Poll: Are you addicted to the internet?

[Idlemessiah]

snip

Nail, head, spot on.

My parents used to rant at me all the time for being on the internet so much and barely coming out of my room after about 7pm. Yet they fit right into your TV watching analogy. They'll sit down after dinner and not move till about 10pm when they go to bed.

Other examples:
My sister obsessively collects Kerrang! magazine, she has 100s. Theres nothing wrong with that.
My mum will sit and watch TV for hours, theres nothing wrong with that.
My step-dad hoards CD's, records and tapes. Thats a hobby, nothing wrong with it.

Me? I play videogames and spend too much time on the internet. "You're addicted to those bloody videogames!" "Go outside and get some fresh air like normal people!". Like I'M the crazy obsessive freak.

Thats why I started going to the pub 3-4 times a week, to prove to them that I actually DO have a social life. Now of course I'm an alcoholic, can't win really.

 

[Lawnmooer]

1) No
2) Yes because I keep finishing all my games (Because they seem to be getting shorter) quicker and so I have to use the internet to pass time.
3) No
4) No
5) Yes but that because I procrastinate and don't realise how long it takes to make a post on a forum...
6) No
7) No
8) No

I think I can safely say that since I'm not nor have ever been addicted to anything in my life ever, that I'm not addicted to the internet.

I can also say that if I had something else to do other than use the internet (Such as if I ever get round to getting some new guitar strings) then I'd stop using it save for communication. (Emails and Facebook)

 

[Phlakes]

1) No, I'm just as happy doing other things when I have the chance.

2) Nope.

3) Haven't even tried because it's very, very useful and entertaining.

4) Not at all.

5) Not unless I'm on TVTropes.

6) Hell no.

7) Never had a reason to.

8) Yes, in the same way you would do anything else to take your mind off something.

A little bit yeah, but I'm sure if I find something better to do with my time I can leave it easily enough. The trouble is finding something social that actually interests me...(as you might of extrapolated I'm a bit of an introvert)...

- Omni ^_^

...Have you really been doing that for 5000 posts? ...Could you... maybe not do that? Bright text is very painful on some monitors.

 

[Steagony]

TvTropes killed my dog.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I admit I am dependant on the internet since I can't watch TV (live channels) in my room (and I refuse to be in the same room with my parent to watch it due to their chatty voices). E.g. If I watching a film on the tv I still leave my pc on to check the forum etc so I paid less attention to the film (it's worse if I use my pc to run the film).

Heck even when I had no internet for a month (I didn't know you weren't suppose to stop the internet service with your provider when you about to switch for a new provider) it was like cold turkey for me (it was sheer hell)!

I do however got control with it since I keep an eye on my bandwidth (make sure it would go over a certain limit) eventhough my service is unlimited. I guess it's my fear of loosing it since I already know what it's like without the internet.

 

[Krantos]

Styx. Nice.

Honestly speaking, no I'm not addicted to the internet. I know this because I recently had my Wireless antennae break and I had to order a new one (from Newegg, of course). During that time, rather then move my computer to the router or something, i just used my wife's netbook to check emails and turn in class work. The rest of the time I was internet free.

Then I got the new antennae and I haven't slept in two days... just kidding. really.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

snip

Nail, head, spot on.

Thats why I started going to the pub 3-4 times a week, to prove to them that I actually DO have a social life. Now of course I'm an alcoholic, can't win really.

Indeed, yet gathering in a shop to buy drinks that are essentially poisonous all night, and also increasing your chances of having an accident or a fight, seems to be 'normal' and just fine

Stay in and talk to your friends electronically, and you're weird, even Skype seems to be considered weird by people who spend hours on the phone to friends.

I guess a lot of it is a generational thing.

 

[SilentCom]

Yea I'm addicted. I just looked at the clock and realized its getting late for me...

 

[kouriichi]

I wouldnt say im addicted. While im on it a lot, i use it for many purposes i could do without the internet.

I read comics, which i could get at a hobby shop down the road, i chat with friends and good people, which i could do at the mall, or plaza, i look up recipes for things id like to cook one day, which i could do at the library.

Im not so much "addicted" to the internet, so much as "its the most convenient thing". I spend a lot of time on it, because everything i could do off of it, i can do on it easier. Its like filling a canister with gasoline. It saves me 1 trip to the gas station, and thus, saves me time and money.

 

[The .50 Caliber Cow]

I have several addictions. The internet is not one of them.

[sub][sub]Moo! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9iIgQN5uZE&feature=related][/sub][/sub]

 

[TehCookie]

I would question that test. I don't use the internet in increasing amounts of time, I'm pretty much online during any freetime I have. I never made any attempt to try to use it less, and it really depends on what I'm doing if I'm restless without it. If I'm camping or at my grandma's I'm fine without it. However if there's a problem with the internet at home or school I am restless and irritable at the latter. Also I never lied to anyone about how often I'm online. I often say I live on the internet and no one cares. Furthermore in number 8, you can pretty much say that to anything you enjoy. Replace the internet with a book or videogames or your other hobby and it's still the same for me at least. As for the questions I didn't answer in the above paragraph:

Do you feel preoccupied with the internet?
Yes.

Do you stay online longer than intended?
I meant to go to bed an hour ago, so yes.

Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the internet?
Nope. Work comes first, then I can use the spare time afterwards to indulge in my addiction.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

I'd normally say yes, but after spending an entire day working on a model airplane, I realize that I'm not missing much.

Consider me a site-checker.

 

[Don Reba]

No, come on, I'm fine. I don't use internet all that much.

...

Who the hell are you to insinuate this kind of thing?! I don't have a problem ? you, sir, are the internet addict! That's right!

...

Oh, man, how could this happen? I'd give anything for this to go away.

...

There is just no light at the end the of the tunnel. This internet will be the end of me.

...

Well, maybe it is not so bad. I mean, at least it keeps the kids off the street, right? I just have to learn to accept it.

 

[Kae]

I definitely have been but I'm not sure, well there's always the fact that I leave it for months at a time, but also now that I have this new job I just don't have neither the energy or the time to use the Internet, when I'm not at work I'm sleeping and when I'm not at work or sleeping I'm studying, and I just decided to use it today because it is my day off, though I'm definitely guilty of 8, probably 1 and definitely have done 5 though ever since I got that new job I go to sleep as soon as I feel rather sleepy, though I did fall asleep on my keyboard somewhere between 1 or 2 weeks ago, so point me on 5.

But since my Internet usage changes so much I do not know what to answer, I mean there have been times I've used it every day for nearly the whole day, there's times I don't use it for months (largest record 6 months), and this new "I don't even have the energy to look at the screen" thing so I have no idea what my answer should be, HOORAY FOR INCONSISTENCY!!!
[sub]For I am the king of inconsistent people.[/sub]
[sub][sub]Someone brought up hygiene issues just for being online, I personally cannot understand such a thing, I mean I sometimes shower 3 times a day and I won't be able to do a single thing (including eating) all day until I shower, so whenever someone tells me they have not showered I just get creeped out, do other people don't feel the dirt and filthiness accumulating on they're skins? Do they not find it awkward to have this things on you? I cannot understand lack of hygiene.[/sub][/sub]

 

[Tzekelkan]

I'm definitely addicted... Don't know what to do, I think I may be having trouble in my University year because of it, I just don't study enough...

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

If feel that this video is appropriate:


Hehe.

 

[TheRundownRabbit]

To say I am addicted to the internet...wait, to say I am addicted to my computer as a whole is an understatement. The internet and my computer are my life-force...no really, I plugged my computer into my body and its replaced part of my brain, I can't regulate my heart-rate without it.