The Internet: Social Crutch or Just a Hobby?

[FatalT]

For my summer writing class, I was given the prompt of writing an essay about one of my biggest problems in life. I chose the amount of time I spend on the internet, which it seems is also a major problem of most people who visit evilbore, NeoGAF, and all the other messageboard sites. I'd like for this to be a serious thread and discussion but more than likely no one will reply and this thread will disappear. Anyways, tell me what your thoughts are on this subject.

     One of my top problems in life is the amount of time I spend on the internet. The reason I consider the internet a problem for me is because instead of studying for classes at college, going out with friends, or trying to improve my body, I’ll just get online to waste time instead. I believe that if I limited the amount of time I spent chatting with people on online instant messengers, playing video games online, and visiting websites, I could spend time working out, going to parties, and studying to make better grades.

     In my case, the internet doesn’t just include using a computer to visit websites. I have some sort of connection online through my cell phone, my laptop, or a gaming system all the time. When I’m playing a video game on one of my gaming systems, I’m occasionally checking my online friends list to see what games my friends are playing or messaging them to see how they’re doing. When I’m using my laptop, I always have AOL Instant Messenger opened up so I can talk to all the people I know. Sometimes on my cell phone I’ll use an application that allows me to use the instant messenger from my laptop on my cell phone. I spend more time using an instant messenger than anything else involving the internet.

     Every time I leave my computer, I change my messenger’s online status to an away message stating whatever it is that I’m doing. “Work,” “Class,” “Shower,” and “Sleep” are the most common statuses that I put up. From looking at these messages, it’s easy to see that I really don’t do much outside of going to work and school. When I don’t have one of these away messages up, I’m usually either reading internet message boards about video games or the latest news, or I’m playing a video game online with other people. Very rarely will I actually go somewhere and change my online status to “Out” or “Away.”

     My opinion of my online habits is mostly positive. I love contributing to discussions and reading about the views of other people throughout the world, so online message boards are the perfect place for me to do this. I enjoy playing video games, so playing them with other people online is even more fun. I’m almost certain that mostly everyone who learns about the time I spend on the internet would believe that it’s abnormal. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard people tell me that I should go out and do something instead of staying cooped up in a room on the computer. My usual retort to these comments is that there’s nothing else to do, which is partially true because the area I live in isn’t the most exciting place in the world.

     My defense of the internet is probably just a cover-up for another one of my problems, which is the fact that I tend to have problems in social situations. I’m not saying that I’m a social outcast who would rather travel to a forest and live with coyotes than go out to a club, but interacting with people is a little difficult for me. This is why the internet is such an addictive and enjoyable tool for me to use to communicate with people. On the internet, people don’t have to worry about mannerisms and expressions to talk to each other. Someone could be a complete nut who freaks out at the smallest interactions with another human being, but they can freely write their views and opinions on whether abortion should be illegal or not on the internet without having to worry about being in a physical social environment.

     Instead of having to go out to a store or mall and meet people to talk about the latest products that are on sale, you can just use a computer to visit a website message board and do the same thing without having to leave your house. In my experience, interacting with people in person is more enjoyable than interacting with people over the internet. You can only get so much out of reading what someone writes or listening to their voice. Actually being face to face with a person allows for a whole lot more emotion and information to be exchanged. Facial expressions, body gestures, and a person’s mannerisms tell you more than just how they sound or what they can write. The amount of activities you can do with people in person greatly outnumbers the amount you can do online.

     I won’t deny that the internet is a great tool for finding out the latest news and information about anything, but it’s not something that should be a major part of someone’s life. In my life, the internet seems like it passed the point of being a useful tool and crossed over into being the only thing I do. Instead of using an instant messenger to talk to a friend, I should just go over to the friend’s house or go hang out somewhere with them. I need to overcome my social anxieties and spend less time sitting in front of a computer screen so I can go out with people more often. Computers should be more of a hobby for me instead of an alternative to getting to know new people or hanging out with old friends.

[Vizzys]

life before the internet sucked, admit it

[FatalT]

life before the internet sucked, admit it

It really did. Every time I try to think of something to do other than spend all my time on the internet, I fail. I even talked to Mupepe about this and we couldn't really come up with anything.

[Powerslave]

internet > life

internet = life

[muckhole]

For me, it's a mix. I do spend a ton of time on the internet, message boards etc. but I don't think I've ever passed on a social opportunity so that I could spend more time online. It's a godsend for me at this time of year due to the seasonal nature of my job, as it helps me kill some boring "watching the office/nothing to do" hours. Plus the whole lot of you folks crack me up something fierce.

Are all of your friends mostly online ones?

[Van Cruncheon]

get a full-time+ job, it will make you appreciate these idle hours on the internet

[demi]

Social Crutch

[etiolate]

Honestly, I don't think most people would be more productive without the internet. I think they would just get bored and find something just as unproductive and possibly destructive. And it is not like you gain nothing from the internet.  There is far more stimulating sources to be dived into online than you will find flipping through the channels or by listening to the inane banter of some of what makes up the general social populace.

[MrAngryFace]

Hours of doing nothing are a precious precious resource when youre spending 10 hours a week commuting and another 40 at a desk

[Vizzys]

since using the internet ive stopped watching television almost completely

+1 internet

[FatalT]

For me, it's a mix. I do spend a ton of time on the internet, message boards etc. but I don't think I've ever passed on a social oportunity so that I could spend more time online. It's a godsend for me at this time of year due to the seasonal nature of my job, as it helps me kill some boring "wathing the office/nothing to do" hours. Plus the whole lot of you folks crack me up something fierce.

