Comments on: Addicted to Technology! http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/ More than just a blog. Sat, 17 May 2008 04:43:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Catherine http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-142668 Catherine Sat, 24 Feb 2007 13:23:28 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-142668 <p>It's hard to define what exactly constitutes an addiction, and it's only when you try to go without that you realise the true extent of your dependence. My mobile phone broke a month ago, I can't send or receive texts at all. Here in Ireland texts are used more often than phonecalls with the "computerised" generation, and I actually felt cut out! I was finding out about things later than everyone else and because it's second nature to text people forgot to call instead! As I haven;t fixed my phone yet, I'm now finding that the internet is an increasingly attractive alternative! I'm admittedly become obsessed with the instantaneous messaging, myspace, bebo! And I do wonder what would happen if I just plugged the thing out - no more internet, yes I would survive but I'm quite happy to keep on going as I am!</p> It’s hard to define what exactly constitutes an addiction, and it’s only when you try to go without that you realise the true extent of your dependence. My mobile phone broke a month ago, I can’t send or receive texts at all. Here in Ireland texts are used more often than phonecalls with the “computerised” generation, and I actually felt cut out! I was finding out about things later than everyone else and because it’s second nature to text people forgot to call instead! As I haven;t fixed my phone yet, I’m now finding that the internet is an increasingly attractive alternative! I’m admittedly become obsessed with the instantaneous messaging, myspace, bebo! And I do wonder what would happen if I just plugged the thing out - no more internet, yes I would survive but I’m quite happy to keep on going as I am!

]]> By: Climb to the Stars (Stephanie Booth) http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140466 Climb to the Stars (Stephanie Booth) Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:33:43 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140466 <p><strong>Please Make Holes in My Buckets!...</strong></p> <p>Facebook is Stowe’s fault. Twitter was because of Euan. Anne Dominique is guilty of getting me on Xing/OpenBC. I can’t remember precisely for Flickr or LinkedIn or — OMG! — orkut, but it was certainly somebody from #joiito. The ...</p> Please Make Holes in My Buckets!…

Facebook is Stowe’s fault. Twitter was because of Euan. Anne Dominique is guilty of getting me on Xing/OpenBC. I can’t remember precisely for Flickr or LinkedIn or — OMG! — orkut, but it was certainly somebody from #joiito. The …

]]> By: Web avant-garde » Blog Archive » communities are getting used to social - what’s the next tendency? http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140361 Web avant-garde » Blog Archive » communities are getting used to social - what’s the next tendency? Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:01:30 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140361 <p>[...] Stephanie Booth is also writing some on this subject ( but with the addiction twist) here tags: airborn, applications, communities, social, lift07, tendencies [...]</p> […] Stephanie Booth is also writing some on this subject ( but with the addiction twist) here tags: airborn, applications, communities, social, lift07, tendencies […]

]]> By: henriette weber andersen http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140359 henriette weber andersen Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:58:32 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140359 <p>I think that technology will look beyond the internet soon - and it's allready started to happen...</p> <p>I will just include you in my future considerations post, then you can all follow the trackback if you want to read my ideas on technology and the future..</p> I think that technology will look beyond the internet soon - and it’s allready started to happen…

I will just include you in my future considerations post, then you can all follow the trackback if you want to read my ideas on technology and the future..

]]> By: Ric Hayman http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140353 Ric Hayman Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:55:19 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140353 <p>"Take care, there seem to have been problems with the comment form lately" - Steph, you don't need to copy to clipboard if you have coComment turned on ... if it gets lost here, retrieve it from coCo (hey - you're allowed to encourage use of the product!)</p> “Take care, there seem to have been problems with the comment form lately” - Steph, you don’t need to copy to clipboard if you have coComment turned on … if it gets lost here, retrieve it from coCo (hey - you’re allowed to encourage use of the product!)

]]> By: Ric http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140352 Ric Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:51:22 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140352 <p>@Dr Frank - does that mean you are now "addicted" to travel? I don't think Steph is trying to make judgment here one way or another - rather to point out that before a technology becomes so ubiquitous as to be a part of the fabric of life (think of paper money, or cars as examples) then early adopters seem to be seen as unhealthily attracted to it, or addicted. While it IS possible to be that, the 'unhealthy' part is measured not in time, but in psychological dependence.</p> <p>Most of COULD stop using whatever technology you might name, but if it adds to our life in some way meaningful to us, why would we?</p> <p>(BTW - I find it very easy to spend time away from my computer - even weeks at a time!)</p> @Dr Frank - does that mean you are now “addicted” to travel? I don’t think Steph is trying to make judgment here one way or another - rather to point out that before a technology becomes so ubiquitous as to be a part of the fabric of life (think of paper money, or cars as examples) then early adopters seem to be seen as unhealthily attracted to it, or addicted. While it IS possible to be that, the ‘unhealthy’ part is measured not in time, but in psychological dependence.

Most of COULD stop using whatever technology you might name, but if it adds to our life in some way meaningful to us, why would we?

(BTW - I find it very easy to spend time away from my computer - even weeks at a time!)

