betwixt
September 4th, 2009, 7:20 am
FALL CITY, Wash. - Ben Alexander spent nearly every waking minute playing the video game "World of Warcraft." As a result, he flunked out of the University of Iowahttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2.gif (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32679167/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets#).
Alexander, 19, needed help to break an addiction he calls as destructive as alcohol or drugs. He found it in this suburb of high-tech Seattle, where what claims to be the first residential treatment center for Internet addictionhttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2.gif (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32679167/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets#) in the United States just opened its doors.
The center, called reSTART, is somewhat ironically located near Redmond, headquarters of Microsoft and a world center of the computer (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32679167/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets#) industry. It opened in July and for $14,000 offers a 45-day program intended to help people wean themselves from pathological computer use, which can include obsessive use of video games, texting, Facebook, eBay, Twitter and any other time-killers brought courtesy of technology.
According to Dr. Kimberly Young of the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery in Bradford, Pa., addiction warning signs are being preoccupied with thoughts of the Internet; using it longer than intended, and for increasing amounts of time; repeatedly making unsuccessful efforts to control use; jeopardizing relationships, school or work to spend time online; lying to cover the extent of Internet use; using the Internet to escape problems or feelings of depression; physical changes to weight, headaches or carpal tunnel syndrome.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32679167/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets
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Internet usage can be a serious time sink. I do wonder how manny people never see a problem, or even know there is such thing as an internet addiction?
On a lighter side..when I asked my wife if she would help me move the book case one evening, we almost didn't get it moved before bedtime because she just HAD to get her crops in on her farmtown account :think:
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Alexander, 19, needed help to break an addiction he calls as destructive as alcohol or drugs. He found it in this suburb of high-tech Seattle, where what claims to be the first residential treatment center for Internet addictionhttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2.gif (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32679167/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets#) in the United States just opened its doors.
The center, called reSTART, is somewhat ironically located near Redmond, headquarters of Microsoft and a world center of the computer (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32679167/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets#) industry. It opened in July and for $14,000 offers a 45-day program intended to help people wean themselves from pathological computer use, which can include obsessive use of video games, texting, Facebook, eBay, Twitter and any other time-killers brought courtesy of technology.
According to Dr. Kimberly Young of the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery in Bradford, Pa., addiction warning signs are being preoccupied with thoughts of the Internet; using it longer than intended, and for increasing amounts of time; repeatedly making unsuccessful efforts to control use; jeopardizing relationships, school or work to spend time online; lying to cover the extent of Internet use; using the Internet to escape problems or feelings of depression; physical changes to weight, headaches or carpal tunnel syndrome.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32679167/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets
_______________________
Internet usage can be a serious time sink. I do wonder how manny people never see a problem, or even know there is such thing as an internet addiction?
On a lighter side..when I asked my wife if she would help me move the book case one evening, we almost didn't get it moved before bedtime because she just HAD to get her crops in on her farmtown account :think:
____________________________