Are Computers Addictive?

[IownAmoneyPit]

Yes computers can be addictive especially when you join Seven & Eight Forums then learn how to upgrade the hardware and dual boot your first two computers with combinations of XP/Vista/Windows 7, then build a third and dual boot it too and for good measure, add XP mode to 2 computers with qualifying editions of Windows 7 then after you tire of trying to manage 8 different OS's you whittle that number down only to discover Windows 8.

However common sense has prevailed with my 2 main computers only dual booting Windows 7 & 8 ATM, with Vista on the 3rd in case of a mobo failure of one computer serving as a dutiful backup until the now imminent future upgrade is realized.

Now, that's an intelligent post, except for one thing. Why would you want to have Vista installed on a perfectly good computer?

Because it was upgraded fom XP to Vista (Pre Win 7) but is eagerly awaiting Windows 8 Release Preview set for early June, one can only hope the oldtimer purchased in late 2006 can still meet the minimum upgrade requirements.

 

[windude99]

Professional counsellors say the problem with any addictive behaviour is there's no such thing as enough. For example, if a person is addcited to making $$$$, when the first $1M gaol is achieved it doesn't satisfy, so they think they need another ... and another ... and another ... ad infinitum.

The psychiatrist Karl Jung says that addicted persons are trying to fulfill an inner psychic or spiritual need with the object of their addcition, whether it be material or intellectual, and it never works.

So why do I want a third computer when I already have two that are over-kill for what I do?

I don't do gaming, or even watch movies on my PCs. So why have I got an extreme mobo, that takes up to 48GB of RAM and can use SLI bridging for mulitple graphics cards, when I've only got 12GB of RAM & one graphics card? And an i7-960CPU that isn't extreme but can be over-clocked and comes up equal with the i7-965 extreme on the Futuremark Benchmark tests, when I don't even overclock it?

Hmmmmmm? HELP! Could it be I just like supporting computer retailers?

I am learning slowly to not want to buy as much stuff. It's liek a black hole that you can NEVER fill. No matter how rich you are there will be that next thing that you want. The sad thing is that a lot fo people, especially Americans don't learn this lesson, so the big companies (cough couch apple cough cough) make millions, if not, billions of bucks off of these people.

 

[Vince53]

Withdrawal symptoms:

Just to throw another element into the mix, when the object of addiction is suddenly removed, the addict experiences withdrawal symptoms of agitation, irritability, depression, anxiety … and in general their sense of homeostasis, (sense of steady state), is thrown out of balance. And urgent attempts are made to restore the status quo!

Do I get upset when the net crashes, or there's a power failure in the middle of an important game score … Ouch! I'm embarrassing myself!

Quit talking abut my wife!

 

[SmartEyeball]

Any repetitive behaviour, obsession or outlet can be addictive.

Computers are just one of a myriad of things that can fall under that category.

Are you saying I have an addictive personality?

Quite possible - I know I do

 

[poppa bear]

Withdrawal symptoms:

Just to throw another element into the mix, when the object of addiction is suddenly removed, the addict experiences withdrawal symptoms of agitation, irritability, depression, anxiety … and in general their sense of homeostasis, (sense of steady state), is thrown out of balance. And urgent attempts are made to restore the status quo!

Do I get upset when the net crashes, or there's a power failure in the middle of an important game score … Ouch! I'm embarrassing myself!

Quit talking abut my wife!

Absolute ripper Vince! :thumb: I'm still laffing as I type!

My ex is still addictive about my addictions via telepathy monitoring! You know ... I can feel the silent, ominous presence behind me, diligently recording time on the PC with the stop watch running! Only to let me know of course that I haven't been deprived of quality time for my recreation! Triple lol!

 

[Dave76]

We do what we do because we enjoy it, that's not so bad.
Could be worse, there are a lot of other obsessions that can be harmful to you or others.

Computers and problem solving keeps the mind active.