Live data from Hacker News

Addicted to Distraction

nytimes.com

21–30 of 138 posts

Re: Addicted to Distraction

#21

This isn't a real addiction. And it trivializes what addicts actually go through. This is demonstrated being that it was possible for the author to replace the "higher power" of the 12 steps with someone to unplug the Internet router. If you're actually addicted to something, you feel so trapped and subservient to your addiction that you concoct the idea of a higher power simply because you have no power left within…

Why do you think addiction is real only if it's extreme?

Re: Addicted to Distraction

#23
post #2

This rings true for me too. If I sit down with a minute or two of spare time, out comes my phone so I can check out HN or Reddit. Never any quiet contemplation any more.

> rings true

I see what you did there.

Re: Addicted to Distraction

#24
post #19

This isn't a real addiction. And it trivializes what addicts actually go through. This is demonstrated being that it was possible for the author to replace the "higher power" of the 12 steps with someone to unplug the Internet router. If you're actually addicted to something, you feel so trapped and subservient to your addiction that you concoct the idea of a higher power simply because you have no power left within…

> This isn't a real addiction. And it trivializes what addicts actually go through. This is demonstrated being that it was possible for the author to replace the "higher power" of the 12 steps with someone to unplug the Internet router. Just like it is possible to fix alcoholism by having someone remove alcohol from the house and gambling by having someone prevent the gambler from walking into a casino. If using the…

I don't think you can fix gambling or alcohol addiction like that. I'm not saying someone can't be addicted to the Internet. I'm just saying this author's story is not a story of addiction. There is such a mental block with addiction. It's like trying to fix an airplane engine while piloting it. And you're trapped in an infinite loop. It's exhausting. If all it takes is someone to unplug your router, or dump out the alcohol, you are not addicted.

Re: Addicted to Distraction

#25
post #12
post #9

[deleted]

For gmail, there's BatchedInbox[0], which makes your mail delivery happen once or twice a day, which breaks the "did I get new mail?" feedback loop. It worked well for me. [0] https://www.batchedinbox.com/

Those gmail permissions:

Batched Inbox would like to: + View and manage your mail

Sorry, but any solution which involves giving a third party access to all mail is not a solution.

Re: Addicted to Distraction

#26

This isn't a real addiction. And it trivializes what addicts actually go through. This is demonstrated being that it was possible for the author to replace the "higher power" of the 12 steps with someone to unplug the Internet router. If you're actually addicted to something, you feel so trapped and subservient to your addiction that you concoct the idea of a higher power simply because you have no power left within…

I disagree. Addiction is defined as: "a strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble)." Do you not put phone/internet usage into that category? In a 2-hour drive this morning I had three near-accidents all because of the drivers on their phones. Ask the average American 30-year-old to avoid their phone for 24 hours straight and that will be a significantly difficult task, one that actually causes physical reactions not too dissimilar from drug withdrawals. Not all addiction results in hopes of death.

Re: Addicted to Distraction

#27

This isn't a real addiction. And it trivializes what addicts actually go through. This is demonstrated being that it was possible for the author to replace the "higher power" of the 12 steps with someone to unplug the Internet router. If you're actually addicted to something, you feel so trapped and subservient to your addiction that you concoct the idea of a higher power simply because you have no power left within…

Why do you think addiction is real only if it's extreme?

Because "you continue to use it, even though you know it's doing you harm" is part of the modern definition of dependence.

Re: Addicted to Distraction

#28
post #2

This rings true for me too. If I sit down with a minute or two of spare time, out comes my phone so I can check out HN or Reddit. Never any quiet contemplation any more.

I am addicted to hn. Reddit, and FB just make me depressed. While I like hn, I can't spend more than 30 minutes on it. It then starts to depress me. Maybe I'm depressed?

Re: Addicted to Distraction

#29
post #7
post #4

This type of distraction is just another form of procrastination, which in turn is a product of any number of underlying psychological issues. Anxiety and depression come to mind.

I'd be willing to bet that a significant majority of "internet addiction" (are people still talking about that ?) or "game addiction" is actually just a symptom of depression.

Couldn't you say the same about a lot of "drug addiction" as well?

Re: Addicted to Distraction

#30
post #25
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For gmail, there's BatchedInbox[0], which makes your mail delivery happen once or twice a day, which breaks the "did I get new mail?" feedback loop. It worked well for me. [0] https://www.batchedinbox.com/

Those gmail permissions: Batched Inbox would like to: + View and manage your mail Sorry, but any solution which involves giving a third party access to all mail is not a solution.

> Using Gmail

Complaining about

> any solution which involves giving a third party access to all mail

Post reply on HN