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I read it in 2014 after watching an interview with the author. I was taking child psychology classes at the time and noticed more and more (at school) that I could not make conversation with other students during the breaks. They were all on their smartphones, all the time, all the duration of the breaks, always. For months (all semester). Disturbing.
The internet wasn't fast enough to really interact with people the way people interact here until about 10-12 years ago. With the speed the way it is now, it's basically socializing. That's why its so addicting. I mean ... it's a very cold and impersonal form of socializing, and many times I feel the person I'm talking to is completely fabricating their scenario, but I digress ... it's socializing.
And before the internet was faster, I had much more of a social life anyway.
For the past 10 years, it's been 'somewhat' of a problem.
That said ... if something in life brings you enjoyment or relaxation, then do it. If you like spending all your time on CD forum talking about psychological topics or arguing about pets, go for it.
If you want to get off the internet, schedule your time.
Schedule tasks like music lessons, meetups, and dates, work related conferences and such that you cannot get out of. Go into work instead of working at home.
A lot of people enjoy being online but are also the types who are drawn to the competitive nature of life. That's not me...
"It's basically socializing" is not "why it's so addictive." If that were the case, we would have just kept socializing in person in the first place and not become so reliant on the Internet. The reason is so addictive is the dopamine hits whenever you get attention or approval, intermittent reward being the most compelling...
It's addictive because it's a slot machine, basically.
You don't think Facebook and Instagram are "competitive"?
"It's basically socializing" is not "why it's so addictive." If that were the case, we would have just kept socializing in person in the first place and not become so reliant on the Internet. The reason is so addictive is the dopamine hits whenever you get attention or approval, intermittent reward being the most compelling...
It's addictive because it's a slot machine, basically.
You don't think Facebook and Instagram are "competitive"?
Plus, you get Likes and Points (like on CD), and you feel excited and wan to sit here for a long time and type your opinions more and more in hope to get more points, like you get coins from slot machines in casinos. LOL
I so agree with the OP and many posters on here that computers, internet, smart phones and social medias can help people to improve their lives a lot with many good things, and they also do lots of damage to people's health (physically and mentally) and relationships. Or actually those who are addicted to internet, smart phones and social medias are ruined themselves.
I really appreciate technology, yearn to learn it and don't want to be behind. But TBH, I do notice people, old and young, nowadays are much colder to one another than in the "old days". People are just nice with each other for a short time and want or try to show off how much they know about this and that on the internet, or want to show off their most newest gadgets on the market, or what they know from youtube, etc...
In the staff room, everybody just put their noses on their phones or tablets. In the neighbourhood, there are more and more security outdoor cameras, camera light bulbs installed in the front of garages or doors, and indoor cameras on the windows. More and more people are not close and friendly with one another like before. I think many people are suspicious, and they don't trust others anymore. That's why so many people have to install cameras everywhere. Security cameras business is booming on Amazon now. LOL.
I remember about 25 years ago, when my children were little, every time I called them from work on my break, they ran to the phone and wanted to talk with me. Fifteen years later, when the cell phone began to be popular, they all got a phone of their own, and they did not want to talk to us, except when they needed our help. One even blocked my husband's phone number because he did not want to hear "lectures". I felt so sad. I think my family's situation is not alone. People got divorced and broke up left and right because their partners spent more times on the PC's and smart phones than with their spouses or gf's, bf's. And/or they thought they could find better ones on the dating sites... "There's plenty of fish in the sea"... After all, people just felt lonely more and more... and became depressed.
Yes, we see the problems and solutions (like in the old days), but it's easier said than done. With technology kept inventing and launching, the world will keep moving forward. Most young people and some older ones will continue to be excited about learning new things and having new materials instead of having good relationship with others until they get older and feel lonely, but they/we cannot do anything about it. And eventually, many of them may think it's better to have an AI partner (like half toy half "human") than a real human. The future is going to be like that, I guess.
Sadly, OP seems to have lost his resolve and has even upped the frenzy of his posting. It truly is an addiction out of his control.
CD is my only presence online. If you’re here enough to notice the posting volume of various posters….well….welcome to my addiction. I support you brother.
I’m the same — down to CD and one other very tiny forum. Rarely check FB. No Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc. I very rarely even buy anything online because I’m at a point in life where I have all the material possessions I want or need. After 25+ years of averaging 8-10 hours/day online, I just feel there’s very little left to discuss or research online. I mean at like 12-13 years old I was putting in 10 hour days reading the discussions/debates that adults/academics were having about philosophy/religion…by 13-14 I was all into politics…by 16-17 I was into reading investing discussions. I remember days when I’d be up all night reading people debating and going to school with 2 hours sleep.
The thing that REALLY inspired me to make enough money to “retire” before 30 was so that I could continue my voracious reading (and I’ve always hated reading books) without worrying about going to a job. I didn’t know there would come a point where I felt there wasn’t much left to read…like I’m content with what I’ve read about the “big” issues. But when you think about it, it’s kinda like I’ve been on the internet 50-75 years for a person that averages 3-4/hours per day. I bet a lot of other people here will come around to where I stand when they’re 70-80 years old and have been online 50+ years.
So, it sounds like you are very rich now?
In that case, maybe you really can retire from the internet and do a lot of other things in your life.
Before that, head over to the investing forum and give the people some pointers there.
CD is my only presence online. If you’re here enough to notice the posting volume of various posters….well….welcome to my addiction. I support you brother.
Sorry, no comparison. I am not addicted to the Internet and never have had the feelings of losing control; or not being able to find happiness and joy without it, like you expressed below.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoAmericaGo
When I “log off” (we can never really do that now with smart phones), I can almost still hear the voices of millions rumbling around in my brain.
Is it crazy to contemplate “retiring” from the internet?
It sounds a little crazy to me, but possibly an avenue to new more vibrant world. I know it would require a complete rewiring of my brain and having to absorb information at a much slower pace. I wouldn’t feel plugged in to everything anymore. It would probably also take me a while to find joy and happiness from the simple things in life that don’t involve the internet.
I’ve been through getting over drug addiction before (it’s bad) and I feel like quitting the internet would be just as hard as quitting any drug.
You said you wanted to quit. You haven't. Are you lacking in resolve or did you decide it's not as big of a problem as you catastrophized?
Sorry, no comparison. I am not addicted to the Internet and never have had the feelings of losing control; or not being able to find happiness and joy without it, like you expressed below.
You said you wanted to quit. You haven't. Are you lacking in resolve or did you decide it's not as big of a problem as you catastrophized?
Thank you for your concern.
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