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According to a report by the British Psychological Society the internet is breeding a new species of computer junkie.
These 'people' use a technique known as the Monkhausen-Woooosler Effect. This enables them to surf the internet for up to 90 hours a day and still leave them twenty minutes for pizza and coke consumption.
While extraordinary in the time spent on the net, their habits don't usually differ from those of recreational users. They spend their time reading e-mails, watching 'downloading' dialogs and staring at grainy pornography.
Addiction
Why people would devote their lives to this pointless existence is a question asked by at least three people I met today. I think the real reason is the 90's dissatisfaction with religion. These people are, in effect, 'worshipping' at the altar, or computer. The confession booth of old is replaced by the chat room where sins are told to other users. In this way people can off-load their spiritual baggage and lead fuller and healthier lives.
Depressing
Another result of the survey was that almost all of these 'super-surfers' were severely depressed. However, researchers could not determine if the chronic over-use of the internet was the cause or symptom of the depression.
One psychologist, Dr. Hans Gruber, said this, "I think that the intermittent rewards gained through searching and retrieving of data, both quantitative and qualitative, meant a gambling like addiction."
But who knows, eh?
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