AlanBarber.Org
Friday, August 08, 2003
I'm a Web Addict!
Saw this article on new guidelines for web addiction at CNN.com.I admit it I'm a web addict... Hey! Hold on just a minute!
I take that back, no I am NOT a web addict. The very idea is laughable. Anyone that claims such is just not seeing the big picture. We live in a new world and everyone must learn this is no longer the simple 1900s. We are officially in the 21st century and this is a connected globe.
From cellular phones to long distance travel our lives revolve around being connected to people and places like never before. The web is just another type of connection. Obviously there are extremes and people that spend every waking minute at the keyboard and start to forego basics like bathing, eww, may need real help. However, the other 99% are just living what has become the connected lifestyle.
There are real strong relationships formed on the web. From chatrooms to message boards, I see connections at a rather deep level. They are different though than normal friendships or relationships. They are much more intense and concentrated. Why? Because for the most party the topics discussed are of similar interests. I'm a member of a general computing message board. We only discuss mostly computers and technology. There's the usual political bickering and such but 99% of the topics discusses are technology. The connections to the people become stronger since the mental use is much higher. They are like minded, very intelligent, and above all equals.
Technology is my life and in a world were family and friends do not always "get it" these online relationships become important. So yes you start to spend more time online. It's not because of an addiction, it's because you begin to care about and want to foster these relationships. To people like me it's downright laughable to hear people say addiction. It's a new lifestyle!
on 08/08/2003 at 06:48 PM
Great article!
It hit home with me as my close family doesn’t “get it” when it comes to computers either.