trb (06/09/82)
There have been complaints lately over these airwaves about "computer addiction." We hear of poor children (and adults) who seem to succumb to the powerful tentacles of computer games or computer-assisted communication or (horrors) computer programming. Is the computer the culprit here? I think not. I offer the opinion that the computer is insignificant here, that the "addictions" are to fascinating games, fascinating communication without fear, and fascinating problem solving, and, in fact, should rather be called "fascinations." You think you know what addiction and fascination mean? I won't ask you to look them up, I'll paraphrase from my Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. Addict: vt 1 to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or excessively Addiction: n 2: compulsive psychological need for a habit forming drug Fascinate: vt [from *fascinum* witchcraft] 1 (obsolete) BEWITCH. 2a to transfix and hold spellbound by an irresistable power. b to command the interest of. (Keep the comments about fascinate and fascism to yourself, thanks.) The other definitions of addiction and fascination explain them in terms of addict and fascinate. I didn't leave out anything interesting, you can look it up yourself if you care to. I don't think these fascinations are detrimental. They could have been as easily caused by any other source of fascination - books, women, men, cars, trains, planes, food, drugs, music. I'm not saying that these fascinations can't be detrimental, I'm saying that the detriment comes from the mind of the beholder, not from the source of fascination. Andy Tannenbaum Bell Labs Whippany, NJ (201) 386-6491
ggw (06/10/82)
I must disagree with Andy's distinction that the person who gives in to "computer addiction" is the victim of a facination. To quote the definition he included: Addict: vt 1 to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or excessively This is an exact description of the syndrome! The computer becomes a habit that a person will indulge in to an excessive amount. Moreover, to limit the terminology only to that which is in the dictionary ignores the connotations and implications that common usage endow upon a word. Addiction it is, and all the problems that follow up an addiction exist with computers. My wife has pointed out to me upon several occasions that my addiction to computing is not very different from the effects that alcoholism produce in a person's life. ( To say that alcoholism is a disease and not an addiction is just quibbling. Common use includes alcoholism in addiction.) Like alcoholism, the computer addiction can be traced from parent to child. My father is one of the early computer pioneers (worked on the IAS machine at Princeton) and succumbed early to the addiction of computers in preference to human interaction. A lot of hard work on his part, and love and understanding on our part was required to wrest him (partly) from the machine. (He will deny this part vehemently.) My brothers and myself succumbed also to the siren song of the computer. One works for DEC as a software consultant at their Phone support center, another is computering at a southern university, and I spend more time than I should as a consultant to BTL. Even our eldest sister "hacks" computers at a southern university. To wrap-up, I fully recognized the addictive nature of my behaviour and maintain close watch on my activity patterns to try and prevent a return to the days of "no-shower-in-two-weeks, never-combed-hair, slept-in-his-clothes-look hacking!" It helps me to remind myself, when I see a "real hacker" type to say "There, but for grace, go I" (signature witheld by request)
laura (06/11/82)
Hmmm. Anybody want to tell us where alienation begins and independence ends? It seems to me that the argument goes "computer addiciton/children's electronic toys ---> alienation" --- but I cant help but think that some alienation is very good for some people. I dont know of a single intelligent person who never felt that "maybe there is something wrong with me" at some stage in his/her life. Public school provides too much of an opportunity for a bright child to realize that by virtue of being superior to the "average child" that teachers are taught to aim for, he cannot help but feel some alienation. Yes, and it is a sad fact that if you are bright you are going to be stuck with this for as long as you live, so you might as well get on with it. Alienation often breeds independence; surely one does not want a race of apathetic, friendly sheep with traditional personal attatchments??? Alienation is one of those wonderful catch words which pschologists and amateur psychologists love to toss at people as a sop to the fact that for some reason or another they are "socially unacceptable" (another favorite). What most peole need is to be told that "X is why you are alienated", "X has some benefits of course, or you wouldnt indulge in it now", --- now go away and make your own decision. There have been times when I thought that had I been stupid I would not be as unhappy as I am now (nearly all of grade school, in fact) but I am not trading my head in for anything. While it is all very fine to have compassion for one's fellow man, I think that as long as he is not committing a crime, he should be left alone in peace -- he may not exactly approve of the activities of the do-gooder, either. laura creighton decvax!utzoo!laura p.s. Hmm -- now if you make computer addicition a crime, you had better be pretty sure how you can nail me. I play about 14 hours of rogue a week ...am I suspect?? Oh, but then I dont watch any television...and most people watch more than 14 hours per week am I safe?...do I have to log my computer playing time in somewhere so that big brother can check??? I have friends who have no interest in science at all -- does *that* free me ....just that I have friends is that good enough....... laura
pcmcgeer (06/11/82)
eiss.341 is *easily* the finest piece of satire that I have read in a very long time. eiss!ggw is to be congratulated: his missive is subtle, ironic, and very clearly the product of (potential) genius. I think, however, he would have done just a little better if he'd claimed that his addict father had "pushed" computers at home...