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Inside A Korean Rehab Camp For Web Addiction
Posted by
Zonk
on Sun Nov 18, 2007 12:07 AM
from the place-you-never-want-to-go dept.
from the place-you-never-want-to-go dept.
caffeinemessiah writes "The New York Times has a story about a Korean kids' camp for 'curing' Internet addiction. 'Seventeen hours a day online is fine,' said one such kid at the camp. From the article: 'Drill instructors drive young men through military-style obstacle courses, counselors lead group sessions, and there are even therapeutic workshops on pottery and drumming ... this year, the camp held its first two 12-day sessions, with 16 to 18 male participants each time. (South Korean researchers say an overwhelming majority of compulsive computer users are male.)'"
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Discussion of Internet Addiction as Mental Illness Resurfaces 279 comments
Lone Writer writes "The editorial section of the American Journal of Psychiatry for March offers the opinion that Internet addiction is a 'compulsive-impulsive' disorder, and should be added to the official guidebook of disorders. The editorial characterizes net addiction as including 'excessive gaming, [online] sexual pre-occupations and e-mail/text messaging'. From the article: 'Like other addicts, users experience cravings, urges, withdrawal and tolerance, requiring more and better equipment and software, or more and more hours online, according to Dr. Jerald Block, a psychiatrist at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Dr. Block says people can lose all track of time or neglect "basic drives," like eating or sleeping. Relapse rates are high, he writes, and some people may need psychoactive medications or hospitalization."
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Fris! (Score:5, Funny)
NY Times (Score:2)
Re:Fris! (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
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pfft. (Score:5, Funny)
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-twitter
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Actually, if you think about it (depending on your job) many of us are on the internet 24/7 even though we aren't addicted to it. I mean I spend 8 hours a day on the internet at work (maybe because its part of my job) and then when I get home I get on the internet to do other things business related (not my day job) and then maybe if I have an hour or two before I go to bed I'll play some online games.
Then of course there is the cell phone connection to the internet... Which I suppo
Gold Farming... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Gold Farming... (Score:5, Informative)
Starcraft as a national sport is another matter altogether, one that is financially viable.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Dude, I'm from the UK so I've never played American Football, but I used to play rugby, and if you were to train at that for 17 hours a day, you'd be dead pretty soon. Give me Starcraft any day!
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So let me get this straight... (Score:5, Funny)
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addiction (Score:4, Insightful)
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Perhaps you should sign up.
Re:addiction (Score:4, Insightful)
Healthy in comparison to cocaine, sure... but there are other things in life besides computers! Jobs, friends (and I mean as in real, social, face-to-face interaction, online friends can't count for that), school, exercise, and a whole lot more... if you're on the computer all the time you can't do any of these other things!
Well OK SOME of those things you can do but it's not the same as more traditional methods anyways, especially as far as social interaction is concerned. And don't even TRY to say you can eat properly and exercise without leaving your computer.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Like onions.
Yes, the other day I planted some onion seeds, and I am thrilled to watch them sprout and I am excited because tomorrow I will have to transplant them... silly, I know. But it reminds me that there is more to life than NO CARRIER
Re:addiction (Score:5, Interesting)
My online friends have counted for quite a bit, and likewise they feel the same on the issue. Why anyone thinks a computer removes some of (or all) the humanity out of a person on the other end of communication is beyond me..
Parent
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Plus you put it like Autistic people can't be good friends as it's a similar thing in many ways.
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I am very easily addicted, and I definitely dont enjoy it. Being addicted to _anything_ wrecks havoc in a person's life, simply because you are spending so much time/energy on the thing you are addicted to, that other things in life are neglected.
What I really want to know : is addiction to substances any different from this kind of addiction (internet, games, slashdot)?
PS: I think i am an internet addict myself( over 15 hrs a day). Most of it
Re:addiction (Score:5, Interesting)
We actually are much less than what we give ourselves credit for. We consider ourselves to be above our basic biochemical urges and impulses, however it's a constant struggle. Yet we choose to delude ourselves into believing that denying our desires to others somehow makes us a better human being. And we cast out from our society those that decide to act on them.
Where is our intelligence? Truly you have hit the nail on the head. Perhaps you don't like to think that often you don't know why you act in a certain manner, but more often than not this is the case. We can choose to believe that we are cool, rational beings, however often the reason behind a specific decision we make comes from deep inside some primitive part of our identity. Anyway, this gives us something to blame when things don't turn out the way we wanted...
Parent
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I think the clientele of these boot camps might have some kind of predisposition to addiction. Depending on how "addictive" your personality is, one may need to replace one addiction with another, at least as a first step. I find myself to behave in binges. So there are some activities I would never try because I would never want to be addicted. It could be silly of me, but I guess everyone handles risk their own way.
