PSA: Internet Addiction

Net boy, net girl
Send your impulse 'round the world
Put your message in a modem
And throw it in the Cyber Sea

Like a pair of vagabonds who wave between two passing trains
Or the glimpse of a woman's smile through a window in the rain
I can smell her perfume, I can taste her lips
I can feel the voltage from her fingertips

Virtuality - Rush

Earlier today a friend sent me a link to a blog post: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/hughes/6574

Honestly, I found the commentary quite amusing. Not that addiction to anything is funny, but it took me back to several psych. classes. There were many times when, on the first day of class, we would hear, "We are going to be discussing mental disorders. You are not to diagnose yourself, family, or friends until you have a degree in psychology and you are certified to do so in the state of California." Then, we'd sit around diagnosing ourselves, family, and friends while the professor's back was turned. I mean, how can you not?

What I didn't realize at the time was that all things exist on a spectrum. We all exhibit signs of OCD, Manic-Depressive disorder, PTSD, and addiction (among other things). But, am I an obsessive-compulsive, bi-polar, internet addicted, hedonist? Not really (though I'm sure a couple of you would beg to differ on some of those things).

I would guess that I spend at least 40 hours a week online, for about the last 12 years or so. I also run a household, spend time with my family (I see my parents at least once a week, if not more), and maintain relationships with friends. Every morning I get up, get my cup of coffee and sit down in front of the computer. I check my email (three different accounts), my myspace, tribe, three different message boards, and my son's website. I post here and there, then my day gets started. But, I am 'here' pretty much all day, and half the night.

Should I even get into how many times my computer has literally saved my life? Times over the years when I felt life had nothing left to offer me, and instead of curling up and dying (what I really wanted to do), I came to my computer. I've found love, friendship, support, laughter, and a million other things... in people all over the world. If that qualifies as "social isolation," I must be misunderstanding the meaning.

So, yes, I do believe internet addiction is real, but it's a matter of where one falls on that spectrum. Even when we are at our darkest points, that little blinking light on the modem is there. It always reminds me that I'm just a click away from many of the people I love.

Vanity

This morning I had an appointment with a dermatologist (yay for minor cosmetic surgery). If you are wondering the appointment went really well... the doctor said that removing the mole on my face would be quick and easy, and would leave me with a small scar that would fade with time... and he was incredibly HOT. Funny, I thought hot doctors were only on TV... my mistake.

I have recently heard that my poker face really doesn't hide anything, in fact, I might as well have some thoughts tattooed directly on my breasts (because, really, who's looking at my forehead?). Unfortunately I actually had to bite my tongue when he walked into the room, and remind myself "this is not faire, this is not faire, this is not faire..." Though, I'm guessing from the way his secretary rolled her eyes that maybe I wasn't as subtle as I could have been. *giggle* Yay for big fun at the doctor's office!

Classic quote of the day... overheard in the waiting room: "... but, I've been slobbering in my mouth ALL DAY!"

NaBloPoMo

For anyone interested: http://www.fussy.org/nablopomo.html

I don't know if I'm going to "officially" sign up, or if I'm just going to challenge myself to write every day this month. Of course, I'd love to win the "I fuck like a girl" t-shirt.

Then again... it would make a great christmas present....