interesting question, huh?

well earlier today i was on Yahoo’s homepage catching up on my world news when i stumbled across an article entitled, “Are You an Internet Addict?” – something triggered me to stop, read the article and answer the question being asked.

am i an internet addict? according to the Net Addiction Test – NO. if i was in fact completely honest, then i received a score of 28 out of a possible 100 which describes me as follows: “You are an average on-line user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage.”

Whew!!! Where do you rank?
here’s an excerpt from the article by Gina Hughes, Yahoo! Tech that i found most interesting.

“Internet addiction can be harmful for those who delve into the darker side of the web, such as online gambling, cybersex, online affairs, and online gaming. But how do you know when you or someone you love is addicted to the Internet? When is it time to pull the plug and seek treatment?

Here’s a list of common symptoms to watch out for:

1. Lying about how much time is spent online.
2. General decrease of physical activity and social life.
3. Neglecting obligations at home, work, or school to spend time online.
4. Spending too much money on computer equipment or Internet activities.
5. Feeling a constant desire to be online when they’re away from the computer.
6. Going online to escape real world problems.
7. Disregarding the emotional or physical consequences of being in front of a computer all day.
8. Denial of the problem.

There is much debate about the reality of Internet addiction. The bottom line is that anything can be harmful when abused. If you find yourself spending more time online than with real people, then plan for some quality time with the family or friends every other day. Find an activity the whole family enjoys and make a date with them.” [read complete article from source]

So, pinkhaired readers, what can you or do you do to escape cyberspace when you know you have been online too long? Or now that you know there is such a thing as “internet addiction” what do you plan to do to prevent it happening to you?