Broadband: You Just Can't Get Enough?

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4242751.stm' target='_blank'>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4242751.stm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Spending an inordinate amount of time at my computer, using my broadband, I'm developing what I can only term an information habit. Sit down to work. Ten minutes in, the new mail icon tempts me from the bottom of the screen. I'll just check. Nothing like a few juicy new e-mails. Click a few links. Scan a few websites. Oh 20 minutes has just passed. Better get back to work. Now where was I? Start work again. Feel like a reward. I'll just check news.bbc.co.uk. See if anything's happened in the three minutes since I last looked. Follow a few 'related links'...Half an hour has passed. I feel like I've done something, but actually I haven't."</i> <br /> <br />David McCandless has got a problem and it's one that I suspect many here would identify with. However, David's gone one step further and instituted a rather drastic fix involving a Mac and broadband disconnection. 8O He says that he feels lighter and free and that his internet usage now consists of using dial-up for e-mail and web browsing. Do you guys feel that you have an information habit and if so, can you envision yourselves taking similar drastic steps to bring things under control?

[silver99]

I'm at the same place as David. But my 99% of my knowledge on computers have come from the Internet and it's what has really advanced my career. I did take a break a couple years ago for a few months but then I felt totally out of date when I got back in.

I think that either I find a new career where I do not need this type of knowledge or I succumb to the lure of my passion. The Internet and all it's variety is addicting to know that you can surf the world in seconds and gain a multitude of information. Yes there's the bad (ie. porn, warez, etc) but there's also the good.

At this point it's still up in the air of what I'll do.

[OSUKid7]

Does the fact that I should be working now say anything about my Internet addiction? ;)

99% of my knowledge on computers have come from the Internet and it's what has really advanced my career.
That's true for me as well. No one else in my family is interested in computers. I really don't know how I fell into this career, but it's great! :lol:

[yslee]

I know that feeling.. It can be a great big black hole of your time! Right now I'm limiting that by reducing the number of times I hit a site per day, unless there's something really interesting going on.

[155]

Yeah, we all feel this way. I don't think switching to dial up would solve anything though. I rang up hundred dollar bills on compuserv regularly. Before the internet. 4800 baud

Anyways... Is there a program or something else to help us?

[serpico]

I feel the same way too, not sure what I can do about it. But being in the field, I feel like I need to be kept up to date with all that's new. I'm a resource for people at work and family and friends. It's sort of an addiction for me, I would rather be on the net than watching TV.

[capo]

I'm in IT so a broadband connection is a requirement. When I notice myself mindlessly surfing I usually just try to stop and move on to a more productive use of my time. I tried a 'news fast' a little over six months ago. It was back during the heat of the US presidential campaign and up until then I was in the habit of checking favorite internet news sites at least hourly and cable news at home at least every a few times every night. One evening I found myself yelling at some politician and decided I already had plenty of aggravation in my life - why was I going out in search of more? I decided to try a one day news fast. One day became two, then a week, then a month and now I'm out of the habit. It works for me - I'm filling that space and time with more positive information and pursuits instead.

[denivan]

At work, we use proxy authentication, so I don't feel comportabel surfing the web for personal use...however I couldn't miss a broadband connection, I feel like google is an extension for my brain/memory. Everytime I need a bit of info, I google it and have an instant answer for my question/problem, I just couldn't be without it. For the few days we were deploying the proxy authentication at work, I was without internet access (only mail) and I just felt lost when troubleshooting certain IT problems, so no I wouldn't think about having no internet or just dial-up, I'm really glad those days are over ;)

Kind regards,

Ivan

[denivan]

I'm in IT so a broadband connection is a requirement. When I notice myself mindlessly surfing I usually just try to stop and move on to a more productive use of my time. I tried a 'news fast' a little over six months ago. It was back during the heat of the US presidential campaign and up until then I was in the habit of checking favorite internet news sites at least hourly and cable news at home at least every a few times every night. One evening I found myself yelling at some politician and decided I already had plenty of aggravation in my life - why was I going out in search of more? I decided to try a one day news fast. One day became two, then a week, then a month and now I'm out of the habit. It works for me - I'm filling that space and time with more positive information and pursuits instead.

I quoted your whole text because I feel exactly the same. I admit that at first having broadband was an information overload, and really soon it became a habit which lasted a few years, trying to keep up with every latest bit of information. But now I just regard it as a usefull tool for instand information when I need it...the 'when I need it' part is the key here ;) That's why I don't use RSS btw, I would click on every new item and read the whole page, now I look up information when I need. Kind of like a pull versus push technology.

Kind regards,

Ivan

[lonesniper]

I like RSS and find it stops me from visiting lots of sites and maybe getting destracted. Also I like that if I don't use the computer for a day all the main stories from my favourite sites are there in Thunderbird, so no hunting around for news you missed.

And the best part is RSS in Thunderbird looks just like email to the untrained eye so if someone sees me on it in the office, it does not look like I am surfing the internet and wasting time.

[Damion Chaplin]

Anyways... Is there a program or something else to help us?

It's available online, no doubt. Try a Google search. :wink:
Sorry, couldn't resist.

My only addiction is to this site, and maybe Brighthand and eBay.

Other than that, I get my news from over the shoulder of the person sitting in front of me on the train. :)

[allenalb]

internet = bad. :)

i collect books. i have about 9 cases full of books, quadruple stacked, and many others in milk crates. however since getting my first broadband connection about 6 years ago, you can fit the number of books i have purchased on 2 shelves in one case.

i don't like books any less, i just don't ever have time to read them anymore.

sometimes i wish i could live without the instant info fix, but it will never happen now, wikipedia has taken me over :)

[Jonathon Watkins]

Anyways... Is there a program or something else to help us?

It's available online, no doubt. Try a Google search. :wink:
Sorry, couldn't resist.

:twak: Very droll. :lol:

I hear that willpower has something to do with it. :wink:

[Jonathon Watkins]

Yeah, we all feel this way. I don't think switching to dial up would solve anything though.

Agreed. I try to do the same amount in less time, rather than use the speed to cram more in. Waiting forever for dialup just drove me mad! I have gone to a 2Mbs, 5Gb per month capped service. It seems to work well for me. High speed for short periods of time.

I rang up hundred dollar bills on compuserv regularly. Before the internet. 4800 baud

Respect, old-timer. :wink:

[Jonathon Watkins]

I quoted your whole text because I feel exactly the same. I admit that at first having broadband was an information overload, and really soon it became a habit which lasted a few years, trying to keep up with every latest bit of information. But now I just regard it as a usefull tool for instand information when I need it...the 'when I need it' part is the key here ;)

Very true. Life's just too busy &amp; hecktic to do and read *everything*. :?

[Copter]

McCandless will be back. I feel that the internet does more good then harm during those few minutes of surfing. Like you said in your post, you would take a few minutes to check out the bbc page, not so wasteful. When I want to "waste" a few minutes I go and read up on the news or keep up with technology and such. Not that bad of a "waste" at all MHO.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I myself have to ration my time on the net. Try to take specified breaks where I'll surf the web, otherwise just try to remain focused on work. I find though that the more tedious my work task happens to be, the easier it is to allow my mind to wander to the net.

I couldn't go back to dial-up... would probably spend the same amount of time but get less out of it.

On the positive side, 10-15 years ago, people were hooked on TV which is a 100% passive activity. At least with the Internet, there's a level of interactivity that makes me feel I'm being more productive than someone sitting mindlessly in front of a tube.

Nonetheless, surfing the net is still not something I want to catch myself doing during every waking free moment I have.