Chatting
Could Be Addictive!
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By
Anisha Shetty
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 Internet
abuse is now widely a recognised behavioural problem, and some researchers
have compared it to drug addiction. What's sad is that youngsters,
especially college students are considered to be at a higher risk
because they have ready access to the Internet and they have flexible
time schedules, say studies.
It has been revealed that nearly three-quarters of all the students
reported having at least one symptom that indicated their Internet
use was causing problems in their lives. About eight percent of
the students fell into the 'pathological' Internet-use category.
That means those students reported having four or more symptoms
usually associated with Internet abuse. Those include getting into
arguments, being told they are on-line too much, using the Internet
to feel better, losing sleep, missing classes, hiding their time
on-line and missing social engagements, she said. About 65 percent
of the students reported having one to three of these symptoms,
and about 27 percent said that have no symptoms at all. The study
also found that men are much more likely than women to be pathological
Internet users.
Going into chat rooms or channels and playing on-line role-playing
games such as Multi-User Dungeons, or MUDs, are very popular. Many
also spend time surfing the Web, connecting to other computers and
downloading files.
The study found that many Internet abusers were lonely, were more
likely to go on-line to relax and meet new people and find emotional
support. They reported they felt more-friendly and open on-line.
But it isn't always fun! Vinita (named changed) once befriended
a man who lived in Pennsylvania who she now calls 'Psycho.' They
had a common interest -- a rock band -- and she gave him her work
address so he could send her a videotape of the group. He convinced
himself that she was interested in more than on-line chatting. He
was able to get her work and home telephone number and began calling
her.
"It got to the point where he was sending me cards at work. He sent
me tapes. He went to England and he was going to buy me an entire
wardrobe there," she said. "It came to a point where I said, 'I'd
rather you not talk to me anymore.'"
"It got really scary for a while," she said. "He kept insisting
we had to meet. . . . It was scary because he knew where I worked."
The man continued to send cards, which went unanswered. Finally,
he got the message and stopped trying to contact her. Even that
experience wasn't enough to turn her off-line. Vinita said she just
changed her screen name so her obsessive admirer wouldn't know when
she was on-line anymore.
Vinita finally gave it up after her boyfriend proposed they get
married. He didn't like her going to the chat rooms and he didn't
like her flirting with her new cyber-acquaintances. She said she
quit out of respect for him.
"I just don't want to get into any personal relationships on-line,"
she said. "The less I was on there, the more I realized I didn't
need it like I thought I did."
Incidentally, the women get most of their attention from the men
and the things they do in chat rooms are, often, quite appalling
shocking. Yet, they will never meet you. They may entertain phone
calls when their spouses are away, will never ever meet in person.
This sort is best avoidable.
The male tends to get overly flattering and complimentary, women
simply too hot to handle. If you aren't getting a real e-mail address
from them after several anonymous e-mail addressed letters and chats,
ask them point-blank if they're married.
Some of the 'hottest' chatters on the Net are married. They either
feel unappreciated or unattractive in their marriages, yet can come
of age when it comes to chatting anonymously in 'Net' rooms. They
are overly teasing, flattering and demand a lot of attention.
However, if you really start to fall and fall hard for someone who
was overly affectionate almost immediately - invest a bit in a background
check. A lot of Internet sites offer you the option of getting a
person's background checked, for a price of course.
You could find out a lot about them, but most importantly, you'll
find out if they're married or whether or not they've actually ever
filed for that divorce they keep promising you, is pending!
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