Are all of your friends mostly online ones?

The online friends I have outnumber my local friends. My problem is that all the people I was in close contact with went away to colleges but I stayed put and went to a local college. Three of my friends who live together constantly call me to get me to come over to their apartment and party but I usually have something to do in the morning so I can't stay out all night or am currently busy, like now for example. I should've gone over there earlier but I was writing this paper. It's midnight now and I have to go to work at 9 AM tomorrow so I shouldn't go over there. I guess I could for just an hour but it's easier to use the excuse of having to work in the morning so I can stay at home and piddle around online.

[demi]

THE INTERNET GOT ME A JOB

[Powerslave]

I love the internet, I can watch pictures of cocks all day and there are no stupid detergent commercials!

[muckhole]

The online friends I have outnumber my local friends. My problem is that all the people I was in close contact with went away to colleges but I stayed put and went to a local college. Three of my friends who live together constantly call me to get me to come over to their apartment and party but I usually have something to do in the morning so I can't stay out all night or am currently busy, like now for example. I should've gone over there earlier but I was writing this paper. It's midnight now and I have to go to work at 9 AM tomorrow so I shouldn't go over there. I guess I could for just an hour but it's easier to use the excuse of having to work in the morning so I can stay at home and piddle around online.

That's not so bad...that seems to be a fairly legitimate reason to stay home. I guess the question is would you have gone out if you didn't have to work in the morning?

[FatalT]

That's not so bad...that seems to be a fairly legitimate reason to stay home. I guess the question is would you have gone out if you didn't have to work in the morning?

Probably, yeah. I haven't been over there in a few weeks. I think I might actually just head over there now and spend an hour or two.

[muckhole]

[ToxicAdam]

You can justify your addiction by thinking of it more as a release. Like going to therapy everyday. Or a creative exercise, like writing or doodling.

[bagofeyes]

I hardly even use the internet anymore. I come to this site and one or two others and then that's it. I can't think of anything to do anymore. I'd rather listen to some records and read a book.

[AdmiralViscen]

since using the internet ive stopped watching television almost completely

+1 internet

Yup.

[MrAngryFace]

I havent had cable for like, 3 years

[Great Rumbler]

Sometimes I think about the amount of time I spend online any given day and cringe a little, but there's a lot more to the internet than just "time-wasting". You've got information, discussion, and interaction all within easy reach, all things that few other activities can provide short of actually going out and pulling all of your friends together in one place, something that's not always possible.

It's all about creating a balance between time spent on the internet, time spent working, and time spent with real-world friends. Too much of any of those three can be a bad thing.

[FatalT]

Cheers for the motivation to get out of the house muckhole. I went over there and spent a few hours. I think I'll start anew and try to be more social from now on.

[pilonv1]

get a full-time+ job, it will make you appreciate these idle hours on the internet

or get a full time job where you can use idle hours on the internet

but basically anything is really better than wasting time on the internet

[pilonv1]

just saying what ive been told

[crimsondynamics]

Having social crutches is a hobby of mine.

[Powerslave]

I hardly even use the internet anymore. I come to this site and one or two others and then that's it. I can't think of anything to do anymore. I'd rather listen to some records and read a book.

Listen to some records? Do you live in the '70s?

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I've spent thousands of hours on the internet.

The way I figure it is that I've learned a lot of things on the internet that I would not have otherwise.  So it does have a lot of benefits.  It is pretty much relaxing for me.  Drama happens a lot in my circle of friends and e-drama is hilarious.  Real life drama just drains me emotionally and never fails to piss me off.  Especially now that it is the "Quarter Life Crisis" and a lot of my friends turned out to be failures who thought the parties would never end and that they were guaranteed a high paying job with their Communications degree.  A lot of the girls who once prized their virginity in high school fuck anyone who makes more than minimum wage in hopes that they will never have to work in their lives.  Of course this never works well.  I get tired of hearing that shit (as much as people on here didn't want to read that shit) so I just go online.

I place it completely in the "hobby" category though.  It fills in the moments in life when I have nothing going on.  In high school, I spent a lot of time online but if there was a party to go to, I was there.  I got a part time job, went out for football, etc.  I did have a life and I supplemented my idle time with internet time.  I've never given up anything for the internet, which is probably a good thing.  I think most people are like this.  If they spent all this time online, I doubt they would be that productive outside.  They would probably just watch TV instead or some other inane hobby.

[bagofeyes]

I hardly even use the internet anymore. I come to this site and one or two others and then that's it. I can't think of anything to do anymore. I'd rather listen to some records and read a book.

Listen to some records? Do you live in the '70s?

albums then mofo

[Brehvolution]

I just like to watch people argue over video games. Video games being the 2nd biggest time waster after the internet.
But for me, the internet is a key tool to keeping my companies computers up an running.

[Tauntaun]

I'm no social outcast but being raised by coyotes (in my case I'd prefer wolves) would be awesome!

[Rman]

Hobby.  I could never get into IM, IRC, or Myspace and Facebook.  I browse forums and websites that are tied to my interests and I also enjoy being able to quickly find any song or movie clip whenever serendipity calls.