Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Stuart G

(38,434 posts)
Sat Oct 16, 2021, 09:52 PM Oct 2021

Why the Internet is Addictive For Me.... (An Opinion)

...You may not agree, that is OK, but this is an opinion only....Back in the 70s and 80s I played video games over
and over...I studied gambling and I went to the casino occasionally. Also, I played cards with friends and won some of the time, and lost some of the time..Yes, it feels like gambling, it plays the same as gambling, and yet it costs nothing but... time.....Lots of "time"....Sometimes, I come for 5 minutes, and stay for 5 hours or more..

....If hit a jackpot...(that is a story or article I really like and enjoy or is of great interest) then, I hit the net again.
That jackpot costs nothing but."time". Guess, what? Time is One ofThe Most Important of All Commodities We Have

....And it is clear to me, (my opinion) that the internet is truly addictive....Not a little, but a whole lot..

....When I get some information, or make a connection with someone, or get an answer to something I was wondering
about, I get the ..gambling buzz...and it feels good or great. ( that is my opinion)... And that.buzz...lasts a while...
..and then I need another "buzz"..and another...and another...Way different than going to a casino....Why?

...The distance from my bed to the computer is about 15 feet.I don't have long to walk, and I don't have to get dressed at all & I don't have to drive a car. I can sit there in my underwear and go from spot to spot on the internet. Here there and everywhere....All kinds of places....from animation (A) to ...zebras ..(Z) and everything in between. And the cost?...some electricity..and the long range cost of the computer...Mine is now about 10 years old..and totally paid for...

...The variety on the internet is totally incredible:....from Art....to Baseball....to Fall ...to Games...to Leaves...to Leave It To Beaver .. to Movies......(full length and other types),...to Nudes....to Rodeos...to Sports...to Underwear.. ...to Violins........to Winter... ..... to X rated stuff.........to Yellowstone National Park.........to Zoos.


....If you want to buy something, you can buy it on the internet..(if you have an active credit card) or if you contact the seller. the seller will often come to your place to sell it to you...And you don't have to leave your home to buy it...(providing you have enough money in your account). .And, the internet can tell you that too..Maybe you will need a phone next to your computer to talk to someone about the buying and selling....And all of this without leaving your home/apartment/or living space.

...So if I am not buying or selling anything, and I just want to go from place to place...well it doesn't cost a thing but time...
You can also gamble on the internet, if your credit is OK,,but that is risky for anyone...It starts and never stops

.............I know that some may not agree with all of this, (or some of it) ... but this is the truth for me .................... .

............ Also....Soon.... I have to decide if I need to shut the computer off for good...

....If I want information about most things...there is something called.....the ..radio.. that gives lots of information, and
many stations & spots to turn to. It worked in the past and still works...if you are patient, and don't want to buy and
sell stuff..........

...........But the internet is dangerous in its own way, and I have described some of it in the essay above.................. ...........Yes, it is dangerous for me, and I guess this is enough for now.......................................... ..
.
................................. Thank You for reading this............

............................................. .Stuart ...............................

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
 

Hugh_Lebowski

(33,643 posts)
1. All that matters is how you feel when it comes to something being addictive to you
Sat Oct 16, 2021, 09:56 PM
Oct 2021

If you think it is, there's a really good chance you're right.

And you should probably act accordingly.

Stuart G

(38,434 posts)
2. ...I have already acted accordingly........That is for another post, and another time...
Sat Oct 16, 2021, 10:01 PM
Oct 2021

.....I took action on this many, many years ago....Full description at another time.....

3Hotdogs

(12,390 posts)
3. What would you have done with your time if you weren't on the computer? Why didn't you?
Sun Oct 17, 2021, 12:57 AM
Oct 2021

Why don't you.


I ask because that is my problem..... going to the casino kills time. 2 1/2 hours in the car, there and back. Then I get "in the zone." Mindlessly putting money into the slot machine. What I intended to be maybe an afternoon, becomes 8 or 10 hours.


But the question becomes, What would I do if I didn't go to the casino? And I can't come up with anything. I don't have a partner, lover to go on day trips with... Hell, I can't even get a date.

So its off to the casino I go.

Stuart G

(38,434 posts)
4. I got a couple that I need to do...1) Go to the library.......2) Go to the gym to work out....and 3)
Fri Nov 5, 2021, 05:54 PM
Nov 2021

Volunteer to help others...(many ways to do this)...and........I need to do these things, because in the past...
that is what I did with my free time...oh...4) get a job of some sort...(even though I am retired that one would
work too)

3Hotdogs

(12,390 posts)
5. About a week ago, there was someone on a radio program talking about addictions. Behaviors become
Fri Nov 5, 2021, 06:45 PM
Nov 2021

addictions when they cause harm and continue to be repeated.

Are you harmed by your time spent gambling or on the computer?

I gamble within a budget. It is a way to kill time. If I wasn't gambling at the casino, I would be spending time hiking or watching birds or photographing butterflies. But those things can't be done safely at night.

There is money left over at the end of each month so I don't feel harmed by gambling... I don't computer gamble.


Stuart G

(38,434 posts)
6. About ...harm"..& sitting at the computer going from site to site, story to story...
Fri Nov 12, 2021, 09:22 PM
Nov 2021

...Something I learned a while a go........SITTING TOO LONG CAN KILL YOU..

HOW LONG ..........is ...Too Long??...well I ain't no doctor ...No I ain't...

.....................Well if you want to know...I will tell you how to find out...in a few simple steps...............

.......1. Go to Google Search

.......2. Once you find the search ........write in ...Is sitting too long harmful?

.......3. Then google search will take you to a number of articles .

.......4. REad a number of articles, and after a while...you will get an idea of ...How Long is Too Long..

___________________________________________________________________________________________

...........ANOTHER WAY TO DO FIND OUT THE EXACT SAME. INFORMATION......you must go to????????

............."THE LIBRARY'........& ....ASK THE LIBRARIAN THE EXACT SAME QUESTION.....

.................DOES SITTING TOO LONG CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS.......

................AND............THE LIBARIAN WILL HELP YOU FIND THE INFORMATION.............

..........................that's it...I'm outta here....I've been sitting at the computer...much too long...............

...........................thanks for reading this one............Stuart ..........................

Stuart G

(38,434 posts)
7. Another way to solve this problem....Go to a site called WEB MD
Fri Nov 12, 2021, 09:33 PM
Nov 2021

Or...use Google Search ...and type in the sentence below
.............................................................................................

Why Sitting Too Much Is Bad for Your Health - WebMD

Stuart G

(38,434 posts)
8. Yes, I tried the above....Post number 7....and it works.
Fri Nov 12, 2021, 09:39 PM
Nov 2021

as well as the earlier post just using the sentence............

Is sitting too long bad for your health ?...

Stuart G

(38,434 posts)
9. Here is another link about the dangers of sitting...Hit the ling below
Fri Nov 12, 2021, 09:44 PM
Nov 2021
https://www.sbm.org/healthy-living/dangers-of-sitting?gclid=CjwKCAiAvriMBhAuEiwA8Cs5lf4y6xsHDzhcJ0sd5RkOVlqqZOt_k6_aYroygVhysXSfF7JLbt-JJRoCBs8QAvD_BwE


This last one is a very short one......you will enjoy it..and it will get you going........

So, I got to go..I will return tomorrow or the next day..





Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Addiction & Recovery»Why the Internet is Addic...