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Internet Addiction

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aggels

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Okay, so this is a serious question.

What do you do for a family member who sits in front of his computer for the moment he gets up until he goes to bed, refreshing a forum not all too dissimilar to this one? He's missed work on more than a few occasions to do this, and most of his conversations to us are about this forum. Lets just say he's in big trouble if he doesn't keep his job.

I thought of suggesting things to do, but there's really nothing that he enjoys, other than going for meals, which not only can I not afford every weekend, but I don't want to send him even further on his way to a heart attack since he favours the all you can eat restaurants. So what do I do? Leave it? Any suggestions? Has anyone you known done this before? Am I overreacting?
 
haha sounds familliar to a certain person i kno quite well and i am probably not much better.

Was an interesting article in MX yesterday about how much internet problems like this can cause divorce. I think it was something like 65% of divorces were coz of internet. Partners running off with ppl they met on here, spending way too much time online, partners "forgetting" how to communicate in real life beacuse they get so used to only doing it on here and partners with excessive pr0n habits lol.
 
I have a net friend in Canada who used to spend every single minute of every day on the net, and in chat. She didn't sleep or anything. It worried quite a few of us, but no one could think of anything we could do to help her, everything we suggested she should do instead she just ignored. She did realise she had a problem but couldn't tear herself away. So I decided to write her a letter. Sounds kinda silly I guess, but it's real life contact, and I figured it would keep her busy for at least a little while, to reply. I am pleased to report that she sleeps now, and does actually spend time offline. :)

I have spent an awful lot of time on the net in the past few months, mainly because my boyfriend also did. ;) Since he's started working more and isn't on as much, I have been spending less and less time on here. I guess in a way it's nice to know I'm not THAT addicted!!!!!!!!
 
Yeah, it's not a good situation at all and this type of addiction will most probably only increase over the years as the Internet becomes more a part of people's lives. Couple of times, I've thought to myself I better spend less time on the Internet, I'm starting to spend more time online than is probably healthy, and this post doesn't help my argument considering it's 8:45am on a Sunday morning that I'm writing it! ;)

Seriously though ...

Judging by your description, aggels, it sounds like he could be somewhat depressed and is using the Internet forum as some kind of security blanket for some of the problems he is currently experiencing. Sounds like he has been withdrawing from his regular hobbies and enjoyments, has been failing to show up for work and is not recognising his responsibilities, and has become obsessed with the Internet; all these factors could well be associated with depression.

It's tough to think of any real advice to give to help him since ultimately he's got to make the hard decisions himself. I suggest maybe getting you and your other family members together and just have a non-threatening, informal chat with him just asking whether there's anything wrong at the moment and try to get him to open up. Only problem is that sometimes these types of situations inadvertedly make the person feel threatened and that everyone's against them but just re-assure him saying that you're concerned and just want to help him.

Depending on his money and work situation, maybe encourage him to getaway on a holiday somewhere, make sure it's somewhere he's been before or enjoys so it's not as stressful but could be what he needs to get away from his current situation and hopefully at least re-gain control his current addiction. Other than that maybe organise an outing like a picnic, it sounds pretty lame, but is something different, involves food and isn't as expensive as going out to a restaurant.

Hope that helps. :)
 

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Originally posted by aggels
Okay, so this is a serious question.

What do you do for a family member who sits in front of his computer for the moment he gets up until he goes to bed, refreshing a forum not all too dissimilar to this one? He's missed work on more than a few occasions to do this, and most of his conversations to us are about this forum. Lets just say he's in big trouble if he doesn't keep his job.

I thought of suggesting things to do, but there's really nothing that he enjoys, other than going for meals, which not only can I not afford every weekend, but I don't want to send him even further on his way to a heart attack since he favours the all you can eat restaurants. So what do I do? Leave it? Any suggestions? Has anyone you known done this before? Am I overreacting?
Click to expand...

lol, my sis sounds kinda the same... well there's no work involved, she just seems to stick to the computer talking to friends... when i ask her to get off she says 'hang on, something serious has just happened!' :rolleyes:

pretty much, i give her a time limit and tell her that if she stays on for another half an hour, then its my turn to go on or something... so maybe if you try giving him a time limit and suggest going for a walk or some thing (even going to work!!) after that, then, well, prehaps thats a chance.
 
Originally posted by aggels
What do you do for a family member who sits in front of his computer for the moment he gets up until he goes to bed, refreshing a forum
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aggels, you're related to Rohan_?
 
Re: Re: Internet Addiction

Originally posted by Anke


aggels, you're related to Rohan_?
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This coming from someone who only posts after 10pm, is that when Mummy & Daddy go to bed, so you can use the computer without them knowing. :rolleyes:
 
Re: Re: Re: Internet Addiction

Originally posted by cornelia


This coming from someone who only posts after 10pm, is that when Mummy & Daddy go to bed, so you can use the computer without them knowing. :rolleyes:
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Weak effort. Try again please :)
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Internet Addiction

Originally posted by cornelia


Your response was a weak effort, couldn't even dispute it, now run off to bed liitle man.
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zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

you make Suzi look like a genius :p
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Internet Addiction

Originally posted by Anke


zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

you make Suzi look like a genius :p
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Gawd & once again no reasonable come back, but I never expected it, well I am off to bed because I have a job & actually contribute to society & the economy, unlike you.
 

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Thanks to everyone who posted advice. Me and my mother and sister have been trying to organise social family events, and my sister and I have been doing things like asking him to show us how to do things away from the computer (like play golf) and the like.

Unfortunately it did end in yelling this weekend, and we've let him know how we feel about this. It probably wasn't the best way to deal with things, but it's eased up for the time being. I'm not pretending that everything is solved, because I know it's not. And I have taken a lot of your advice on board so thank you.
 

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