Just a little problem...

[katiefoolery]

I think I’m addicted to the internet.

I know it’s been said in the past and usually in jest.  “Oh, haha!  Verily, my life doth revolve around this inter-connected network!”  And I’d laugh it off and just accept that this was the way things were.

But now I'm in deadly earnest.  I seriously think I'm addicted to the internet.  As addictions go, it’s not too bad though, is it?  I mean, it’s quite social.  I’ve made many friends through the internet and my main sources of addiction are LJ and messageboards... which are all about people.

It’s not an expensive addiction, either.  It probably only costs a couple of dollars a day.

I’m not damaging my health with it, although I probably could get up and walk around a bit more...

But last night, my Timothy (or ‘the serious heads’, for those who know him differently) suggested that limiting my interent on my Fridays off might make me more productive, writing-wise.

I swear, I all but broke out in a cold sweat at the thought.

“But... but...” I stammered.

“You could still use it when I got home,” my Timothy said, oblivious to the fact that I was shaking and turning pale.  “It would be just the same as a normal work day.”

Which isn’t all that accurate.  “But I use the internet all the time at work!” I cried, in a desperate attempt to hold onto my fix.

It was probably at this point that I suddenly realised I really was addicted... and that I have to do something about it.  It won’t be anything drastic.  I couldn’t give up the internet entirely, but I really should cut back a bit.  I should read some more; write some more; spend a little time away from the addictive, glowing wonder that is the internet.

I can’t stay away for long, anyway.  It’s in my blood-stream now.

Comments

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the internet is certainly addictive. But, also quite useful in oh so many ways. I know I'm on it every single day. I mean, e-mail, LJ, craftster, bank, bills, clubs and groups....Some things are more important then others, but they're still a part of every day life, right? I have cut down though. For instance, I no longer to any RPGs anymore. I used to, after all, it's how Dustin and I met. And for a while in the beginning, we continued on as we had before. But then I started to realize that it ate a lot of my time. And I use the word ate quite deliberately. So I quit for a long time. Then Dustin mentioned he would like to be able to play together again, we found a game we could both get into, and started playing again.
And again, I found that it ate my time. And I didn't like it. Everything I used to do fell by the wayside. Not a good thing. So into the recyclebin the game went, and back to "normal" use of the internet I went. I spend a whole lot less time on the computer now, and a lot more on crafting. I still haven't quite found a good balance yet, but it's a lot better then it was. Of course, I can only get a balance when my body doesn't decide to be an absolute bitch and make it neigh impossible to do anything but sit down and do nothing, or lay down.

Heh, long answer...I know. I'm sorry. Anyway, good luck in finding a new balance for yourself

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I think I'll be able to work something out. The thing I love most about the internet is that it connects me to people all over the world. Whenever it's down or I can't get on, I feel all isolated and cut off.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is one of the things I like about it as well ^_^

[the-kaytinator.livejournal.com]

I hear you.

I too, am addicted to the Internet. My mother is constantly riding me about it, and I give her the "it's social" argument, but alas, it has no effect.

I should take up heroin for a while. Just to show her what a good thing the internet is to be addicted to.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

See, at least with internet, your mum knows where you are and she can be reasonably certain that you're not mugging people so you can afford your next fix. As addictions go, it's pretty healthy, really. :D

[talmina.livejournal.com]

Yet here you are posting on LJ at 9:30am :P

Something tells me you didn't take him too seriously :P

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Would you believe I wanted to get my fix out of the way early, so I could concentrate on other things?

*looks hopeful*

Anyway, I'm on holidays at the moment. This sort of stuff doesn't count during the holidays. :D

[sirgallivant.livejournal.com]

Hurrah for the internet! I think I know what you mean. ;)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

It is brilliant, isn't it? It's almost too wonderful for its own good.

[decryption.livejournal.com]

I'm addicted to the Internet. No bones about it, I'm *permanently* on it. At home I'm no further than 10 meters away from a computer with the Internet on it. At work it's all I do. Even when travelling I have the internet on my mobile anywhere in country and I've been known to check e-mails and browse sites whilst eating lunch or when waiting for something.

So what have I done to curb that addiction - nothing! Instead I'm going to turn this vice into something profitable so I can live off the net. I figured if I can turn my site AppleTalk into something that can earn me $250/week I'll get a part-time job doing whatever working 2 or 3 days a week to make up around $300. Then when the site can hit $500/week. I'll just leave those jobs and work on it full time.

That way, my addiction to RSS feeds, blogs and podcasts as well as MSN, iChat, IRC and LiveJournal can be turned into something that makes money ;)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Now, if only I could turn constantly reading LJ, essageboards and fanfic into something that would yield an income...

Good luck with your plan! I hope it all works out. :)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

*quietly pokes an "m" into the message above*

Hopelessly Addicted to You...

[drscruffy.livejournal.com]

I'm also completely hooked on the internet. I get sucked into to it, almost like a good book. In fact - that's what the internet is really... It's a good book that just keeps on going, and you meet these wonderful characters and they have exciting and interesting things to say. Only, it's better than a book, because the interesting characters are REAL people, and you can talk to them and interact with them...

I keep having to cut back my time when I feel myself getting lost in the internet. It's horrid... and then I say "surely I could just sneak a little look and see what's going on," and then I'm addicted again.

MrScruffy doesn't understand it either...

Re: Hopelessly Addicted to You...

