Americans giving up friends, sex for Web life

[Jack]

So how important is your connection to the web?

Surfing the net has become an obsession for many Americans with the majority of U.S. adults feeling they cannot go for a week without going online and one in three giving up friends and sex for the Web. A survey asked 1,011 American adults how long they would feel OK without going on the Web, to which 15 percent said a just a day or less, 21 percent said a couple of days and another 19 percent said a few days. Only a fifth of those who took part in an online survey conducted by advertising agency JWT between Sept 7 and 11 said they could go for a week. "People told us how anxious, isolated and bored they felt when they are forced off line," said Ann Mack, director of trend spotting at JWT, which conducted the survey to see how technology was changing people's behavior. "They felt disconnected from the world, from their friends and family," she told Reuters. The poll, released on Wednesday, found the use of cell phones and the Internet were becoming more and more an essential part of life with 48 percent of respondents agreeing they felt something important was missing without Internet access. More than a quarter of respondents -- or 28 percent -- admitted spending less time socializing face-to-face with peers because of the amount of time they spend online. It also found that 20 percent said they spend less time having sex because they are online. Cell phones won out over television in a question asking which device people couldn't go without but the Internet trumped all, regarded as the most necessary. "It is taking away from offline activities, among them having sex, socializing face-to-face, watching TV and reading newspapers and magazines. It cuts into that share," said Mack. "I don't suppose their partners are too pleased about it." Mack said a clear trend to emerge from the survey was the increasing need for mobility with people no longer satisfied with just broadband access from home and wanting hand-held devices like iPhones and BlackBerrys.

Americans giving up friends, sex for Web life - Internet - www.itnews.com.au

[Milton Bradley]

I wasn't aware that I was choosing internet socialization above real interaction, until I thought about it for a minute.


Well, I don't suppose it has anything to do with whom I like better, or would rather interact with.


I must say, I'm caught somewhat off guard here, and don't know what choice I'd make if the chioces were mutaully exclusive.


Do you?


P.S. You need a fourth choice, " I don't know".

[Jack]

Write-ins are allowed. I'm not too sure either...or perhaps I'm just reluctant to admit the truth.

[nerdvincent]

It's incredible to see how much technology could take over social life and even sex life in such a little time. I don't consider myself extremly addicted to internet, or at least not until i discovered Volconvo :), in comparison with some of my friends. Nonetheless, a week or two without internet should be...should be what? Painful? No I don't think so. I will somewhat suffer from ''freedom of information'' withdrawal symptoms. After all, what's so addictive on the net? I think it's the feeling of power, that every information are just here, tap on the google toolbar and wait 0.26 sec. And what about a new start? The contemporary human is too much stressed, feeling that his skin is too tigh. When I wake up in the morning, no matter if I'm a serial killer, a janitor or a president. Once I'm on the net I become Nerdvincent. Holy digital Schizophrenia.
Of course, as cited, it can become dangerous for us. We're far from here now but in a near future it could affect birth rate, divorce number and many other essential values of social life. Or is it the case right now?

[nerdvincent]

''Although widely popular with 9 million players, World of Warcraft has received a fair amount of criticism. Stories of game addiction are a common source of criticism. In June 2005 it was reported that a child had died due to neglect by her World of Warcraft-addicted parents. In August of that year, the government of the People's Republic of China proposed new rules to curb what they perceived to be social and financial costs brought on by the popularity of games such as World of Warcraft. The measure would enforce a time limit on China's estimated total of 20 million gamers.''
From our friend Wikipedia. Should we go as far as China?'

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: nerdvincent Once I'm on the net I become Nerdvincent. Holy digital Schizophrenia.

Hehehehehehe, ah...


I have chosen not to be anybody other than myself, mostly because I can't imagine actually being George Costanza, no matter how many similarities there are in our stories.

[Mia]

Given the choice between a sex life and an internet life? No contest.

The already existing lack of one plays into my current time spent on the net, however ;-)

[SublimeOne]

I've endured days of no internet when my dad decided to switch from using a Linksys router to a Netgear router, apparently that was a bad choice.

This obviously means a fatter America. *sighs*

I do not know if we should go as far as China to try to keep Americans off the internet for their health and stuff. It's for a good cause, but is it ethical for the government to be able to control how much time we can spend online? Also, to make sure we don't go over the limit, the government would have to spy on us.

[Praxius]

I don't have a cell phone and I hate having to talk through something verbally to someone on the other line, when they can wait until I am face to face with them to tell them.

I have no desire to have a cell phone, mainly because I don't require people being able to get ahold of me 24/7 anywhere and everywhere I go.

If I'm not home, then I am probably out doing something, which probably means I don't want to stand around talking on a damn phone.

