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Readers on digital addiction

There are a lot of digital addicts out there. Of course, we asked the question digitally … what's that say about us?

The feedback was varied to our column about being addicted to your digital technology. Here were some of the highlights.

"I've never been someone who got too attached to my computer, but since I got a BlackBerry, I'm totally addicted!" wrote Joyce. "I keep it by my bedside table and check it through the night constantly."


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"If I read a bunch of articles on Facebook and elsewhere to figure out if I'm an addict (I am ... big time), then does that make me more of an addict?" asked Ben.

"I agree with the tip about not checking your Facebook page on the weekend," said Al. "I never do. There is nothing going on that can't wait until Monday."

"God help us all!" wrote Paige. "I have three teenagers and they fight me constantly on this. I try to insist that when we are in the car or at the table, nobody is allowed to have their phones on or even anywhere nearby. I am exhausted, but will continue to fight them."

"I am a teacher and I am so frustrated by young adults' inability to speak a sentence," wrote David. "I know it's because their technology has made it OK to communicate without words. Anytime I ask a student to stand up and speak they really struggle. Which is why I make them do it more often."

"OK, wait a second … there's a place to go get TREATMENT for this?" asked Ryan in regards to the reSTART Internet Addiction Recovery Program mentioned in our column."Where can I sign up? A few weeks without my phone or computer would be heavenly!"

"I think that place where you go for digital rehab would make a great reality show," said Lauren. "Imagine watching a bunch of teens freaking out because they can't Tweet. Hilarious!"

"I kind of miss the days when I wasn't tethered to my laptop," wrote Margi.

"I don't think one realizes they are an addict, because it is such a norm," said Phaedra. "We are new here so sadly Facebook is our only connection to adult interaction. We pretty much sit side by side on our computers ... me doing my thing and him doing his. I just mentioned last night that we need to work on quality time, and he actually said, 'Doing what?' It's sad that we don't know what to do outside of the computer."

"I saw your article, Tweeted it to friends, and wrote you a message on Facebook," said Jessica. "If I weren't an addict, you wouldn't have as many readers, so it can't be all that bad, right?"

jweigel@tribune.com
ct-tribu-weigel-digital-feedback-20110225
 

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