Lately I’ve been feeling guilty about the amount of time I spend on the internet. I’m sure I spend 5+ hours on it daily at this point. Sometimes a lot more. Mostly stuff like reading news, Facebook, message boards, watching crap on YouTube, etc.
I’ve been on the internet since around 1996 so my lifetime cumulative internet time has to be in years by this point. I pretty much grew up with it. Probably about 5% of this time has been productive. It is kind of sad if you think about it.
I made a conscious decision the other day to try to do more life-enriching stuff but I honestly have trouble thinking of what to do. Go buy a book, watch a movie, or what? The internet is just so damn cheap and entertaining that it is hard to beat. It doesn’t help that I’ll start out researching movies or something online and that just leads to more internet time checking out a neat story I saw, checking my bank account, paying a bill, or checking Facebook for the 263rd time. It’s like eating a bag of chips - “just one more…”
Even when I leave the house I have my iPhone with me with its unlimited internet/facebook/email/texting. Its like I just can’t get away from the internet no matter what.
Sometimes I wish I had been born about 40 years earlier.
Yeah, I get this too, with an additional game habit. I haven’t felt too bad about it lately because the weather has been bad and work is slow. I’ve taken time to do stuff with the kids but not as much as I could or maybe should.
The a big problem IMO is that it’s both sedentary and solitary. Yes, “social media” and all that, and you do “meet” people, but it’s not the same as actually seeing them and doing stuff. So it can be bad for both your physical and mental health. Well, the former definitely. I’m not positive about the latter… let’s see what Wikipedia has to say about computer addiction, shall we? See also internet addiction disorder and video game addiction.
“the excessive or compulsive use of computers to the extent that it interferes with daily life. This disorder may affect the following: social interaction, mood, personality, work ethic, relationships, thought process. It may also cause social disorders or possibly sleep deprivation.”
“While anyone who uses a computer could be vulnerable, those people who are lonely, shy, easily bored, or suffering from another addiction or impulse control disorder as especially vulnerable to computer abuse.”
If you want advice I should take, don’t substitute a solitary, sedentary pastime for another. Reading and movies have similar drawbacks as being on a computer. Maybe you’re already a big fitness buff but I’m guessing not.
It’s weird, but I’ve known plenty of people who’ll feel guily about spending 5 hours a day on the Internet, but think nothing of watching TV all evening.
My father watches 14 hours of TV a day. His brain is rotting.
I spend too much time on the 'net too, but I’ve actually been cutting back a lot, and cutting back on my video games.
What works for me is this; if you try to just reduce your time online, you’re going about it backwards. What you need to do is increase the amount of time you have committed to doing other things. Don’t say “I’ll walk away from the computer and then find something to do.” Find something to do, and then you won’t be at the computer. If you just walk away you’ll end up back on it or, worse, in front of the TV.
It doesn’t take long to start enjoying it. OVeruse of the 'net is just one of many ruts you can fall into.
I find that what I do at the beginning of the day sets the tone for the rest. If you can start doing something else before you go to the internet, it’s easier to keep it going and push your internet time further back.
Fuck that. No shame, I love the internet. I get to steal music and porn, there are cats playing the piano, and I get to talk to strangers without putting any pants on.
The important question isn’t how much time you spend on the internet, but whether or not your internet habits are harming you. If they aren’t there’s no reason to feel guilty.
Is your internet time interfering with your ability to make a living, talk to the real people around you, shorting you on sleep, or adversely affecting your physical health?
No to all the above?
Not a problem in my opinion.
If yes to any of the above start cutting back. But I agree, don’t just say “I’ll spend less time on the computer and find something to do”, schedule something first. If any of your on-line friends live near invite them to a coffee shop for a face-to-face chat. Go for a walk. Or go see a movie[, as in go to a theater don’t just watch it at home. Take up a hobby that isn’t on line. Whatever.
I’m the opposite. I was so sick of my TV habit that I gave it up cold turkey years ago…but the Internet crept in and took its place, and now I waste as much time as before.
I wanna meet you, but I can’t figure out if I wanna meet you in real life or on the Internet.
