Nice article

I came across another good article from wired. Beijing Clinic Treats Web Addicts. While it's a good article, I find it frightening that the internet is gaining ground as being addictive. I've always known it was, but soon, using the internet will be looked apon as gambling is now. Something that is often bad. The internet is the greatest network for information ever. Many are addicted to load of information. (that'd be me) I don't play games online, I rarely play games on my computer. I can chat, but it's not all I do. I also don't actively seek pornography. Hard to avoid though as my e-mail is flooded with about 200 messages for sex related services or products every day. While I may be addicted, it doesn't affect my work, and I can happily go without it. Most people can. It's quite simple. You just need other stimulation to replace the internet. That can be anything from sporting events, to reading a book. Learning to play music or a second language is also a good replacement. From my experience, when theres no way to get access to a computer you quickly overcome the loss. You realize that you don't need to worry about playing that next game or seeing who's on every waking moment. Why should you? Theres no way it's going to happen. It's not like physical dependancies like you get with drugs. It's a mental thing, and the most powerful and adaptative part of the human body is the brain. (might have made a word up there) If your worried about losing your gaming skills, or typing speed, well get over it. A few hours and your back at your old abilities. Especially from a short time like 15 days. I find the best cure for internet addiction is to give them a computer with a 24k modem. Lets see how quickly they get bored of the internet. Constant cut offs, long dial up times. Multiple dial up attempts. Slow speeds barely capable of sustaining msn messenger. Just for realism, put a phone in the room with them, with caller waiting. Give the number out to their family and friends, and have them call at random times. Every call will kick you off the internet. The best part is that the internet is sitting there taunting them, and yet they learn to control the urge because they will quickly learn it's better to go without that it is to almost get that page loaded and get the server timeout page, or hear the phone ring. You want to make it even worse, give them an old computer with internet explorer 3. Yeah. Have fun finding compatable pages. But enough of that. Starting to get a bit mean there. I don't want anyone to commit me to an internet abuse center.