So I think the answer is that some lives are a series of addictions, or at least have
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Except for air, these things stimulate the release of dopamine (the "reward" neurotransmitter) when acquired. Take them away and expect a violent response from the subject. I'd say those were pretty solid "addictions".
Oh wait, the plebs think "addiction" only implies "negative" things...
I wonder what this camp's relapse rate is.
Re:addiction (Score:5, Interesting)
I'll boil it down for you: Addiction is a psychological phenomenon wherein an addicted subject comes to focus on some external, directly reward-inducing activity to such a degree that it attenuates normal behavior, and the compulsion continues even in the face of negative consequences. In this usage, the term "normal" means the behaviors of the subject prior to the introduction of the external activity, but it also includes social and statistical norms, to some extent.
In other words, you're addicted when the particular activity or substance dominates your behavior, modifying the way that you live your life to a significant degree, and you don't stop the activity even when the bad consequences build up. An illustrative thought experiment is to take the addict and consider the opinion that his or her past self might have, looking forward in the future from the early days of use. If a guy who had maybe done coke once or twice had a vision of the future a la "A Christmas Carol", and saw himself five years later missing mortgage payments and losing his family because all he wanted to do is blow lines up his nose, how would he view the situation? Granted, this game doesn't model a lot of specific cases (such as adolescents), so take it with a grain of salt, but I think the point is pretty clear.
So, you see how the sex, air, and food examples don't really work, here. Consider that:
* I am generally receptive to sex, and sexual thoughts often enter my (male) mind.
* The act of sex causes me great pleasure when I engage in it.
* I would express disappointment at being denied sex, if I had some expectation of it at a particular time.
But also consider:
* I don't compulsively pursue sexual activity to the exclusion of working, socializing or engaging in other activities.
* My sexual activities don't cause large negative consequences to me, like my GF leaving me because I can't stop having casual sex with other women, or the cops picking me up for soliciting prostitutes.
* I'm pretty confident that my peers who share my general values regarding sexual activity (i.e., not hard-core Christians) would be OK trading patterns of sexual activity with me. Other people (caveat as given) don't generally look at my sexual behavior and go "Eew, that guy needs help."
Now, there ARE people who have sexual addictions, that have exactly that last set of problems I just mentioned. These aren't just people who like to have sex a lot, or who have high sex drives--these are people who are constantly trolling bars or cruising for hookers several nights a week, who lose their jobs after being warned about looking at porn at work and keep doing it. These are people who are ashamed of their actions, even in the company of generally sexually-liberated folks, and who often want to change their behavior but don't see a way out of it.
It's the same with booze, coke, heroin, gambling, cigarettes. Virtually everybody in college (in the US, anyway) engages in binge drinking, where you get blackout, puking drunk with your pals several nights a week for four straight years. Some of these people don't go to class, don't study, and fail out, while others finish up just fine (maybe not summa cum laude, but well enough) and graduate. When they leave college, some people grow up and start drinking more responsibly, while others keep doing it and end up sacrificing relationships, job performance, finances, etc. The bottom line is, some people who do it are addicted, and (usually) most people who do it aren't, a
Parent
Re:addiction (Score:5, Insightful)
However this is one of those terms that eventually will be modified, as it has turned into a "label" and fails to identify the psychological conditions that usually drive "addiction" and addictive behaviour - anxiety disorder, depression, and bipolar mood disorder. "Addiction" is a symptom, not a pathology. Not everyone who smokes crack or shoots heroin or goes online becomes an instant "addict". Like everything else in medicine, pathology usually requires several predisposing factors.
My bending the term "addiction" to include common, every day acts (which happen to stimulate the same pathways in the brain) was an attempt to ridicule this "label". Just as we no longer say that patients are "retarded", soon the term "addict" will be used less frequently among health professionals.
Parent
True, but [was Re:addiction] (Score:3, Interesting)
The problem I think also happens when people use the internet to replace human interaction; like I said, I use the internet for a few hours each day, but watching no internet and social during the day, it balances out eventually.
The question th
They should look at the bright side (Score:5, Funny)
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In just a few geerations, we wil have no car accidents anymore.
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The guy was right actually, inspite isn't a word.
Can they help Slashdot addiction!?! (Score:2)
Hmmm... (Score:2)
so? what else is there to do? (Score:4, Interesting)
So here goes.
Addicted to computer games. Games that let you do more than any gov't/religion/philosophy will
ever let you do in "real" life.
I've played many computer games. virutal sex, virtual violence, virtual GOD, virtual CEO, etc, etc.
Did "real" life show me any of these things? FUCK NO!
"real" life taught me I'm nothing. That I would be better dead, or not born at all.
"real" life taught me that being "different" is a fucking shit crime.
"real" life taught me that speaking out against authority is SO evil its called terrorism.
"real" life taught me that people who drink are more powerful than non-drinkers.
Real life is a joke. Real life can kiss my fucking ass.
