Internet Addiction Pretends It's Actual Addiction
Oct. 27 2008, Published 7:07 a.m. ET
"DON'T BOTHER ME, I'M BUSY DOWNLOADING THE LATEST FIREFOX" Addict Ooh, look, it's another attempt to foist the pathology of addiction onto what is, at best, obsessive behavior and, at worst, a lack of interest in the flesh-and-blood people you're currently surrounded by: A "leading psychiatrist" has declared compulsive Internet use a "clinical disorder" which threatens to rend the fabric of society or whatever. Symptoms include avoiding food and sleep, craving better technology, suffering withdrawal symptoms, and becoming isolated and argumentative. Sounds like most of the tech geeks we know, but we're still not convinced: when you can point out people giving street-corner blowjobs for bandwith, we'll take another look. Until then you're just trying to make our alcoholism seem less special.