US 'full of Internet addicts'

[DaMulta]

THE US could be rife with Internet addicts as clinically ill as alcoholics, a study released today suggested.

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine in Silicon Valley said their telephone survey indicated more than one of every eight US residents showed at least one sign of "problematic internet use".

The findings backed those of previous, less rigorous studies, according to Stanford.

Most disturbing was the discovery that some people hid their Internet surfing, or went online to cure foul moods in ways that mirrored alcoholics using booze, according to the study's lead author, Elias Aboujaoude.

"In a sense, they're using the Internet to self-medicate," Mr Aboujaoude said. "And obviously something is wrong when people go out of their way to hide their Internet activity."

According to preliminary research, the typical Internet addict was a single, college-educated, white male in his 30s, who spends approximately 30 hours a week on non-essential computer use.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20601538-5001028,00.html

:roll: :roll::shadedshu :roll: :roll:

[PVTCaboose1337]

Wow that includes all of us, right?

[W2hCYK]

pretty much, yep.. I spend at least 5-7 hours a night on the computer..

6~ x 7 = 42...

im an addict.. who gives a crap..

[Alec§taar]

"Beware us, we, the 'internet pod-people' who share information & knowledge via our 'hive mind', buwuahhahahaha!"

:)

* Man... whatever!

Some folks come up w/ things on a popular communications platform (ala the excerpt above) that is widely used, & suddenly we have 'created a new cybernetic alien species' or something, lol...

I.E.-> Anything to get headlines...

(I have heard the same thing thru my time about television, c.b. radios, hamradios, & really anything else techie!)

And, self-medication via learning? Which the NET is great for?? I'll take it over any other kinds out there: It's GOOD for you that way, no questions asked.

APK

P.S.=> The net's a good thing to learn from, that's my view on it, & @ what I do? You have to be willing to do that in HUGE amounts & constantly, + you had better like it, lol... or then it'd be MORE WORK just to have work? No thanks, been there/done that in academia + later job related trainings given me... apk

[Protius]

yes i'm a computer addict, as apposed to being a tv addict

[stealthfighter]

Internet? Internet = good for you
reading/playing games = mental activity and reading adds to ur knowledge.
Drinking? drinking =bad for you
drinking addict = f***ed up lived and possibly brain as well as other organs = bad health

Hmm I see a difference. What's the world coming to? Anyone will sue anyone at any chancce to get whatever $ they can. America is turning to communism, and anyone will do or say anything to be on the news.
oh ya here's america going communist: http://www.gunzfactor.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30789
and God might be a flying spaghetti monster: http://www.gunzfactor.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30657

BTW my name on that forum is Valenvicio, those are my thoughts/comments

[Slater]

THE US could be rife with Internet addicts as clinically ill as alcoholics, a study released today suggested.

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine in Silicon Valley said their telephone survey indicated more than one of every eight US residents showed at least one sign of "problematic internet use".

The findings backed those of previous, less rigorous studies, according to Stanford.

Most disturbing was the discovery that some people hid their Internet surfing, or went online to cure foul moods in ways that mirrored alcoholics using booze, according to the study's lead author, Elias Aboujaoude.

"In a sense, they're using the Internet to self-medicate," Mr Aboujaoude said. "And obviously something is wrong when people go out of their way to hide their Internet activity."

According to preliminary research, the typical Internet addict was a single, college-educated, white male in his 30s, who spends approximately 30 hours a week on non-essential computer use.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20601538-5001028,00.html

:roll: :roll::shadedshu :roll: :roll:
Oh I spend 80 hours on this damn thing :)

[Slater]

I feel as if the reason people go on the internet when there in a bad mood is to learn.

Once you master a subject by teaching yourself on the internet, your brain probably releases large quantities of Dopamine

Then once they are off, they get in a bad mood since they are unproductive... thus going online to learn and release the Dopamine once again...

Of couse conciously they don't know why they are going on the internet but it's their sub-concious that is dictating that they are going to learn; they dont know they want to learn but their subconcious made a connection between the internet, learning, and Dopamine uptake.
Of course this is just a hunch and I dont think I explained it well; sorry to my altered mind state but I feel this is pretty much how it goes...