Pick your Net obsession

The TechTV series The Screen Savers will air a story about Net addiction this Saturday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m. Eastern. In the meantime, TechTV asks viewers and site visitors: What's your addiction of choice? The responses posted on TechTV's message board vary from the expected (porn, news sites, games) to the bizarre (antique trackor images?). Here's a sampling:

• "File swapping baby! Nothing like filling out the music collection with new and interesting tunes."
  
• "I am addicted to antique tractors. I have over 10,000 gif's and jpg's both domestic and foreign. I am retired and have no money so not much else to do. I do attend a 12 step program and am working on this problem."
  
• "As far as addictions go, I (like many others I'm sure) love downloading 'Free' utilities."
  
• "I used to be addicted to books-I still read but I don't keep as many in the house now-don't need to. Need a picture of amphiprion ocellaris its on the net. Want to know what p branes are? Its on the net. Need a forktruck inspection sheet for work? On the net."
  

Online gambling: a high-stakes venture

Findings from an American Psychological Association study, reported last spring by CNN.com: "People who gamble on the Internet may tend to have more serious gambling addictions than people who wager in other ways." According to the report, "The availability of Internet gambling may draw individuals who seek out isolated and anonymous contexts for their gambling behaviors."

Don't tell the boss, but...

A study commissioned by Websense notes that one in four office workers show signs of Net addiction. "Left unchecked, free and open Internet use can lead to severe productivity and legal liability issues for organizations," says Websense's chief technology officer. "Fortunately, employee Internet management (EIM) software makes it possible to balance work and personal Web surfing without it getting out of hand." Oh, and did we mention that Websense bills itself as "the worldwide leader of employee Internet management (EIM) solutions"?

And in related news...

Cyberslacking as stress management

When the going gets tough, the stressed surf the Net. Research presented to the American Psychological Association in August says only 2-3 percent of Web users fall into the "Internet addict" category -- a much lower level than the one in four office workers Websense claims are hooked on the Net. "Procrastination, low productivity, social withdrawal and relationship difficulties" were common among those spending an unhealthy amount of time on the Web, the researchers reported to the APA. Procrastination? Is that why I haven't been keeping my blogs up-to-date?

Church holds conference on cyberporn

An evangelical free church in Nebraska recently held a conference on "Pornography and Cyberporn, Breaking the Addictions and Rehabilitating Men" in response to what one minister called the growing trend of pornography use among Christians. Around 125 people, mostly men, showed up. "I think we're on the small side of a huge wave that will affect our children and our families for generations," said Bill Smith, district superintendent for the Midwest District of the Evangelical Free Church. "The statistical averages of the general public and those in the church are high, and it's high time we address this growing issue." Kudos to Grand Island Evangelical Free Church for having the guts to address this issue. I hope more churches follow Grand Island's lead.

Robin Williams: Internet addict?

He's dealt with drug addiction, but now actor Robin Williams says he's hooked on Internet chat and gaming. "When I find out a hotel doesn't have a DSL, it's like, 'What? There's no toilet?' Once you get used to high speed you ain't going back."

The latest net obsession: news

From Reuters: "A recent survey found that workers frequent on-line news sites more often than things like pornography, gambling or even shopping sites — and they consider news one of the most addictive things available on the Internet."

Identifying Internet addiction

Interesting Internet addiction article by Jessica Leopold for Relevant Magazine. Leopold writes: In the 21st Century, being connected to the Net is as common as the United States Post Office, an entity whose tentacles touch every home with a mailbox. In dealing with a so-called “Internet addiction,” perhaps we’ve been trying to solve the wrong problem. See also: Only the Lonely, by Cara Baker.

Let the blogging begin.

Here's the first post of a brand new blog -- the obligatory testing, testing, is this thing on? post.

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