Technology addiction, I think I have a problem..
Discussion
I have got to an age where I am no longer fussed about having the latest phone or gadget, but I have realised that I rely very heavily on the ones I have.
When at home the TV is never off, but I also have the iPad within reach at all times and constantly check the progress of the strategy games I play, Facebook, and to a lesser degree these days, PH. I will often pause TV so I can watch an online clip. Pretty sure my eyesight is starting to suffer too.
I barely ever talk to people on the phone anymore, a quick text or Facebook message will do and I even tend to take the iPad to the pub, and if there is a quiet moment I will just see what has changed on the Internet.
I think I need to start getting out more and living life, but I might miss something
Is it just me?
When at home the TV is never off, but I also have the iPad within reach at all times and constantly check the progress of the strategy games I play, Facebook, and to a lesser degree these days, PH. I will often pause TV so I can watch an online clip. Pretty sure my eyesight is starting to suffer too.
I barely ever talk to people on the phone anymore, a quick text or Facebook message will do and I even tend to take the iPad to the pub, and if there is a quiet moment I will just see what has changed on the Internet.
I think I need to start getting out more and living life, but I might miss something
Is it just me?
We have a 'young person' in the family (19) who really is addicted to technology.
He will literally spend hour after hour, day after day, 'plugged in' (as we refer to it) to his laptop. As far as I can gather it's mainly inane stuff like Minecraft and watching youtube (and sometimes watching videos of people playing Minecraft on youtube!).
On a beautiful warm summer's day he can be found, bent over his laptop in his bedroom with his curtains tightly pulled against the nasty daylight, gazing slack jawed at it. He'll sleep till midday and then be on it till 3am the following morning.
He's just flunked a year of university because of it - basically wasn't going to lectures and he displays the maturity of a six year old (will storm off to his bedroom if anyone dares question him for example, and is completely incapable of acknowledging anyone else's needs but his own).
Supposedly a bright boy although I think that's measured purely in the ability to pass exams up until now.
An utterly tragic case.
He will literally spend hour after hour, day after day, 'plugged in' (as we refer to it) to his laptop. As far as I can gather it's mainly inane stuff like Minecraft and watching youtube (and sometimes watching videos of people playing Minecraft on youtube!).
On a beautiful warm summer's day he can be found, bent over his laptop in his bedroom with his curtains tightly pulled against the nasty daylight, gazing slack jawed at it. He'll sleep till midday and then be on it till 3am the following morning.
He's just flunked a year of university because of it - basically wasn't going to lectures and he displays the maturity of a six year old (will storm off to his bedroom if anyone dares question him for example, and is completely incapable of acknowledging anyone else's needs but his own).
Supposedly a bright boy although I think that's measured purely in the ability to pass exams up until now.
An utterly tragic case.
I've always had some form of social media in my life, MSN, Myspace, Bebo, Facebook and Twitter. I never realised how much time it was taking up, but I haven't used social media since the end of December...best thing I ever did!
I feel much more focused lately and less clouded with all the b
ks that people post about. The only thing I do on my phone now is check PH, read news and text/call.
I feel much more focused lately and less clouded with all the b
ks that people post about. The only thing I do on my phone now is check PH, read news and text/call. It's gotten terrible for me since moving jobs.
I used to work 4 on 4 off so my evenings were short and limited and on my 4 off I'd get stuck in to projects and what not.
Now I'm on the 9-5 at a PC most of the day. Come home and on the laptop all evening. Go to bed and sit there on the phone. Sleep. Wake up and reach for the phone.
I used to work 4 on 4 off so my evenings were short and limited and on my 4 off I'd get stuck in to projects and what not.
Now I'm on the 9-5 at a PC most of the day. Come home and on the laptop all evening. Go to bed and sit there on the phone. Sleep. Wake up and reach for the phone.
Shuvi McTupya said:
Pretty sure my eyesight is starting to suffer too.
Is it just me?
I'm not as bad as you but I do like to play games on my phone in my spare time; I've noticed in the last few months my eyesight has got worse!Is it just me?
I've used PCs for years. There must be something about these modern screens?
I do get out, though, and tech doesn't get in the way of my life. I use it to enhance my life eg finding others with similar interests.
