Internet Addiction Affects 18 Million in US?

[rogerd]

According to a new study, Internet addiction may affect 6 - 10% of the 189 million Web users in the United States.

NY Times (login required): [nytimes.com...]

no login: [news.independent.co.uk...]

Be sure to watch your back: "There are family therapy programs for Internet addicts, and interventionists who specialize in confronting computer addicts." That guy behind you isn't from the phone company, he's about to pull your plug! :)

[Automan Empire]

Yeah, I'm hooked bad, but anyone trying for an "intervention" had better expect strong resistance! Or, at least wait 'till I finish my online holiday shopping (for them!)

[buckworks]

My husband used to worry that I had an internet addiction, but he decided he could live with it the day one of my affiliate checks paid off his truck loan two years early! :)

[Leosghost]

Does that figure include the pron surfers.. male and.. female..?

[Essex_boy]

Im a crazed junkie so stay away or else.

I mean really where do they get this info from?

[rocknbil]

The Internet! Where else?

I'm not worried about Internet addicts. What worries me are gamers. I personally know of several parents who have lost their children, these kids are zombies with no real-world connections at all, it's worse than drugs. Try an take them away and it's worse than a drug addict in need, it's really very scary.

[theBear]

Essex_boy they read the threads on WebmasterWorld during the last three Google updates ;-).

[Essex_boy]

Hmm then there could be some truth in it....

[lgn1]

Kids, Im seeing adults, professionals, living out their lives in everquest, halo online etc.

With me, I never go near online fantasy worlds. I have enough trouble copeing with this world, let alone an alternative reality :)

[webjourneyman]

In regards to young gamers living in own world. I think that applied to everybody, at that age I lived in a world made up from role-play, Kings Quest and movies.
In future those young gamers are probably going to be critical in regards to how their kids spend their leasure time. Claiming that at least online games had some redeeming features.

[walkman]

my question: what the h_ll is wrong with the rest of them (the non-addicted ones)? ;)