Crystal Net Addict

It was inevitable. Would have happened sooner or later. What goes up must come down - the universal addiction Catch 22 statement. Feels so good but is so bad for you. Now along with alcohol, narcotics, prescription medication, painkillers, glue, sex, and food...you can now be addicted to the Internet.

Not surprising really. The Internet is really the place where people fall in love with themselves. Its this mass media projection of their alter egos or their coolest self, sans extra weight, hang ups, complexes, bad childhoods and inadequacies of any kind. No wonder its the world wide web of deception. Spiders out there...yes, you - you know first hand what I'm talking about. Of course, the net is used for good, communication, information dissemination etc but the downside is the side that interests me most for now.

Executive director of the ReStart Centre for Internet addiction in Seattle, Hilarie Cash has published a list of symptoms to figure out if you're addicted to the Internet.

Here are the rules...three of the symptoms indicate abuse, if you ticked five or more...you're a likely candidate for Internet rehab. Here goes...

- Increasing amounts of time spent on Internet

- Failed attempts to control behaviour

- Heightened euphoria while on Internet

- Craving more time on Internet, restless when not there

- Neglecting family and friends

- Lying to others about use

- Internet interfering with job and school

- Feeling guilty or ashamed of behaviour

- Changes in sleep patterns

- Weight changes, backaches, headaches, carpal tunnel (A painful disorder of the wrist and hand caused by repetitive hand movements)


- With drawl from other activities

Any of that sound familiar to you? Hopefully less than three. That would make you an incy wincy spider on the www. Take a break from the net and go outside, take a drive with Tourism Radio as your on board guide through the area you're travelling through.

Enjoy the ride...