If you're online a lot YOU WILL have urges to "check back in."
Katherine Ellison has a personal essay, with some draconian proposals, at LAT: "Hooked on the Internet":
In the time-honored tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous, I recently entrusted my fate to a higher power — specifically, to a new software program that shuts off my access to the Internet for a designated time.Read the whole thing.
I finally had to acknowledge that I was helpless in the face of my addiction, which has had me, especially in recent weeks, tapping my e-mail "refresh" button like a lab rat trying to get cocaine.
The trick, I think, is to find a balance. If the Internet is interfering with work and family, the addiction might rate up there with substance abuse. Professional help wouldn't be out of the question.
I'm online too much, and I know it. At this point in my life I learn from it --- and get charged from it --- and hopefully I'm making an important contribution in some ways. That said, sometimes I want to walk away from blogging, my main activity. And yet, I'm balancing things much better of late than I did a few years ago. My entire family is wired as well, which reminds me of the country's sociological changes discussed in Dalton Conley's book, Elsewhere, U.S.A: How We Got from the Company Man, Family Dinners, and the Affluent Society to the Home Office, BlackBerry Moms,and Economic Anxiety.
I'm going to work on some personal changes, in any case, for example to do more professional writing.
As for advice, just be good to yourself and your work, and most of all be good and attentive to your loved ones. Blog posts, e-mail and Twitter can wait.
2 comments:
I generally think of it as a place to have my say. I rarely go back and look at something I wrote. I also remember that there is little reason to allow others to control my health by getting mad or involved in mindless name calling. I do admit that I enjoy pointing out the hypocrisy of the Left.
There are so many other endeavors that provide for a a life well lived that allowing one to control is to allow others to pass one by.
It is of course the reason I do not blog. More power to you Donald. Keep up the good work, but always take the time to enjoy life and put everything in its proper perspective.
With little kids at home, this is the precise reason I limit posting to once a day at most. Blog Ads may not like my low traffic numbers, but too bad. Some things in life are more important.
On the other hand, we all need a break from family duties at times, a little time out, and intenet can help with that. We are only human. Everybody needs an outlet. Internet is less destructive than many vices out there. But setting ground rules for onesself is a good idea.
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