Boot Camps For Web Addiction
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South Korea is one of the most “wired” nations on the planet as is commonly known. I ran across an interesting bit of news today dealing with what can be termed “Web addiction”. Evidently the South Korean government has established a network of 140 Internet addiction centers to curb compulsive Internet usage by “afflicted” people. I know, it sounds absurd doesn’t it?
The most aggressive treatment center to date is a “boot camp” and rehab center where drill instructors push young men over a series of obstacle courses and where counseling and therapeutic drumming and pottery are applied. According to the New York Times article, these youths are actually battling an addiction as dangerous as alcohol or drugs. There have been several cases of people actually falling over dead from exhaustion at their connections.
Internet Junkies
Compulsive Internet usage has also been identified and a mental disorder in many other countries including the U.S. My feeling on this is rather less clinical and more practical I guess. These days psychologists, researchers and doctors seem to be finding disease in every dark corner – with as cures and therapies to match all. Compulsion, no matter how focused, can always be unhealthy. I see the fascination with the Internet as not more debilitating that compulsive TV watching or ready with one added variable – it is interactive.
Compelled To Interact
I suppose anyone reading this is looking around for a hypodermic sticking out of their PC or their arm one. We certainly do spend an inordinate amount of time on the Web, but is this an obsession stimulation a tool or all of those? Many things can be dangerous in this world, and obsession can both build and destroy. I think that the Internet has just begun to touch the realm of possibility for mankind. These adolescent fumblings are certainly not healthy for some, but it is the interaction that grabs so many tighter than TV, music and other obsessive conduits. I do not think we need “boot camps” but perhaps channeled outlets toward reason.
Image of South Korean Youth at Boot Camp - New York Times
Now why do I feel like an Internet junkie sometimes? Let’s see… I work online, shop online, play online, watch TV online, listen to my music, connect with friends, exchange love letters. OMG! Let’s all go to camp!
Skipping the joke, it might be potentially dangerous to let kids too much alone in front of a PC. The Internet is a colossal resource and it does captivate. This camp is probably not such a bad idea after all. But what kind of addictions are we talking about?
A camp for addictive personalities!
We have a tendency to grow comfortable in what works for us although it never pleases someone else, does it?
Anything can become an addiction when an addictive personality is partaking in it. It’s an escape route from the harness of reality. I always think of the movie, “The secret life of Walter Mitty” whenever I read or hear about stuff like this.
Hey, I really liked Walter Mitty, too! I think he had it going on. Then again, that’s just me.
~:o)
I think after attending boot camp I would head straight to my PC, never wanting to experience reality again! Saying that the PC is my reality. Like Mig I work, shop,interact with family and friends and spend leisure time online. It is a tool that has replaced typewriter, notepad, TV, telephone, DVD and CD players.
It is when escapism becomes the key feature for great lengths of time where it can become an addiction with all the symptoms of addiction to chemical abuse.
These kids are young though, likely just teenagers at a loose end. No different to myself at that in-between age (I always had my head in a book or in front of TV - PC’s were a thing of the distant future). No different to my step daughter who lived on her machine until other things (eg boys) became more interesting and she was able to venture further unaccompanied. Reality has become much more fun for her than her MUD games. In fact I think she is having far too much ‘fun’ and in hindsight PC games are a lot less of a worry.
this is so sad! I agree that its become a ‘trend’ to look for a generalized ready-made solution for just about every ‘problem’ than taking more responsibility for our actions. I feel I spend way more hours on the web than I should and its a problem but boot camps? thats an extreme in my opinion…. there has to be a better solution to it!
MIG - Yes, we are all junkies, but is this a bad thing? I expect it only is if it causes some harm or at least greater harm than some other more traditional obsession.
I do the same things you do, but somehow I don’t feel like I need a boot camp - I am pretty happy especially as of late.
Always,
Your Phil
Saboma - Thanks for your feedback - as always - intuitive and sharp
I like Walter too - I identify with him very much. Thanks gal!
Phil
Thank you Sue - yes it is important to protect kids and perhaps this is a good reason to at least get some framework for help in place.
I appreciate your insight and perhaps we can all - together - provide more positive, creative and interesting things to delve into on the Web.
thanks - Phil
Pearl - I tend to agree about the “boot camps” - but I think something needs to be done in this situation in S. Korea. Thanks for your comment and opinion - this is where change starts - amongst us.
Thanks - PHIL
Hey Phil, how about the ‘tough love’ camps here in the US? Parents have been domineering their children’s unsavory use of drugs and such for years with these gawd awful places. A large handful of the kids have died because of not being conditioned to the harshness of the boot camp’s regime.
What’s up with the lazy arsed parents in here in the USA? What’s up is the parent’s don’t want to be bothered, that’s what’s up.
I am not sure they are lazy - its more likely these days that both parents are working full time and don’t have the time and energy and don’t know what their kids are up to until their kids need help - something they cannot give them because drug withdrawal and rehab is something that needs specialist help. Not boot camp type help though!
I was a stay at home mom - still am really in that I work from home. I do not agree with two parents working full time unless it is absolutely necessary to make basic ends meet. How can you supervise your kids if you are not there. The early years can maybe be compensated for by caring and consistent child care but it is in the teenage years, where they are left to their own devices, that problems occur.
Hi Saboma and Sue - I think some parents are lazy, but I am in agreement with Sue in that life as we know it is maddening. I really don’t see how people juggle all the things the have accepted into their lives.
Life is so precarious - I think all of use teeter on the edge or reason - and I know many people who try very hard and effectively make little headway in dealing with the problems the world imposes on their children and themselves.
It is wonderful to know that people like you guys actually do care and this brings hope - which is one of the most prized commodities there is.
Thanks - Phil