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How Depressives Surf the Web

nytimes.com

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Re: How Depressives Surf the Web

#101

Post by zaptheimpaler »

disgruntledphd2 wrote: post #83
zaptheimpaler wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

in many cases, depression is a mental disorder, not just the opposite of happiness. It's often caused by easily correctable physiological problems. In these cases, it makes sense to correct the underlying factors. In addition, a huge percentage of college students report being depressed. I still disagree with monitoring peoples internet activity, but for privacy reasons, not the reasons you mentioned.

Huh? Any chance you could supply me with some citations for the easily correctable physiological problems that cause depression? This is not snarky, I am genuinely interested, if a little unbelieving.

You can just look at the non-psychiatric section of causes of depression on wikipedia -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(mood).

Re: How Depressives Surf the Web

#102

Post by smikhanov »

philwelch wrote: post #92
vidar wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is in those 30-40 tabs? I am genuinely curious!

Here are my tabs: Window 1: 1. Episode guide for Babylon 5, which I'm currently watching my way through on days that I'm not watching Euro 2012 matches. 2. Strategy guide for a game I play. 3. Scott Chacon's "Pro Git" book, which I've been meaning to read. 4. A reddit/r/metal thread recommending doom metal bands, since I've liked a few doom metal songs on that subreddit and are meaning to get into the genre more. 5,…

Care to share #19?

Re: How Depressives Surf the Web

#103

Post by RyShiki »

This is bullshit. I'm under the spell of heavy depression but I hit none of the main points of the article. I'm not a gamer, I almost never watch movies and don't use much P2P, I only listen to music maybe three to four times a month because I can't get in the mood much these days, the only use I have for email is for billing, subscriptions and anything that requires it.

"It would monitor your Internet usage and alert you when your usage patterns might signal symptoms of depression"

I'm not a depressive under their criteria. The software they hope for is broken before they even wrote a single line of code.

You know what helps coping with depression ? Alcohol, smoking, not standing in front of a computer downloading loads of crap to listen and watch.

Re: How Depressives Surf the Web

#104

Post by droidist »

They use p2p file sharing more and watch more videos. That makes sense. When I'm feeling depressed I tend to watch lots and lots of TV. But then I get more depressed because I'm wasting my time watching TV. It's like a drug, the cure becomes the cause.

"I need a TV embrace" - Ben Lee

Re: How Depressives Surf the Web

#105

Post by TheoLib »

kijin wrote: post #39
electromagnetic wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would be simple to create a program to log the usage and recommend the user seek counselling, without having to log thousands of peoples internet usage. I don't get why 1) everyone has to be HAPPY , and 2) why the high ups seem so intent on making sure we're HAPPY . Here's reality: life can be utterly fucking shitty. People get depressed. Then you get over it and life goes on and eventually someone will die, or yo…

> without having to log thousands of peoples internet usage. > why the high ups seem so intent on making sure we're HAPPY. You just rediscovered the age-old correlation between a desire for totalitarian control and a preoccupation with superficial happiness. The theory is that the best way to ensure that existing structures of power and domination remain in place in perpetuity is to ensure that everyone is happy. Bec…

Although some geniuses have mental disorders, don't make the mistake of thinking that all people with mental disorders are geniuses or have special insights - we're just run-of-the-mill people that run the gamut of abilities and personalities. And "happy" is not the right word to use for depression. As Peter Kramer said in his book, AGAINST DEPRESSION, the opposite of depression is not happiness, but resilience. If you suffer from true clinical depression, you can appreciate this distinction.

Re: How Depressives Surf the Web

#106

Post by balsam »

philwelch wrote: post #92
vidar wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is in those 30-40 tabs? I am genuinely curious!

Here are my tabs: Window 1: 1. Episode guide for Babylon 5, which I'm currently watching my way through on days that I'm not watching Euro 2012 matches. 2. Strategy guide for a game I play. 3. Scott Chacon's "Pro Git" book, which I've been meaning to read. 4. A reddit/r/metal thread recommending doom metal bands, since I've liked a few doom metal songs on that subreddit and are meaning to get into the genre more. 5,…

Who's the comedian? I have about 300 tabs open, tell me if kippt will help. Personally, I'm curious if there are comedians similar to, or indeed a whole lot more unexpected than, Mitch Hedberg.

