'Webaholic' Are you?
By zandi458
@zandi458 (28102)
Malaysia
September 24, 2010 11:16pm CST
Since the birth of internet a new word 'webaholic' has surfaced. Like alcoholic or shopaholic, webaholic is another kind of obsession that has stormed the world at lightning speed infecting the minds of the young and old without mercy. It is this net obsession that keeps people with no time every time their attention is needed in the real world. It is without denial that the Net has made our life super-streamlined. Who could blame anyone for this obsession as technology has broken the barriers in opening the gateway to reach every corners of the world in the comfort of one's own home. I admit I am one of those who has fallen prey to webaholic as I rely practically everything on the computer and internet to run my daily activities. I hit the net to find a restaurant, book my flight tickets and hotel for my vacation, shop online for books, do my banking online etc...name it we get every thing and anything at the touch of the button. Being bored and lonely, one can just hope in any chatrooms at any hour. Or just set your email 'visible' and you fill find eager chatters coming your way. No problem. The unknown meeting the unknown create a cyberworld goodwill. 
We love the constant hive of activity the web brings but have you ever wonder where your online existence ends and real world begins. Your friends would be spun out to hear your actual voice on the phone instead of expressing you mood via emoticons. Needless to say, many have become such an internexpert and have become efficient as an ant farm when it comes to getting what they want. Just don't forget that sometimes it's nice to have some real human contact. We need to come down to our real world instead of being controlled by the cyberworld. What say you?
We love the constant hive of activity the web brings but have you ever wonder where your online existence ends and real world begins. Your friends would be spun out to hear your actual voice on the phone instead of expressing you mood via emoticons. Needless to say, many have become such an internexpert and have become efficient as an ant farm when it comes to getting what they want. Just don't forget that sometimes it's nice to have some real human contact. We need to come down to our real world instead of being controlled by the cyberworld. What say you?4 people like this
16 responses
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
26 Sep 10
It certainly is true that a hug from a friend and a conversation face to face are precious! I have fallen victim to the web addiction to a certain extent. I need to have my daily fix and at this moment I’m glad that I can still stop instead of spending every waking hour on my laptop! I was heading in that direction and my husband and daughter were becoming quite resentful of my time online so I had to make the decision to only be on the Net for so long each day so I can spend the rest of the time with my family who are real, living, breathing people! I think that, like everything else in life we need a good balance. There is nothing wrong with loving the Internet but when it takes over to the expense of other important things in your life it is paramount to make changes.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 10
I agree. Once addicted to internet it takes a strong will to divert our attention to matters in the real world. But since I am also taking advantage of the internet to handle some of my commitments I spend more time online but not totally neglecting my responsibilities in the real world.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 Sep 10
Alot of what u say is true & i'm guilty of alot of it to, lol. I really don't do that many different things like u do. I have never been in a chat room, don't travel etc. but do stay on the computer alot. I'd be lost w/out mylot, it is soooo much comapny to me. Hope u are having a good day.
1 person likes this
@alottodo (3056)
• Australia
26 Sep 10
Hi there zandi...I like to say I Am not controlled by the internet[not yet]and yes I do spend a few hours a day on the net mainly doing surveys I do check on MyLot every day and emails and so on but I make sure to call my friends and family at least once a week...yesterday I had my daughter and her friend come to dinner we made pizzas and watched 2 movies... today I got up early went to pick up my grandson from the station and then drove him n girlfriend to a restaurant for lunch...so now I did my good deed for the day and now I can sit here n answer some post n not feel guilty!
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 10
Hi alottodo, a lot of things now I depend on the net like paying the electricity and water bills and reading the daily news. I spend equal time online and in the real world. But my free time I spend either mylotting, playing computer games or chatting. Looks like you are not fully been addicted by the net yet. That is good news as once addicted and being classified as webaholic would find no cure.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
27 Sep 10
Hi Zandi. I think you will find that everyone here on MyLot would have to class themselves as a webaholic, otherwise they would not be here! I know I am these days. It took me a while to get hooked onto the the internet, but for the last 4 years, there have not been too many days that I have not been online at least once. My computer is on all day everyday most of the time. Mostly because I have an online business, but also to look up things, book tickets, and follow al my favourite sports. The internet is such a useful tool that it is just so easy to find anything that you need to know about any subject whatsoever. 
The only problem just like you say is that we can ignore certain parts of the real world and our real life by being online too much. This does happen in our home and our kids are starting to get the same addictions. We have to be careful to make sure we set a good example for them by getting out and doing other things and also limiting their internet use. 
The only problem just like you say is that we can ignore certain parts of the real world and our real life by being online too much. This does happen in our home and our kids are starting to get the same addictions. We have to be careful to make sure we set a good example for them by getting out and doing other things and also limiting their internet use. 
@chhetp1 (467)
• India
26 Sep 10
This is what we call the ease of getting world at finger-tips!! It is an obvious yes, when it comes to comparing myself addicted with internet. I would say I also fall in the cyberworld, where other frantic webaholics live and die. However, I have planned my time in such a way that I am not missing my job, my family and my life. I think it will depend on the knowledge of internet to grow in future. People who don't attach to it yet will find it more harder in coming days. However, getting attached to computer and internet without sleep and eating, without the real social life and sucked in the virtual world will definitely be a threat of the existence of the mankind.