----------------------------------------------------

As it goes for the internet. I am on it daily, more so because it's the only thing I can do that kills time on my breaks at work.

I have no nessecity to be online. If I had no internet connection for a multitude of months at a time, it would make little difference, because there is nothing online that I require for my survival and continual personal enjoyment.

I see the internet no differently then smoking pot..... I'm not addicted to either..... I just have the access to both, so why not?

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In regards to the affect on my social life.... there is no major difference. I socialize as much now as I did in my past.... if not more.... and actually, the time I spend on the internet can be attributed to my social life, since I don't deal on phones much, the internet is the easiest method of getting ahold of me for going out somewhere.

Personally, I don't require a major social life, since I never had one growing up, so I see no major difference..... in fact, I was over at my friends place just last night for the hell of it, so my social life is still balanced decently.

-----------------------------------------------------

Affecting my Sex life? Well one has to have one in order for it to be affected.

When I did have one, being in the internet might have affected my chances of having sex on one or two occasions..... but it's not like the option was thrown out there in any obvious manner.

If I was asked if I wanted to have sex rather then spending time on the internet, I would usually choose the sex....... but sometimes I'm just not in the mood, and if the sex on average is just so-so, then that also affect my interests.

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If anything overall, the internet has helped me learn how to socialize better then I did.

[nerdvincent]

So do I. Ain't I socializing with all of you right now? This said, there is a (former) close firend of mine who plays on SilkRoad (some kind of free WoW).
Result: on weekends and holydays, he can play 18h a day. His mark are dropping, all the stuff. So you will tell me ''his mother just have to switch off the modem''. She did. Now he plays at night.
Of course he has to control himself, and I'm far from believing we should reduce internet.

[melpomene]

It is an interesting phenomenon ............. more tuning into the internet.

There are now studies being done by Sociology departments of university's on the communities of the internet.

You have all heard of SecondLife? It is a virtual world, where you take on an animated avatar and wander through this virtual world, where you can buy property and date. Its fascinating.

Its even more fascinating why people turn to these alter egos as such.

I have been studying forums for five years.

Your name, avatar, your sig, your responses all say who you are.

Psychologists/Sociologists say that we reinvent ourselves online. We become what we cant be in our everyday realities.

I will be interested to observe human behaviour in 25 years time. To see if the art of interpreting body language will have diminished, particularly in our young.

[Suburbanite]

I run a few businesses with some friends, and since I'm the one with the most tech experience I often act as both graphic designer and computer tech. But, I LOVE, more than anything, to travel. And when I travel I'm usually disconnected for very long periods of time from computer. I spent a month in Europe this summer, for example, and was on a computer all of 30min for business only.

[Praxius]

Quote by: melpomene Your name, avatar, your sig, your responses all say who you are. Psychologists/Sociologists say that we reinvent ourselves online. We become what we cant be in our everyday realities.

What you see is what you get with me. I type how I think, and in the real world I also speak what I think.... regardless to how accurate what I am saying is... I speak my mind and how it understands things in the moment.

And honestly, there isn't anything impressive with my online identity then there is in real life, lol.

[nerdvincent]

Yes the long term studies will be very interesting. I heard of secondlife. Holy digital schizophrenia, as I said earlier.
Friggin' insane world we're living in, eh?

[thx1138]

well some people saw this coming like George Lucas... if you watch his first film "THX 1138" (made back when video sphere was going to be the big thing 1970... well it will be soon) he shows were this could all lead.

THX 1138

[prejudged_Fire]

My gf has replaced my internet addiction (not to say I'm addicted to her now). I used to be online 24/7 (almost literally) because I had nothing better to do. Now I'm with her all the time. I like the change.

[donfie]

Who say the intenet and a sex life are mutually exclusive?

You only need one hand to move a mouse.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: thx1138 well some people saw this coming like George Lucas... if you watch his first film "THX 1138" (made back when video sphere was going to be the big thing 1970... well it will be soon) he shows were this could all lead. THX 1138

Heh, I wondered what inspired you moniker.


I believe that might be worth checking ou, thanks.

[Jimmy the Pro]

Addicted? I use the internet as a tool for broadening my horizons.

I connect to the intraweb insofaras the things I wish to do involve social intereaction. This happens via:

1. Facebook: Social Community
2. Volconvo: Intellectual Community
3. You Tube: Video Community

These places are primarily where I spend my time, that and email serve to extend my connections with the real world.

Do I think I'm addicted? No, I think I'm invovled in a worldwide community and I am taking part in a worldwide medium.

[thx1138]

Quote by: Milton Bradley Heh, I wondered what inspired you moniker. I believe that might be worth checking ou, thanks.

Be sure to let me know what you thought about the movie.