Re: How Depressives Surf the Web

#107

Post by philwelch »

balsam wrote: post #106
philwelch wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here are my tabs: Window 1: 1. Episode guide for Babylon 5, which I'm currently watching my way through on days that I'm not watching Euro 2012 matches. 2. Strategy guide for a game I play. 3. Scott Chacon's "Pro Git" book, which I've been meaning to read. 4. A reddit/r/metal thread recommending doom metal bands, since I've liked a few doom metal songs on that subreddit and are meaning to get into the genre more. 5,…

Who's the comedian? I have about 300 tabs open, tell me if kippt will help. Personally, I'm curious if there are comedians similar to, or indeed a whole lot more unexpected than, Mitch Hedberg.

Demetri Martin. Supposedly he's similar to Mitch Hedberg and Steven Wright.

I'd actually recommend Steven Wright if you like Mitch Hedberg. He's more deadpan but rather similar.

Re: How Depressives Surf the Web

#108

Post by philwelch »

smikhanov wrote: post #102
philwelch wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here are my tabs: Window 1: 1. Episode guide for Babylon 5, which I'm currently watching my way through on days that I'm not watching Euro 2012 matches. 2. Strategy guide for a game I play. 3. Scott Chacon's "Pro Git" book, which I've been meaning to read. 4. A reddit/r/metal thread recommending doom metal bands, since I've liked a few doom metal songs on that subreddit and are meaning to get into the genre more. 5,…

Care to share #19?

Haven't finished reading it myself, but here: http://basalgangster.macgui.com/RetroMacComputing/The_Long_V...

Re: How Depressives Surf the Web

#109

Post by WalterGR »

stefer wrote: post #96
waterlesscloud wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if engineering school students are more depressed on average. It was certainly my impression while attending one that the students were more stressed than they average college student at other schools.

Missouri S&T was voted the most depressed school (or something to that effect) at one point. I don't recall the details, so don't quote me on that one. Our university has about as high a percentage of Engineering and Science students as any university does. Again, don't quote me, but it has gotta be pretty darn close to the top.

Missouri S&T was voted the most depressed school (or something to that effect) at one point. I don't recall the details, so don't quote me on that one.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070930201652/http://www.slate.c... - Missouri College Students: Are they really that miserable?

"For five of the past nine years, one of the three colleges—the University of Missouri-Columbia, Stephens College, and the University of Missouri-Rolla—has landed at No. 1 on the Princeton Review's list for the school with the 'least happy students.'"

(University of Missouri - Rolla being the former name of Missouri S&T.)

Re: How Depressives Surf the Web

#110

Post by SilasX »

kijin wrote: post #39
electromagnetic wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would be simple to create a program to log the usage and recommend the user seek counselling, without having to log thousands of peoples internet usage. I don't get why 1) everyone has to be HAPPY , and 2) why the high ups seem so intent on making sure we're HAPPY . Here's reality: life can be utterly fucking shitty. People get depressed. Then you get over it and life goes on and eventually someone will die, or yo…

> without having to log thousands of peoples internet usage. > why the high ups seem so intent on making sure we're HAPPY. You just rediscovered the age-old correlation between a desire for totalitarian control and a preoccupation with superficial happiness. The theory is that the best way to ensure that existing structures of power and domination remain in place in perpetuity is to ensure that everyone is happy. Bec…

I thought something similar myself, but what I don't understand is this:

If the powers that be just want to keep us happy to paper over the shittiness that their regime brings, why are they so adamant about banning drug use? If I were in charge, I'd see that as a cheap way to buy the population happiness of the kind that makes them not want to rebel.

In fact, in the Brave New World world, that's exactly what they do -- give everyone drugs so they're happy enough not to challenge the SQ.

So what gives?

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