The computer, aka simulator, aka simulacrum, enables me to do what "real" life would never
let me do.
I have learned that everything is possible outside "real" life.
"real" life is SO limiting. You can't do this without $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Money.
what? oh? SO you are a fucking dictator.
I see.
You can't do this without permission? WHAT THE FUCK? Since when do I need your permission?
Nothing but power games. Some people think freedom is here.
Freedom isn't here. It isn't anywhere.
The prisoners of capitalism, democracy, communism, dictatorships, moderators, religion, etc.
Humans are prisoners of their own BRAIN.
Humans are bred to be authority driven. Its so easy to boss people around. Its not enough funny.
You are addicted to computer games? Oh, so?
Your addicted to "real" life. Your addicted to systems of slavery that have been here for at least 10 thousand years.
Your still addicted to food, air, sex, social gatherings, sleep, etc.
"real" life is slavery.
Games allow you to do what you want. Period.
Good or Evil becomes totally fulfilled.
In "real" life you have to fit in with the society. Be it cannibalism, stupid laws, stupid festivals, stupid mating games, etc.
Do you want to know the next "real" disasters?
Nuclear war is one of them.
Most of California will FALL into the ocean. lol. suckers.
Japan, New York, South Korea : ALL underwater. Gone. Obliterated.
War, Famine, Death, Plague : They will return with vengeance.
I forgot the superbugs. Heh heh. The weak will perish.
you want "real". You got it.
Lets see how you handle "real".
When these disasters become a reality, no one will say "I was right".
No one will be alive. rofl.
You can keep your "real" world.
I'm so glad Washington is on the soviets nuke target list. At least something good will happen.
ahhhh...no more white house. bwah hah hah.
Back to the topic :
addiction to computer games is far superior than addiction to the "real" world.
Freedom cannot be found when the chains of Man hold you down.
Freedom is not found in Man, homosapiens, etc.
Break free of the human brain.
FREEDOM!
Note : You are all slaves of space-time, matter, and this universe.
A prison you can see and taste and hear, yet are blind to it.
You accept this prison as "real".
Grow the fuck up.
Five human senses tell you everything ? Yeah, and ten fingers can hold 10000000000 tons without breaking.
Limited human intellect can tell you everything? Yeah, and I can make money on slashdot. LOL.
Let the flaming begin.
Assuming the ass moderators don't delete everything here. I wouldn't be surprised.
Censorship is rife throughout the world. Including the USA and Canada.
Freedom my ass.
Re:so? what else is there to do? (Score:5, Insightful)
That being said, I don't believe you deserve a negative score. I was forced to stop and think for a second.
Parent
Re:so? what else is there to do? (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Asia (Score:5, Interesting)
The need for such treatment camps is perhaps symptomatic of this underlying issue - that, life is so dull/boring that a virtual world is far more entertaining. You can take risks their, and noone will think less of you for it. (Noone out of the game, at least)
Different from Vacation? (Score:2, Insightful)
TCP/IP over drumming? (Score:3, Funny)
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Treat the symptom, ignore the disease (Score:5, Insightful)
Folks, people don't get addicted because it's funny. People don't shoot heroin into their veins because it's such a swell feeling. Neither do people spend 24/7 on the internet because it's their kick.
In either case people get addicted because it's an escape from something. And unless that something is solved, they will eventually end up where they are now. You have to replace that addiction with something sensible. Now, what does that bootcamp offer? Drill sergeants and getting a kick in the nuts? Yeah, that's something I wouldn't wanna escape from.
Now, internet addiction is probably more of a problem than heroin addiction. Especially when it becomes a widespread phenomenon amongst youths. Generally, it means that there's not something wrong with them but with the world around them. My money would be on insane pressure to perform.
But to change that, we'd probably have to change society. And
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Internet addiction sure curred my TV addition. After too many years of TV, it sucks. I am much better off too. I want to change the channels, I can do it instantly. I read something I want to know more about, I can drill into it until satisfied. I can read others opinions, not just those from a government sponsored TV/radio station.
The real problem is parents are looking for government sponsored baby sitters to take care of rearing problems. The Internet will not fix dysfunctional upbringing but is a
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People get addicted to things for several different reasons. Some things (like heroin) are physically addictive. If you take someone with a completely fulfilling life and give them heroin or any of a number of other drugs including caffeine and nicotine, they'll get addicted.
Other addictions are psychological. That doesn't mean they're necessarily escaping from something. Exercise has some wonderful effects, including making you f
I'll start (Score:2)
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Of course once she finds a way to escape, the addiction will be back... A lot of people who are "addicted" to the internet don't really have any alternatives that they consider better than browsing the web except of course, finding people that understand them in real life. They'd do just as well fixing the problem by finding friends for addicts if nothing other than to hang out with and actually do something in real l
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Combine this with the lack of real-life soci
Re:Nothing to see here (Score:5, Funny)
Parent