]]> By: Dr. Frank George Williams http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140331 Dr. Frank George Williams Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:37:33 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140331 <p>This argument is like drunks in a bar talking about how alcohol is not addictive, and how alcoholism is bunkum.</p> <p>My argument against, I know is an uphill one. Simply because "bloggers" and web 2.0'ers are people who work in IT, or have a strong interest in IT, the internet and so forth. It would be totally natural for people in IT to feel they need to be wired up "to the national grid", so to speak. For the rest of us where computing and using the internet takes backseat in "things in life to do", this dependence people have on the internet could most certainly be perceived as an addiction, just like my friend who enjoys smoking marijuana, whilst not chemically addictive, requires it for him to "feel normal", and also to get some sleep, because smoking weed does that to you.</p> <p>Where I work, which doesn't even have a computer in it, people would be mystified if you asked them what a "blog" or a "wiki" is, or maybe even IM. These people don't have a dependency or addiction to the Internet. They can operate their lives, most part, without having to sit in front of a computer. In fact, I can tell you that the team of 16 I work with, 3 own a computer. One guy likes to web cam, the other likes to look up astrological charts and find himself a partner, and the other being me. A few co-workers have never used a computer, and some have never gone beyond typing a letter or playing some game their nephew got.</p> <p>Could you stop using your cellphone? Could you stop using your email account, or talking on IRC? If you're reading this, quite possibly not if you wish to maintain the current lifestyle you have. If you wanted to change your lifestyle, then it's most certainly possible. In 7 weeks I will be changing my lifestyle. I will be leaving the life of full time worker, mouse potato after hours to one of travel and discovery, my only desire to use a computer to send emails to my parents to let them know I'm still alive, and even then, I can call them instead. Will it be hard for me? Sure. But this is what I've chosen, so I can go and do what I want. If you people want to spend the rest of your lives in front of your computer or crackberry socialising with 9pt Verdana, go right ahead.</p> This argument is like drunks in a bar talking about how alcohol is not addictive, and how alcoholism is bunkum.

My argument against, I know is an uphill one. Simply because “bloggers” and web 2.0′ers are people who work in IT, or have a strong interest in IT, the internet and so forth. It would be totally natural for people in IT to feel they need to be wired up “to the national grid”, so to speak. For the rest of us where computing and using the internet takes backseat in “things in life to do”, this dependence people have on the internet could most certainly be perceived as an addiction, just like my friend who enjoys smoking marijuana, whilst not chemically addictive, requires it for him to “feel normal”, and also to get some sleep, because smoking weed does that to you.

Where I work, which doesn’t even have a computer in it, people would be mystified if you asked them what a “blog” or a “wiki” is, or maybe even IM. These people don’t have a dependency or addiction to the Internet. They can operate their lives, most part, without having to sit in front of a computer. In fact, I can tell you that the team of 16 I work with, 3 own a computer. One guy likes to web cam, the other likes to look up astrological charts and find himself a partner, and the other being me. A few co-workers have never used a computer, and some have never gone beyond typing a letter or playing some game their nephew got.

Could you stop using your cellphone? Could you stop using your email account, or talking on IRC? If you’re reading this, quite possibly not if you wish to maintain the current lifestyle you have. If you wanted to change your lifestyle, then it’s most certainly possible. In 7 weeks I will be changing my lifestyle. I will be leaving the life of full time worker, mouse potato after hours to one of travel and discovery, my only desire to use a computer to send emails to my parents to let them know I’m still alive, and even then, I can call them instead. Will it be hard for me? Sure. But this is what I’ve chosen, so I can go and do what I want. If you people want to spend the rest of your lives in front of your computer or crackberry socialising with 9pt Verdana, go right ahead.

]]> By: the other steph http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140313 the other steph Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:49:54 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/02/12/addicted-to-technology/#comment-140313 <p>What I like most about IM is that it's essentially changed how I communicate with people in the same room because it is relatively unobtrusive and doesn't interrupt someone else's flow of work. My colleagues and I might be discussing something in a chatroom and one of us (usually me) might call for "headphones off" mode where we can talk using our vocal chords. Works especially well if you are all working on different things at the same time, yet have to collectively address an issue. This also keeps peace at home, where the S.O. might be in the other room, and it's just a little message asking "How about some tea?" The crackle of the traditional intercom has been replaced by an Adium quack. ;)</p> <p>However, I do find it ironic that the "addiction" to computers and technology seems to attract more wolf cries than another phenomenon that's less productive and even more widespread - the addiction to television. I mean, what's up with that?</p> What I like most about IM is that it’s essentially changed how I communicate with people in the same room because it is relatively unobtrusive and doesn’t interrupt someone else’s flow of work. My colleagues and I might be discussing something in a chatroom and one of us (usually me) might call for “headphones off” mode where we can talk using our vocal chords. Works especially well if you are all working on different things at the same time, yet have to collectively address an issue. This also keeps peace at home, where the S.O. might be in the other room, and it’s just a little message asking “How about some tea?” The crackle of the traditional intercom has been replaced by an Adium quack. ;)

However, I do find it ironic that the “addiction” to computers and technology seems to attract more wolf cries than another phenomenon that’s less productive and even more widespread - the addiction to television. I mean, what’s up with that?

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