From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npois!eiss!ggw
Newsgroups: net.misc
Title: Re: computer addiction?
Article-I.D.: eiss.341
Posted: Thu Jun 10 10:38:03 1982
Received: Fri Jun 11 03:51:04 1982
References: floyd.256

I must disagree with Andy's distinction that the person who gives in
to "computer addiction" is the victim of a facination.  To quote the
definition he included:

	Addict: vt 1 to devote or surrender (oneself) to something
	habitually or excessively
This is an exact description of the syndrome!  The computer becomes a
habit that a person will indulge in to an excessive amount.
	Moreover, to limit the terminology only to that which is in the
dictionary ignores the connotations and implications that common usage
endow upon a word.  Addiction it is, and all the problems that follow up
an addiction exist with computers.
	My wife has pointed out to me upon several occasions that my
addiction to computing is not very different from the effects that
alcoholism produce in a person's life.  ( To say that alcoholism is a
disease and not an addiction is just quibbling. Common use includes
alcoholism in addiction.)
	Like alcoholism, the computer addiction can be traced from
parent to child.   My father is one of the early computer pioneers
(worked on the IAS machine at Princeton) and succumbed early to the
addiction of computers in preference to human interaction.  A lot of
hard work on his part, and love and understanding on our part was
required to wrest him (partly) from the machine. (He will deny this
part vehemently.)
	My brothers and myself succumbed also to the siren song of
the computer.  One works for DEC as a software consultant at their
Phone support center, another is computering at a southern university,
and I spend more time than I should as a consultant to BTL.  Even
our eldest sister "hacks" computers at a southern university.
	To wrap-up, I fully recognized the addictive nature of my behaviour
and maintain close watch on my activity patterns to try and prevent
a return to the days of "no-shower-in-two-weeks, never-combed-hair,
slept-in-his-clothes-look hacking!"  It helps me to remind myself,
when I see a "real hacker" type to say "There, but for grace, go I"
				(signature witheld by request)