One of my friends emailed me last week about the boundaries I’ve set for some of my online habits. He wanted to talk about them a little bit more, and jokingly said “I’m addicted to that stuff!”
His remark sent me into one of those little ADD brain tangents I frequently find myself in…(to which he received the brunt of in my return email).
We wouldn’t joke around about an addiction to porn, or to alcohol, but we do joke around about being addicted to technology.
And so I wonder…are we?
My friend Mike has a good, unofficial way of finding out. If you wonder if you’re addicted to something, take a break – cold turkey – for two weeks. See how long you make it. You’ll get a pretty good idea if you’re addicted or not.
Could you imagine taking two weeks off from Twitter or Facebook or your RSS reader or…?
More importantly, would you?
Comments
29 responses to “Are You an Addict?”
Hey Anne-Interesting. After dealing with my own addiction to alcohol, I am of the full belief that everyone has an addiction-some are bad, some are ok, most, like twitter, faccebook… are acceptable to society, but most of them pull us away from that which is important-the work of the Kingdom. Thanks for bringing this up.
Yeah – we’re addicted alright! We just won’t admit it. Or can’t admit it. Because we’re so hooked on being linked to technology. We’re always on. The adrenaline flows. There’s always one more link. One more site. And we feel so very important when we see our names on the internet.
We’re junkies. And this constant stimulation is simply not good for us. We’re out of balance. Have forgotten what’s important. And this keeps us from being still. At peace. Contemplative. Energetic. It keeps us from enjoying nature. A good book. Connected in person, one on one, with those in our world. And cultivating a deeper relationship with Christ.
Christians – we might feel pretty good that we’re not addicted to substances. But, really, we’re addicted all the same. So – what are we going to do about it?
Linda Stoll?s last blog post..You Too?
yes, i could imagine for 2 weeks to forget all about twitter, fb, blogger etc. just lay down in malorca, drinking coctails with friends…. i definitly do not need internet.
i realize today we people have many many addictions: coffee, eating, internet, family, drinking, sex, love, reading, watching TV …. etc.
i do not want to be addicted, but anyone is
addicted to life?s last blog post..Addicted to…
I did 24 hours once and it was the best 24 hours ever. I wrote, I read, I walked and got so much more don in those 24 hours than I could’ve imagined. Two weeks….I could probably do that if I didn’t need to use the computer for my job.
Well we are moving soon so I’ll be offline a bit…we’ll see.
Rick Apperson?s last blog post..E-Sword!
I actually thought I was more addicted to technology than it turns out. Weird? Just got back from my cruise to Alaska – 10 days without internet and very limited cell service. The take away: I was fine. In fact it was something of a welcome retreat.
I’ve spent the morning catching up on e-mails at work and did the same at home last night. Twitter is still new to me and Facebook has lost its charm. So all in all it was great.
I agree though, we all have our addictions and trials. I certainly feel that technology can be an addiction — it’s just not mine. Thanks for putting this out there, Anne. We need to think about this kind of stuff and how it impacts our relationships and where we place importance.
P.S.: I want to hear more about the fincial margins exercises you and the Hubs have done. That stuff fascinated me when I read your post from a few weeks back and still does. I think it would be great to read about here on flowerdust …how to practically do it, how you had success doing it. Just a thought.
Great question. Scary question. But all the good ones are.
How about turning the tables around, as well? What do I live without for two weeks that I should be addicted to, but I barely notice its absence, or I justify it away?
Kelly @ Love Well?s last blog post..Temptation
i know that i have an addictive personality… so there many times where i have to take a break from things. technology included. lately, i have noticed that my phone has become my sidekick. can’t do anything without it… can’t stop looking at it… always have it with me… always doing something with it. so on saturday night and sunday, i left it in my purse, off and didn’t touch it.
i found myself reaching for it to twitter something, or check my email. even when i had nothing of real importance to say or do. it was nice to get to see that about myself and i think it is important to step back and evaluate those things.
how much are we missing around us because we’re too distracted with stuff?
Crystal Renaud?s last blog post..Pressed But Not Crushed
I second this: Do it! It’s liberating….
Faith Dwight?s last blog post..My mom is going to kill me.
Great question. My answer: I am addicted to it. I grew up with a parent who lived vicariously through me, now I live vicariously through others, even though I have a great life. Go figure. Do I kid about this? Never.
I am s-l-o-w-l-y learning to leave it off when my husband is home so that we have “us” time. I am learning to set it aside so that I can be with friends away from home. I stopped Twitter from coming to my phone, only the DMs – which are few & far between. Nor do I have Internet on my phone.
However, I still have to learn to set it aside to get up and go for a walk, or do some other exercise for me. I spent a very teary Sunday yesterday on info overload, having to absolutely shut my brain down.