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

That's the best bit, isn't it? The fact that it's constantly changing and there's always something new to read or involve yourself in. And you meet fascianting people!

I do the sneaky thing too. I'll take a break and start writing something or editing a story... and then I'll just check my email and drop by Ober.net to see if anything's happened in the five minutes since I closed Firefox...

[maskedconfessor.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know what you mean. I also do the go-online-early-so-I-don't-feel-the-need-during-the-day (OK, that was just ridiculous) thing. It's so stupid!
You know that you're tragically, desperately, irredeemably hooked when you sit staring at the screen, refreshing the 6 or so tabs of firefox that you have open, just waiting for something to happen.
It's not really conducive to study, either...

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

The only problem is, you get online early... and then you stay online. Because you never know what you might miss! It's a terrible addiction but I just can't bring myself to hate it.

You're right about its not going well with study. When I was finishing off my degree last year, I had to write my essays on my internet-less laptop as it was the only way I'd have actually written them!

[bunhusband.livejournal.com]

I think thge fact that at the mention of perhaps curbing your internet use for 8 hours, on only one particular day of the week, you turn pale, start shaking and begin to sweat does mean you are addicted. Im pretty sure all your LJ friends would be happy for you to give up the internet for a little while if it mneans you get to do more writing, cos all your fans want you to be more productive in that field.

In fact, hands up all of Buneaters fans who want to see more of her writing, or want to see her get her book into print so you can all read it??

I suspect the response to that last paragraph will be all the proof you need my Darling:):)

Bunhusbandwaitingforagoodbooktoreadfromwife

[flamehail.livejournal.com]

It is true, Bun dear.

Yet we all feel your pain.

Perhaps you could do it in stages? Cut back one hour one week, two the next, or something?

Go Bun go! You can do it! And still talk to us a lot! ^_^

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Maybe I just have to nominate a particular time of the day to be "internet time". Or something along those lines. I'll have to work something out. :)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Eight hours?

*wails*

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! etc.

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

well...yes...

but only because we're having a launch together...

But Bunly my love, I feel your pain....

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Oh yes - the combined launch!

The pain of internet addiction is far too real!

*sobs on Gill's shoulder*

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

Baby steps, dahling, baby steps.

Sorry, I should start that differently:

Hello, my name is Elfie, and I'm an internet addict.

I have managed to completely wean myself off of instant messages. I now communicate through e-mail, by phone, and by LJ. I am addicted to LJ, but I manage the addiction by only checking LJ twice a day. This has been a long, hard road.

I have learned that the internet is a shiny distraction from important things, like writing and studying for tests that I must take before I go to grad school.

You can make it through 8 hours without the internet, but I would not recommend writing that whole time. Remember to take breaks for tea, bathroom, food, etcetera. And I, too, use the internet at work, especially when I need to look something up!

I would suggest that we start an Internet Addicts support group, but we'd have to do it over the internet, and that seems mildly counterproductive. The Irony!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

An online ‘Internet Addicts’ support group would be wonderfully ironic, wouldn’t it? Sort of like holding an AA meeting in a pub or something...

You’re being very disciplined in your internet habits. One day, I hope I may reach a similar level of discipline... but I suspect it might take a looooong time. And I don't think I could ever give up msn messenger.

[minnn.livejournal.com]

I've a feeling my Paul and your Timothy would get on very well if they ever met...

I've managed to get into the habit of not using the computer on the weekend. I resolutely close the door to the computer room and make sure I don't venture near it.
Monday I'm practically running in to see what I missed on the weekend, but weekends 'off' seems to be enough to give Paul the assurance that I'm having a relationship with him, not my computer...

The point is, at least we're not addicted to something *dangerous*. About the worst we'll get from the internet is bad eyesight and a crick in the neck :P

Good luck...oush, is today one of your Friday's off?

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I’m on holidays at the moment, good Min. But if I weren’t, then it would have been one of my days off and, in theory at least, I shouldn’t be responding to this comment. But it isn’t, so I am!

I don’t think I could endure spending every weekend without the internet. It’s bad enough when I go up to Beechworth for a couple of days - literally the first think I do when I get back is switch on the computer so I can find out what I missed out on!

My Timothy’s not too bad, really. After all, he has a pretty meaningful relationship with his online games. :)

[minnn.livejournal.com]

Ooh, congrats on your holidays!!

Weekends without the internet has become...habit, more than anything, now. Friday night's is not the weekend, of course, so here *I* am :-P

My Timothy’s not too bad, really. After all, he has a pretty meaningful relationship with his online games. :)

LOL, as does my Paul, with his unfortunate obsession: Star Trek Enterprise...now *that's* something that'll harm your health! You slowly feel yourself becoming stupider by watching it..

*dodges Kayt's foot as she defends ST:E*

speaking of addiction...

[rigel-7.livejournal.com]

MSN...

*sends out subliminal vibe*

Yes... you will sign in...

*summons Bunly and Kayt to the evil pit of Friday MSN convos*

Re: speaking of addiction...

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

So unsubtle...

[arieo.livejournal.com]

addiction? *tugs at collar, looks shifty* Just because I came on here to do 5 minutes of work 2 hours ago doesn't mean I'm addicted >_>

It's not a bad addiciton though, as ya'll said :D For one, it's fun, and it IS social, no matter what people say. MSN saves on phone bills, I say!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

They are all brilliant points, good Arien! It's cost-effective and it's very social. How could that be a bad thing?