2008 Woodie Awards
'Webaholism' is just an excuse for bad choices
Jennifer Harris
Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Opinion
A few weeks ago I came across the story of a lawyer who was gambling in Atlantic City. After losing much of her own money, she proceeded to use and lose $100,000 of her clients' money to try to cover her losses.
She is now suing several Atlantic City casinos because she has a gaming problem and they didn't stop her from gambling. I wonder if this sudden revelation would have come about if she had won.
It has become quite easy to take our bad judgments and slap a "mental disorder" label on them as justification. The newest example: "Webaholism."
Dr. Jerald Block, of the Oregon Health and Science University, is the latest in a growing number of medical professionals who say that Internet addictions should be included in psychiatry's official handbook of mental disorders.
Fired from your job because you have neglected your work while surfing the Web? It isn't your fault. You have a mental deficiency which makes it impossible for you to stay off of the Internet.
I completely understand what it is like to be "addicted" to the Internet. Every time I go somewhere it isn't available, which is not often, I think about how much I miss it. All the things I could be Googling, all the Facebook updates I am missing, but believe it or not, I do survive.
I admit, when I do get to a computer, I am consumed for the next hour, but there are no shakes or cold sweats associated with my withdrawal, and it doesn't affect how I handle my responsibilities. I love to watch television, and sometimes I often put off doing what I should because there is a series I just have to watch.
Is that a mental deficiency?
Should I threaten NBC with lawsuits because I have to see "The Office" on Thursday instead of studying for a test? Or is it just me putting something I want to do ahead of my responsibilities?
If that is all it takes then most of us should prepare to be deemed an addict and see what new drug is recommended for our particular illness.
I am not saying that real addictions don't exist for substances like alcohol and drugs, but how many vices can we excuse ourselves for by terming them as "addictions"? And how long will we let this list of vices grow before we fill our DSM-IV manuals with fluff?
Before long, society isn't going to have time for anything else because we will be so busy attending our meetings: Gamers Anonymous, Shoppers Anonymous and the newly formed Web Surfers Anonymous.
She is now suing several Atlantic City casinos because she has a gaming problem and they didn't stop her from gambling. I wonder if this sudden revelation would have come about if she had won.
It has become quite easy to take our bad judgments and slap a "mental disorder" label on them as justification. The newest example: "Webaholism."
Dr. Jerald Block, of the Oregon Health and Science University, is the latest in a growing number of medical professionals who say that Internet addictions should be included in psychiatry's official handbook of mental disorders.
Fired from your job because you have neglected your work while surfing the Web? It isn't your fault. You have a mental deficiency which makes it impossible for you to stay off of the Internet.
I completely understand what it is like to be "addicted" to the Internet. Every time I go somewhere it isn't available, which is not often, I think about how much I miss it. All the things I could be Googling, all the Facebook updates I am missing, but believe it or not, I do survive.
I admit, when I do get to a computer, I am consumed for the next hour, but there are no shakes or cold sweats associated with my withdrawal, and it doesn't affect how I handle my responsibilities. I love to watch television, and sometimes I often put off doing what I should because there is a series I just have to watch.
Is that a mental deficiency?
Should I threaten NBC with lawsuits because I have to see "The Office" on Thursday instead of studying for a test? Or is it just me putting something I want to do ahead of my responsibilities?
If that is all it takes then most of us should prepare to be deemed an addict and see what new drug is recommended for our particular illness.
I am not saying that real addictions don't exist for substances like alcohol and drugs, but how many vices can we excuse ourselves for by terming them as "addictions"? And how long will we let this list of vices grow before we fill our DSM-IV manuals with fluff?
Before long, society isn't going to have time for anything else because we will be so busy attending our meetings: Gamers Anonymous, Shoppers Anonymous and the newly formed Web Surfers Anonymous.
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