That said, I think I’ll go to town and buy some flowers to set out this afternoon. Then this evening, I’m helping with a special surprise birthday party for a lovely lady — I get to take pictures of the event.
Anyone up for being an accountability partner to challenge my time here?
@Kelly @ Love Well – AMAZING words. I just read these words of Perry Noble: “When a leader becomes desperate for God…he/she then becomes dangerous. Praying that I will have a dangerous faith!” — I’m with him. I want to be desperate for God. I want to. Really.
Faye?s last blog post..Elephants & Church
I took a week off from all internet access last summer. And, honestly, I enjoy those seasons of life now where I say: “I’m out of town. I’m busy. I’m whatever. I’ll be back later.”
It’s refreshing!
mandythompson?s last blog post..Warning: We?re gonna talk about LOST in this post? A lot.
I know I’m addicted and I’m not willing to give this one up. I am working on several other addictions, so I am aware of how much these things can suck the life out of us. Then again, because I work with youth, I use media and technology as a means of contact with them. For me, sometimes it is Kingdom work to be plugged in. Other times, it’s just me wasting time. However, I have taken up reading for the summer (Ive never been a big reader) and making a choice to close the MacBook and read has been hard at times. Thanks for reminding me to be careful about what I give my time and attention to!
I will be the firstto tell you that I am addicted. I spend most of my day on my phone. Check email,fb, Twitter all of it. All the time.
I took some time off and vowed to not let it come back like it did when I came back….but it did. So I have started one day a week being a technology free day. A day to turn it all off and acknowledge that the world will continue moving and people will still live if I don’t Twitter and do all that stuff.
Good question Anne.
I could do it no problem. I can quit anytime I want… Oh wait thats what every addict says. Maybe I need help
Guy Walker?s last blog post..Online Fundraising
I spend enough time on technology related type stuff that I have set firm boundaries for myself. I do not use facebook via my cell. I do not get twitter updates except for direct messages. I do not check any of my emails (personal or church) via my cell. And here lately, I’ve also gone to not having my cell on me when on a date with my hubby and/or sons. Totally unplugged.
While I believe there is great benefit to technology.. I also know that there can be great harm.
I am, however, a recovering addict… coke a cola.. specifically diet coke. This was revealed to me one day when 3 of my Tuesday morning Bible study women were arguing over who was going to buy me one. Apparently they didn’t think I could teach without one in my hand. UGGGHHH! Any thing can be addictive if we allow it. That’s why we must focus our hearts and minds of the things of God. And surrender each and every freakin’ day!
Dangerous prayers and much love as always!
Camey?s last blog post..Dangerous Prayers!
I think your question is good, but only addresses soft-addicts and not hard core addicts like me.
It is precisely /because/ I am addicted that I /can/ imagine taking a break for 2 weeks. When something owns you, it is easier to imagine life without it. The soft addictions are more covert and easier to deny.
peace|dewde
dewde?s last blog post..An Unconscionable Addiction – Part 2
Quiting cold Turkey is not the answer. SO what we can not get on line for a week. THat doesn’t take self control. It’s like the people that one day decided to make drinking Alcohol AT ALL a sin, they couldn’t walk in the fruit of the spirit, self control, so they labled it sinful. The word addiction is thrown around to justify condemning others for what we can’t handle ourselves.
What we all need to do is use self control in THIS area, just like all others. It’s not rocket science, it doesn’t need to be over analized or over spiritualized, just needs to be submitted to the Lord, and self control needs to be used. That’s it.
Carole Turner?s last blog post..Project Hopeful, helping AIDS Orphans
Just yesterday I sat in a chair with a good book, and without thinking I brought my laptop as well. No real reason… wasn’t expecting an important email and I had no intention of blog surfing… I seriously think I just felt cut off without it next to me. But when I sat down to read and heard Tweetdeck chirping I realized how completely strange that was.
Might be a wee bit addicted.
gitz?s last blog post..Insidious
I have a friend who has been hospitalized for her addiction to the Internet. It’s not actually uncommon. The hard thing is that, unlike alcohol or drugs, you cannot completely cut the Internet and technology out of your life. Not if you want to work in today’s society. That makes managing the addiction extremely hard.
Jessica (@It’s my life…)?s last blog post..And then she was 4, and there was lots of cake.
@Carole:
Thanks for your words of wisdom. I’m elated now that I know I will never sin again.
peace|dewde
dewde?s last blog post..An Unconscionable Addiction – Part 2
Did it- quit my blog and quit reading blogs. For 3 weeks. It was awesome. Hard? Yes, because of a million insecurities and Annie-issues. But it was totally worth it.
AnnieBlogs?s last blog post..And we?re baaaack.
@dewde I hear that scarcasm. :-)
I just think it all boils down to self control, a fruit of the spirit, that we are told to walk in. Sure it’s harded to walk in self control then to just cut it off and label it sinful, but I think that is how it should be handled.
