Do you suffer from Forum Addiction Syndrome?

[Vich]

The poll results are private, but I'd be curious about any comments.

Full article is here (http://www.stevepavlina.com/articles/effective-online-forum-usage.htm):

[forno]

My stats on another forum that has been up for 12mnths next week:o :o

6069 posts
6.07% of total / 17.29 posts per day

[RichNY]

I just read a great book, "Caught in the net" that deals with Internet addiction in general. (The book is a bit dated in terms of technology but is still on the money in terms of addiction patterns and effects).

[Vich]

I wouldn't accomplish anything meaningful if it weren't for my compulsive-obsessiveness. On the down side, ...

So I sort of asked myself these questions. I see people who rack up 10000 posts a year and think "they've got a problem", but I find myself not doing a bike ride or photo shoot, or going out, than 2 hours later it was because of surfing these forums - and at the end don't really feel any more fullfilled as a result (as I would have with the other activity). So it got me wondering, maybe it's not healthy even just a couple hours a day.

I've gotten an awful lot of great contact and info here, but also many-a-thread is a pointless waste for anything but chit-chat time.

Rich - sounds like a nice read. Of course; you can afford an addiction or two. :) Surely you paid for it in addiction to work. Besides; what would you do with your photography if not for photo sites like this one?

Forno ... wow!

[RichNY]

Vich- I'll be honest and say that since stopping work and quitting smoking excessive time spent online has been an off/on problem for me. Good finances and not working have served as nothing other than a mask. Traveling for 3 weeks without checking the Internet was actually a wonderful feeling- breaking loose from the time wasting pattern of surfing of which forum use is only a small part.

For each the Internet fulfils some unmet need be it intellectual stimulation, socialization, or acceptance that has been in met in the real world. This can be a positive factor for some but is fuel for downward spiraling for those who can easily be seduced and addicted to the pull for excessive time spend online at the expense of other aspects of their lives.

I am back to reading and pursuing other activities as a concious way of breaking the pattern but it is easy to lapse back on nights when you can't sleep, etc.

Great post- I was actually thinking of starting a thread on the signs of online addiction since it is obvious there are many on this (and probably most) forums who suffer from it.

[cdifoto]

Sadly between image processing, the forums, and fulfillment of website orders, I'm rarely ever away from the computer. Not necessarily surfing online all the time, but probably 80% of my life is spent at a keyboard.

[DonSchap]

Being involved in IS (IT) (MIS) (CS) kind of leaves you at the mercy of the Internet. Nearly everything we produce these days has something to do with it.

It's like the old saw goes, "Got lemons ... make lemonade!" You do the best you can to make it a "positive" experience.

The "forum" is an intellectual exercise for some ... for others, a refuge. Online chat ... well, that's something else entirely (I suggest it's more like a phone call). You need to know the difference ... and therein lies the rub.

Acch ... such is life! :cool:

[Vich]

Well, I didn't make a poll for the up-side of his article. I can answer "yes" to every one of these. For friends, I have made 2 friends whom I see on a regular basis now, and have met several new acquaintances. I've forwarded my main hobby interest (and saved my wife from my endlessly boring excitement). I've established new business relationships, gotten out of my boring office shell (through wedding photography), refined my thinking process in many ways, helped others, kept up with current events more than I otherwise would have, learned about new opportunities (purchasing, events, club meets, and otherwise), and generally enjoyed my membership (save a bit of cliquey behavior). So; it's a question of stopping where the benefits end and the harm begins.

Here are some potential benefits of regular online forum participation:

* Intellectual exchange
* Learning new ideas and refining old ones
* Enjoying community membership
* Influencing the forum's evolution
* Contributing to others
* Making new friends and contacts
* New business leads
* Keeping up with current events
* Learning about new opportunities


I asked a friend I know spends tons of time on forums and photography, particularly during-work time.

She said she's chalked it up so AADD, that she admittedly has. She's an accomplished professional (as I humbly believe myself to be)

Without getting into a lot of self analysis, I suppose it's striking a healthy balance that counts - and not succumbing to feeding the lazy, distracted, irresponsible side of the brain to the point where it takes over. So; applying a little discipline can be appropriate, and knowing when is appropriate can be a healthy thing.

So; it seems to be a benifit up to a point. Sort of like going to the movies, reading, TV, or just about anything. (well, strike TV ... it has almost no redeeming value, LOL, except during World Cup, Olympics, or Superbowl season). Nice if taken in balance.