Because you don't have important goals and the discipline to focus on them.
If the Internet didn't exist, it would be TV or something...
Why do you waste so much time on the internet?
71–80 of 685 posts
Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?
#72Just speaking for myself, I've noticed that my habit is to eat what is in front of me, and clean my plate. I mean this both literally and figuratively. If I have dessert in the house, like a bag of chocolate, then I eat one after dinner. If I don't have it in the house, then I just don't eat dessert. If I have a social media feed full of content, then I'll scroll through all of it until there's nothing else that's ne…
Thought this was just me and it’s so refreshing to hear. I can never eat just part of a bag of chips. Or save the really good sandwhich for later. Or not drink another coffee because I already had one. Etc. etc Do lots of other folks experience this? I seem to only have self control when it hurts my job or income, and even then, barely.
> Do lots of other folks experience this?
I don't think we're alone but I doubt that we're "normal."
Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?
#73Addiction. I’ve been addicted to the internet since a teen. I have worked to moderate my time on it for the last 5 years and have changed my life significantly.
Technology is beautiful, but there’s more to life than sitting in front of a screen doing exactly what the author mentions.
I’m writing a book right now that is talking about this challenge and the various things I had learned to find balance.
Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?
#74Just speaking for myself, I've noticed that my habit is to eat what is in front of me, and clean my plate. I mean this both literally and figuratively. If I have dessert in the house, like a bag of chocolate, then I eat one after dinner. If I don't have it in the house, then I just don't eat dessert. If I have a social media feed full of content, then I'll scroll through all of it until there's nothing else that's ne…
Thought this was just me and it’s so refreshing to hear. I can never eat just part of a bag of chips. Or save the really good sandwhich for later. Or not drink another coffee because I already had one. Etc. etc Do lots of other folks experience this? I seem to only have self control when it hurts my job or income, and even then, barely.
I think a lot of people with ADHD would relate, or have been able to at some point.
Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?
#75I am addicted to twitter and reddit. Especially reddit. It often takes the place of reading, hobbies, quiet moments, improving my home, talking with my spouse, and playing with my baby. When reddit records a click or an upvote, it thinks it has been a Good Product, and created Engagement. Reddit then takes those feedback loops and tunes the algorithm and feedback loops to create further engagement. But in reality, th…
A possible experiment to try: what happens when you only browse Reddit through an anonymous, not-logged-in browser and IP address? And then only use your account when you are actually sure you want to post something?
For me, it's enough just to log out. The friction of logging in is just the right amount of friction.
Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?
#76My excuses:
1. No free will.
2. Bad parenting.
3. Witches.
Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?
#77Like any other addiction, it's a way of coping with painful emotions that you (and I) are hiding from (consciously or not). I've been in therapy for several years now and I'm still struggling.
Top answer IMO.
Substituting drugs, alcohol, shopping, cutting yourself, etc, it’s all the same root cause which is hiding somewhere deep inside yourself. Either do the work to find out what that root cause is or be held hostage by it. Took decades for me to figure it out for myself. Well, the process took decades to play out. Once the root cause was dealt with, improvement was instantaneous.
Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?
#78Just speaking for myself, I've noticed that my habit is to eat what is in front of me, and clean my plate. I mean this both literally and figuratively. If I have dessert in the house, like a bag of chocolate, then I eat one after dinner. If I don't have it in the house, then I just don't eat dessert. If I have a social media feed full of content, then I'll scroll through all of it until there's nothing else that's ne…
This is great advice. Unsubscribing, especially from the stuff that triggers me, helps me not to waste too much time.
Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?
#79Partly?
because I feel like I should learn stuff, get better at computers and then translate it to bigger total compensation - I'm young, later I will have less desire to put effort into that or other things like kids and stuff
but very often it ends on HN/9gag or similar :D
Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?
#80For me it's a busy brain with any information it wants to consume at my finger tips. This is something I'm working incredibly hard to combat, but my brain is constantly going a million miles a minute with the most meaningless and out of my control crap. The way I can "close" the thought is by looking stuff up on the internet related to that thought, or just distracting myself with some garbage.
A calm mind to me at this point is one of the most valuable things. I seldomly experience it, but thankfully it's been happening more often lately now that I'm conscious about it.