Shuvi McTupya said:
blah blah blah
strategy games I play
blah blah
All I saw was the games bit, what are these games?strategy games I play
blah blah
Seriously though, I know how you feel because I'm exactly the same. Right now the TV is on, I'm using the laptop to browse the internet but within reach I have 2 smartphones and a tablet. I will often grab them to check on my games (which is about 75% of the usage of them) without even closing the laptop.
Last year the internet went down for the weekend, after the initial feelings of being completely lost (all the devices are essentially useless without being online) I found myself actually doing stuff, lots of little things mostly that I'd been leaving until later. Most productive weekend I've had for ages.
daddy cool said:
Sadly, no.
Often at our monthly car club meet i look around the table and pretty much everyone is staring at their phone. Does my head in.
You should try walking through Sydney, literally everyone is heads down on their phone or watching a movie on the iPad whilst walking to work.Often at our monthly car club meet i look around the table and pretty much everyone is staring at their phone. Does my head in.
Only been here a week or so and have lost count the number of times I have been walked into as there are so many people walking heads down, I have to stop and let them past as none of them are looking where they are going walking 5 a breast on the path, without fail one will walk into me and give me the look of death for even deciding to be standing in their way whilst they are walking not paying attention.
Reason I don't do it... too distracted by all the short skirt out in the 27 degree heat/sun... I prefer watching that then staring at the computer screen.
I'm bad for constantly fiddling. No trivial question remains unanswered. No message goes unresponded to. No guessing games about who sang a particular song or starred in a particular film. News headlines checked every couple of hours. Cricket scores closely monitored.
The best way is just to force yourself. On Monday I left my phone at home all day and was out and about doing stuff with my wife and kid, completely unconnected to the world. When I came back I had a new Linkedin connection, a bit of banter on messenger and that's about it and a missed call which turned out to be nothing urgent. Hadn't missed anything important.
I'm sliding back into it but breaking the habit even for a day made difference. I might buy an old Nokia brick.
The best way is just to force yourself. On Monday I left my phone at home all day and was out and about doing stuff with my wife and kid, completely unconnected to the world. When I came back I had a new Linkedin connection, a bit of banter on messenger and that's about it and a missed call which turned out to be nothing urgent. Hadn't missed anything important.
I'm sliding back into it but breaking the habit even for a day made difference. I might buy an old Nokia brick.
I think the tech and connectivity is irrelevant.
If you find you have a destructive OCD type behaviour of whatever type then you need to address it in whatever way suits you.
We all have a degree of OCD. It's only when it becomes destructive that it is an issue. It can be an asset, channelled constructively.
Don't blame the tech. It's not that. The sooner you blame yourself and sort yourself out, the better the result will be. This is certainly the advice I'd pass on to anyone with a forming addiction of whatever nature.
If you find you have a destructive OCD type behaviour of whatever type then you need to address it in whatever way suits you.
We all have a degree of OCD. It's only when it becomes destructive that it is an issue. It can be an asset, channelled constructively.
Don't blame the tech. It's not that. The sooner you blame yourself and sort yourself out, the better the result will be. This is certainly the advice I'd pass on to anyone with a forming addiction of whatever nature.
It's a recognised phenomenon and interesting area of psychology.
I wouldn't say I'm bad for it but can "lose" a few hours procrastinating when I didn't intend/mean too, on t' internet.
Call phones not so bad, I don't like clients to observe me dicking around on a cellphone in "their" time too much plus me and the mrs have no cellphone rules when were out in t' pub or restaurants etc.
But a number of people I know are finding it a problem and having to "withdraw" from social media etc.
I wouldn't say I'm bad for it but can "lose" a few hours procrastinating when I didn't intend/mean too, on t' internet.
Call phones not so bad, I don't like clients to observe me dicking around on a cellphone in "their" time too much plus me and the mrs have no cellphone rules when were out in t' pub or restaurants etc.
But a number of people I know are finding it a problem and having to "withdraw" from social media etc.
Delete your Facebook profile. Go on be brave you can do it. I can guarantee it will change your life for the better you will communicate actually talk or meet your real friends just like the olden days, you will have so much more time on your hands within months you will realise just what a waste of time it is.
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