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My addiction story:

2007-06-06 10:52:40

My addiction story:

(Score:5, Insightful)

by erroneus (253617) on Thursday December 14, @10:22AM (#17236912)

(http://www.d-n-a.cc/)

I was travelling in Japan for about a week of my three-week stay. The schedule

was created by my Japanese host who failed to schedule any time for rest. I was

unable to check my email. As I was separated not only from my laptop but from

the internet at large, I found myself becoming quite edgy until finally, she

brought me to a media cafe allowing me to check emails, browse a few sites and

finally restore peace and balance to myself.

While I am not sure I can fully understand the nature of addiction, I fear it.

If by some chance, this was the sign of actual addiction, then I'm not sure

what to do about it since it's an integral part of my work and my play. Many

addictions stem, at least initially, from some sort of pleasure-rewarding

recreational activity. In this case, it was more of a feeling of being cut off

from a world or a life from which I get a certain level of comfort.

As to internet "behavior"? I have a hard time seeing that as being anything

other than actionable by an employer. An employer can refuse to hire or may

fire someone for being addicted to drugs or anything else that may be deemed as

objectionable in the workplace. I'd say porn is right up there on the list.

The "medium" is one thing and the behavior is another. I think it's important

to make that distinction.

Adults are SUPPOSED to be accountable for their actions and inactions. This

means that if they find themselves dangerously addicted to something, they are

supposed to do something to remedy the condition. You don't just stop at

labeling something as a disease and throw your hands in the air. In a previous

posting, I discussed a time when I found myself missing work so that I could

play a video game. (XWing vs. Tie Fighter in that instance.) When I realized

what I was doing, I made changes. It's what adults are supposed to do and what

we are supposed to be teaching our children so that they become good adults.

So if someone is fired from their job for being addicted to drugs or alcohol,

for being obese, for watching porn or chatting online at the office, then I

think it's perfectly acceptable. I say this even though I am guilty of two of

these offenses myself. I'm not willing to defend my own behavior by calling it

a disease.