Furious Seasons

May 10, 2006

Ban The Internet!!

Ah, now the mental health crowd is going after what they call "internet addiction." To whit:

"While not yet defined as a true addiction, many are suffering the consequences of obsession with the online world, unable to control their use. From gaming to sexual and emotional relationships, the internet is taking over lives. More and more people will be confronted with consequences such as divorce and physical symptoms which will force them to seek both medical and psychological treatment.
Online marital infidelity (cybersex) can lead to divorce and harm personal relationships. Individuals who seek out sexual partners online also appear to be at higher risk for sexually transmitted disease. Furthermore, such behaviors can lead to cybersexual addiction. Previous studies have reported that 'Approximately 9 million people, or 15 percent of Internet users, accessed one of the top adult Web sites in a 1-month period.'"

While a healthy discussion of any obsessive behavior is always good, I sit here in wonderment. Have you ever heard of counselors going after book-reading obsessive disorder? Or how about excessive jogging and working out? Of course, you haven't. Why is it that activities that our behavioral monitors don't approve of--'net obsessions--are indicators of a disordered life, yet if you asked the same set of therapists whether they found problems with someone spending two hours a day in the gym and causing all sorts of problems in their personal relations as a result, you'd likely get the "Oh you are so naive smile" from them. If you asked them if a person spending 6 hours a night writing poetry that will never be published had indicators of a disorder, they'd likely say no. So why does the weird world of the Web get treated differently? Answer: most therapists are disconnected nerds. Have you ever tried to party with one?

But why don't we ban the 'Net or perhaps force ISPs to time out users who spend mroethan two hours online. Sounds reasonable to me.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at May 10, 2006 09:12 AM

del.icio.us Digg it reddit

Comments

Well, being that Ive taken so much time typing responses to one post, today I should be booted off for sure. Now the funniest part of that article is the STD thing. Whereeeee did they get those stats?! I write all of my poetry online. I do bills online. I learn online. I read the newspaper online. This is just like the old TV time days. Most likely, TV is off and computer is on now. Addiction? how about 21st Century? Higher divorce rates? probably wasnt going well anyhow.(how many people sit and stare at a TV not speaking) Wasnt the internet supposed to be the superhighway of information? It's how Ive done all of my research on meds and illness over the years, sorry docs, but they even look up side effects online, and my doctor even goes online to record my visit as well as click send, and away my RX goes straight to my pharmacist. I spend most of my time outside, gardening. Some days I monitor my internet time to when I know I have time off, to spare, and many days, plan around when the sun is out, and I wait until it's dark outside to go online and see what the world has done for the day, so I dont miss the daylight. Where did you find this article? is it available offline? Would anyone have read it? where? in the therapists office from the coffee table of magazines. Am I the only one who writes responses to posts here predominantly? Let's study why. I have something to say, and when I see a place for 'comments' gives me the green light to speak. Do I wonder if anyone cares what I think when I type? nope. It's here, it is thought provoking, and I love conversation. I wish more people would post what they think. It makes me look addicted on that side bar. I have personally tried to ban myself from hitting that comment button. Not because I think Im addicted to the internet, but because it sure looks like I have nothing else to do. I think it is a good thing to have conversations regarding life, and there are many interesting things to talk about, and that is why this superhighway is a good way to connect, via for instance a forum like this. I don't have a computer that goes places with me, I dont go to internet wireless places, cell phones are off when Im inside buildings. I think Im good to go. Can I change my name now?

Posted by: Stephany at May 10, 2006 03:27 PM

Therapists party?

Posted by: Stephany at May 10, 2006 03:29 PM