keep in touch with my family in Canada. Most of my internet time is spent on forums, with this one being the main one. I'm on two others, but neither is anywhere near as active as this (and neither has to do with writing). I've never been into gaming (thank all that's holy!) and I don't surf the net for porn.
Hey @Poziga, I see you're from Slovenia I'm from Belgrade, Zagreb, Pula and a few other places. What do you study at college? @minstrel: Hehe, you sound like me, but not bothered. Maybe I should just accept it and go with a flow... @mammamaia: Well, in your case the answer would be 'Emails', no? @rhduke: I experienced that only once, with Vampire Wars on facebook. It's one of those things I admit to only when I'm anonymous. It was after I spent a hundred bucks on extra powers and clothes, twice, that I went cold turkey. It was really stupid... @A.M.P.: I like your style, 'embrace it, don't fight it'
Ever since I joined this forum, I've mostly had the forum up and hitting F5 every few minutes. If nothing new, I go back to OpenOffice and keep writing >.> This place has been a good influence on me *shudder* I still do other stuff too as normal but out of nowhere writing and WF has suddenly taken the foreground of my day.
I use the internet for a lot of things (read the news, visit this forum, check email, etc.), so at this point I'm inclined to believe that the internet is a necessity rather than a source of addiction. But maybe that's just me being in denial.