I like to say “Blog responsibly” also, twitter, facebook, etc responsibly. Just my opinion.
Carole Turner?s last blog post..Project Hopeful, helping AIDS Orphans
@Carole:
Well, I am fluent in sarcasm. And, I do hear what you are saying. Self control (submission) is my responsibility. I won’t argue there.
peace|dewde
dewde?s last blog post..An Unconscionable Addiction – Part 2
I certainly agree there are addictions to internet/technology etc. I probably fall into that camp some myself. However, I also wonder: Just because I drive my car everyday, and would have a difficult time without it for two weeks, does that mean I’m addicted to my car? I guess the question: How much of our “addiction” to internet and technology is a natural need, and how much is frivolous that’s not needed? I think for most people, especially facebook and twitter addicts, it comes down to a need for relationship and community that they’re perhaps not finding in other areas of their lives. I know that can be the case for me often times.
Sabbatical is good. I can definitely imagine 2 weeks (or more) without stuff which crams my life. And that goes beyond technology.
Jesus took time out with His father. How much more do we need to as well?
There has always been things we could get distracted with, and there always will be. As a few comments have noted, this is needs to about personal boundaries and self-control, with the Holy Spirit as your personal Guide.
Like everything really.
David?s last blog post..Now with Major Award
I was majorly addicted to the internet for a long time. It got so bad that I shut off my internet for one year just so I could get some perspective on it. Now, I think I am starting to get the same way about Facebook … or at least the games on Facebook.
I want a Bible Reading Addiction. Why can’t we ever be addicted to things that are good for us? :P
Angel?s last blog post..WOTM Give-A-Way
@Angel: because our modern society is not health, it’s full of challenges & temptations. there is a huge amount of offering…
addicted to life?s last blog post..Addicted to…
I’ve been struggling with this topic as a twenty-something of late especially as everyone including their mother is on the book of faces. I guess the question I’d rather ask is if technology is becoming an idol?
I read a really good blog post that dealt with some definitions of idolatry. One of the points was that an idol is anything you find total meaning and significance in and if you lost it, life wouldn’t be meaningful anymore. So as it relates to all our online fancies, the question I’m asking myself is if I’m putting my time online above God or making it out to be an idol? An idol in a sense that if I don’t check my facebook, blog, or email I won’t have joy. Or if I don’t get feedback or some comment, will my joy be lost? It would be a true shame if it was (and it has been before at times).
Another issue is that we’re losing real-life relationships and resorting to relationships online. I think in the long run it might come back and bite us. I think it’s difficult for others to see the “real” us online. I think it takes real-life community for that.
So any thoughts out there on the differences between addiction and idolatry? Thanks!
Ya – I wonder about the whole “online” vs. real life relationship thing, as many people do. However as a 43 year old who didn’t grow up with this stuff in HS or college at ALL (I graduated HS in ’82 and college in ’86 – really weird to think back to those days! No cell phones, no internet!! Wow – I feel stinkin’ old!) Anyway – I’ve reconnected through FB to many many old friends I haven’t heard from in years – some I’ve forgotten about totally, sad to say. It’s been great. Even though we don’t see each other or live far away, the memories, feelings, and especially going back in time in some cases to one’s youth and remembering who you were back then as a person, your dreams, your friends, how you felt about life, etc. – all of this can tend to get distorted over time you’ll find out as life, marriage, kids, career, etc. play into it. You can “forget who you are” real easily. That has been a surprising nice thing of FB in reconnecting with old friends you haven’t heard from in 25 years in some cases. They remember you how you “were” and you remember them the same way. It gives you a mirror into your past so to speak. Very interesting. On the flip side of that, as we all know, there are also the stories of men and women who have connected with an old friend or flame from the opposite sex from their past and left their family, divorced and all, which is the downside of all that I guess too!
All in all, like any technology – it’s neither good nor evil on it’s own – it’s all in how you use it. And like anything that can become addictive, nothing is bad (usually that is) in moderation. It’s all in balance and how you use it. Society is learning on it’s own these days just how to do that with these new technologies such as FB and social media. Isn’t it amazing and exciting that someday in our 90s, we’ll look back and tell our kids “I remember when Facebook started up and boy, we thought that was REALLY something!” *grin*
Thank you so much for this post. It was so simple but hit me in a way I couldn’t ignore.
I’ve been an addict to the internet for years. It took over my whole life so, for the last 2 weeks, I went on a computer fast. Didn’t even touch the thing which is huge for me. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be to walk away either.
These last 2 weeks have been amazing. God has shown me so much about myself, my husband, and other people/situations/etc in my life just b/c I didn’t have that smoke screen in my life called the internet.
I can’t thank you enough for posting this. You rock Anne! Love ya!