So, My quote would be - Plan your stay in the cyber world every single day.
1 person likes this
@jeanne94668 (478)
• Philippines
25 Sep 10
I do agree with you. Once I sit in front of the computer and starting surfing the net. I am glued there for hours. Not knowing time is ticking. It is hard to explain but you could say I am a "webaholic" too.
You really can't say that you are not. It's just that when you start reading articles one after the other and playing games online there's no way of noticing how time flies.
As always there's a positive and negative effect for everything. This would depend on the person involved. If you would let this affect your daily chores and most especially, your work, it is NEGATIVE. But if you won't let it get into your responsibilities then it is POSITIVE.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
25 Sep 10
I think you are right. It depends on individual how they divide their time between the real world and the virtual world. But how could one resist the magnetic pull of the internet. Only when fats start accumulating on the wrong parts of my body did I realized that I have to minimize my online craziness.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
25 Sep 10
hi zandi oh yes I am one of them too and I even begrudge time to go to my doctor for health complaints and begrudge not being o n mylot and not eaRning much that day. then I feel I should tough it out and not take awwy precious time from mylot to lie down and take a nap after a bad night with my roomie waking me up four times. but surely one should be more controlled by real life things like our health.I am really using my mylot earnings to pay my internet bill each month so the more I earn here the less Ihave to take out of my own very skimpy money.my friends here have said we never see you anymore.but yet these are people who sit and watch televsion all time only stopping for meals, and this is living?
to me being on the web is surely more healthy than couch potatoing all day too.Balance I think is what we need to be truly healthy and happy too.
too.Balance I think is what we need to be truly healthy and happy too.1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
25 Sep 10
Are we not the upgraded version of the couch potato? We sit in front of the computer endlessly and am now realizing that I have gained considerable weight especially my back. I really enjoy being in mylot. Even after four years of mylotting, quitting has never crossed my mind.
@srmailtosr (425)
• India
25 Sep 10
I am really a webaholic. I cant live in a world without internet and computers.Many aspects of internet had influenced me very much.I am really an addict of internet.
@Ramaditya (1227)
• Indonesia
25 Sep 10
I agree with you, and I think we are on the same boat. Sometimes I just forget to do my task or job or activity in the real world, just because I am surfing on the internet.
In my opinion, as long as we can control the use of internet, then everything will be fine. Like drinking medicine, it is absolutely good for recovering our illness, but if we drink it too much, then you know what will happen.
So, it will trun good or bad depends on how we use and choose what to do with internet.
@kawalnarang (1095)
• Trinidad And Tobago
25 Sep 10
Yes, that's true, many of us are dependent on the NET,this is because it can help us with so much nowadays.It's important to divide our available time so all other activities are taken care as well.You are right, it is a great idea to meet in person.BEST
1 person likes this
@smilepleeeaz (784)
• India
25 Sep 10
Well I am a sort of webaholic. When I have a day off I like to spend the day on internet rather than going out. Its not like that I hate going out or hanging around, but its like that I love sitting at home and surfing the net, and I guess thats what being a webaholic is about. I know life is great out of the web too but I enjoy life in the web more.
1 person likes this
@chrixopher75 (53)
• United States
25 Sep 10
I've noticed that "aholic" is such a misused suffix. There really can't be such think as a webaholic or a workaholic until there is such thing as webahol or workahol. People try to get way too cute with their trendy slang! Regardless of it's grammatic correctness though, it does paint a pretty descript image of an individual's behavior.
1 person likes this
@quinnkl (1667)
• United States
13 Oct 10
I have always assumed the webaholics were not just the online shoppers but those who were facebook, twitter, etc users. I shop online as often as I can. I am in a small town, so cannot actually order a pizza to be delivered (as I know some do), etc. but I buy as many things online as I can. Especially over the holidays. I am NOT a shopper, so the "shopping" experience is lost on me. I, too, look for hotels, and deals for vacation and travel. ALL of my book shopping is done online! There are still a few things I feel the need to actually see before buying.. I can't bring myself to buy a computer or television online yet. I still make many phone calls and keep in touch with family and friends that way, but boy email is my preferred method with those far away and for daily "hi how are ya" chats. I do think we need to be sure to get out there and "mingle" in person as well. I am seeing some of the sci fi books I have read over the years starting to sound eerily true where humans do not have actual physical contact with humans. Scary thought!
@hippiemomdiaries (815)
• Philippines
25 Sep 10
It's the first time I heard this coined term 'webaholic'. I think I'm starting out to be one right now when I discovered mylot hahaha! Seriously, I don't take this as a bad connotation beause people are hungry for knowledge and this is an amazing window to look out into the world out there. Of course, nothing beats a hands on experience and discovery, but it surely enables us to absorb so much in a matter of seconds. Then again, moderation is the key :-)
