[net.general] New disease: Computer Mania?

lee@unm-ivax.UUCP (06/07/83)

Does the following describe yourself?

AGE OF ONSET:
	18 to 50

EARLY INDICATIONS:
	Compulsive magazine buying

		Victim gets an "irresistable urge" to buy computer magazines.
		Then, "spends hours pouring over them."
		At the extreme "any magazine bearing a picture of a computer
		terminal on its cover or the word computer in one of its
		articles is immediately acquired."

	Cruising

		Victim is described as "cruising" computer stores. The extremist
		will "cruise" the likes of stereo shops and hang around cash
		registers, in order to be near integrated circuit chips.

	Deterioration of Vocabulary
		The victim becomes "little involved in social conversation
		until the topic of microcomputers is mentioned."

		"Words having oral conotations, such as `apple', `byte'
		and `nibble', are uttered along with more obvious
		gibberish like `dos', `rom', `ram'".

CRISIS

	Extreme Rationalization

		"Self-improvement, education and efficiency" are all examples
		of rationalizing the need for a micro. "The key issue is the
		`absolute rightness' of owning a computer."

	Excited Spending

		The "manic" phase: When a "previously competent, rational
		individual may withdraw thousands of dollars from savings"
		to purchase an extensive system.

THE SYNDROME

	Social Withdrawal

		withdrawal from "food, sex, family."

		Victim can be found in a "fixed (or frozen) position
		before" the monitor "at any hour of the day or night."
		The only break from this behavior is occasional rapid-
		finger movements (RFM) over the keyboard.

	Sleep Disturbance

		Unwilling to go to bed. Extreme cases are commonly found
		"slumped in a chair the following morning."
		Occasionally, RFM may be exhibited in sleep.

	Physical Deterioration

	Marital Difficulties
		When the spouse suffers along with the victim, "vicious
		fights over access to computer time are not uncommon."

	Systemic Progression

		The "irresistable need" for more peripherals manifests
		itself.

	Separation Anxiety

		Can't bear to part with the machine. May buy small
		"pocket-micros" to carry around. Might install a small
		system in the office to complement one at home.

ETIOLOGY

	It could be:
		A new strain of virus.
		A genetic defect.
		A viral agent interacting with an existing genetic
		 predisposition ( This could be the best explanation )


 Experimental psychologists explore the problem in terms of "learned
behavior patterns." Psychoanalysts are currently looking at the possibility
of "early psychosexual fixations."



 No, don't laugh. No, this doesn't belong in net.jokes. Nor, does it belong
in net.suicide under "perverse motives for self-extermination."

 The above is a summation of an article recently printed in a trade journal
of American psychiatry. Specifically in "Hospital and Community Psychiatry",
page 556, June 1983, vol. 34, No. 6. The author is Steven Starker, Ph.D.
The title of the article is "Microcomputer Mania: A New Mental Disorder?"

 I asked my mom ( head of the day treatment center at the Veterans
administration hospital in Albuquerque New Mexico ) if this were a spoof.
No. No such luck. This guy actually belives it! How? I object to a very good
portion of the article. I have witnessed family problems between spouses.
Not to the extent of this though! I know many, many people oriented towards
computing machinery. I have never heard of or seen anything so absurd as
the behavior described above.

 So, I will ask all of you out there in net.land, the multitudes representing
our profession, am I so naive? Have I missed this great tragedy? This
very possession of mind and soul by machine. I will forward a copy of this
posting to the author. I ask that you submit your feelings on this subject.
I would like to gather them and forward them ( without names ) to the
author. If it turns out that I am wrong, perhaps he can find some value in
the discussion. We represent a great many people who deal with computers and
"computer people" every day of our lives. If what he says is true, then I
would be greatly interested in seeing more substantial proof as he provided
only the above with no examples.


				Lee Ward

UUCP:			...!ucbvax!lbl-unix!lanl-a!unm-ivax!lee
U.S. Mail		2918 Monroe N.E. Albuquerque N.M. 87110

norskog@fortune.UUCP (07/07/83)

#R:unm-ivax:-50500:fortune:14500009:000:48
fortune!norskog    Jul  7 11:33:00 1983

Dr. Stephen >Starker< ?

An obvious joke name!