Addicted to CAF?

[Dave_B]

I will readily admit that I too have been guilty of this, and I think it’s something we all need to watch.

You mean go outside? Out there in the sunshine? Nooooooo … please say you dont mean it?! lol

Seriously, this is a great place to spend some spare time learning about the wonderful Catholic faith

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Cyber relationships are equal to personal relationships? Pope Benedict XVI and I could not disagree with you more strongly.

 

[JRKH]

My question is, is there a point where we can spend too much time posting to this forum? Is it excessive when people spend 2, 3, 4 or more hours per day on this forum? Yes, the people who post are real people, and we can do a lot to help others. But when we are here, we are not interacting with family or friends or anyone in our real world. When people spend hours on this forum, something else has to be neglected.

Yes there is a point at which it can become excessive. As with anything else, it becomes a problem when it interferes with other things that need to be done. However, each case is unique.
For myself, I am a home bound caregiver to my wife. Not only does CAF provide support and growth for my faith, it is also a valuable outlet and social contact for me.
Likewise, for some CAF can be their “ministry”. Through CAF they reach out to others, promoting the faith.

My question is, when does posting on CAF become too much? Or do you all think it is impossible to post too much on CAF or become addicted to it and use this in place of personal spirituality such as prayer or spiritual reading?

Each person must ask the Holy spirit this question in prayer and listen carefully for the answer…

Peace
James

 

[DBT]

It seems to me the first line in the sand in discerning whether an activity (posting or otherwise) is excessive is if it interferes with the duties of your state in life … taking care of our families, doing our work etc.

Personally, I’d take it one step further. If we find ourselves mentally preoccupied with an activity (posting or otherwise) … that is, thinking about it when we’re not doing it then we’re also at risk. Preoccupation removes us from the present moment in mind and heart even if we might be present in body. This is a much more spiritual and subtle risk than what I describe above … but it’s what I personally use to discern when it’s time to take a break from these forums.

Dave

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Personally, I’d take it one step further. If we find ourselves mentally preoccupied with an activity (posting or otherwise) … that is, thinking about it when we’re not doing it then we’re also at risk. Preoccupation removes us from the present moment in mind and heart even if we might be present in body. This is a much more spiritual and subtle risk than what I describe above … but it’s what I personally use to discern when it’s time to take a break from these forums.

Excellent point, Dave. I have had that problem in the past. I’m doing something else, but thinking about a CAF thread instead of giving full attention to the here and now. (lol at first I misspelled it “hear and now” – maybe it’s a sign? )

Alan

 

[TrueLight]

Posting on CAF can certainly be addictive and I agree we need to be spiritually sensitive to that. When I recently spent some time in the desert, I missed CAF greatly, and I realized how addicted I was to it.

However, I’d also like to suggest that it’s possible to post and also do other things the same way some people cook and clean while watching TV. Or some people study while listening to music.

For example, right now I am working on a presentation. In between, I glance through posts.

When I was studying for my MBA, I spent many nights writing papers and chatting at the same time. At that time, I was NOT discussing spiritual matters.

 

[Brooklyn]

Brooklyn;9168268:

I didn’t say they were equivalent. I just cannot say, “relationship A is better than relationship B because B is online only.”

You disagree strongly, but how many hours have you spent now pounding on my thick skull?

As far as B16, maybe he should try it sometime. It’s not like sex where he’s not allowed to.

The “online bad, in person good” mentality is a tired cliche that is sooo 2003.

Have you been around here much? We have serious OCD situations here even from people who are very committed to God.

Could very well be you’re right on this.

Wow, you’re cracking me up here. If you had any idea some of what I’ve both done, have been done to me, and seen done over Internet, you might reconsider your statements.

Here are a few of the things I’ve done personally, either on CAF or on a website I made for people who needed help beyond what CAF rules could allow.

1.) Counseled a woman who had just gotten out of the hospital for her third suicide attempt, got her through the hardest parts of her problems and back to church, and helped her form a healthy and functional relationship with her family.

2.) Brought back members to the Church.

3.) Tutored math, allowing a woman to take the ACT and go back to school; she’s happily in college now but was so afraid of math she wouldn’t even take the test before.

4.) Took a group of mentally ill posters and set up an Internet forum where they could discuss serious mental illness issues (CAF didn’t want the discussions here because we gave each other advice and that, if done here, can possibly make CAF liable) and greatly helped some of them – one even got back into the work force.

5.) On the same aforementioned website we have helped repair family relationships, healing from old wounds, etc. One poster with us, who came with us from CAF, had multiple personality disorder with about 15 alters. The only one that would speak was the 16 year old. (Her “big” was in her 60’s) We set up a forum section with access by only a few people who did not scare her littles (her name for “alters”) and within a couple years, NONE of the alters had a problem speaking and they were able to resolve issues, remove fear, and allow that poster to finish her life in peace … fully recovered from her torturous, abusive upbringing. She was absolutely brilliant and used to be a counselor herself and she helped all of us along the way, too. She recently had radiation treatment to the brain, though, and moved into a care home so I’m still grieving her presence in my life … now that I’m thinking about it I think I’ll send her a card. (Physical USPS delivered card, that is.)

I could go on if you’d like me to. Yes, it did take quite a few hours online, obsessively working at times on it, to produce this kind of fruit. And I regret not a minute of it, for that reason.

Here we are. The straw man. Sure if all you’re doing is posting around hoping to get someone to like you, you might be wasting your time. But here I am arguing about wasting time; is that a waste of time? By the fact that you keep shooting down the straw man for me I’m starting to wonder. I thought maybe we’d exchange a few good points but you don’t seem to be willing to admit that there are Godly, wholesome things that can be done by spending a lot of time online.

I confess to having this problem. For a few months I got into online poker and yes, that was a problem. But the OP was specifically about CAF, was it not?

This is a bit odd. The description doesn’t really match the term.

So are you officially making this thread NOT about CAF?

I suspect the first two are against forum rules. The last one is silly; people become addicted to movie stars, or to “real life” people whom they pursue but know they’ll never “catch” or know their relationship is helplessly dysfunctional.

I have a couple questions, too. Do you consider this pointless :slapfight: with me to have been a good use of your time, and if so, what has it accomplished? I’m just here for the ride. Do you think it’s a waste of my time to listen to you?

I dare you … no, double-dog-dare you … to conserve your time by ignoring me, starting with this post.

Alan

You seem to be coming off as rather defensive. I would sincerely ask that you chill out. I’m not looking to fight with you or anyone else. I am just bringing up something that can definitely be a problem with people, and I have admitted to this problem as well. We can’t overcome anything unless we first admit it and not attack those who bring it to our attention. Getting mad at me or Pope Benedict XVI doesn’t solve anything.

Let’s not do the “double dog dare” thing. I passed that stage in my life many years ago.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

You seem to be coming off as rather defensive. I would sincerely ask that you chill out. I’m not looking to fight with you or anyone else. I am just bringing up something that can definitely be a problem with people, and I have admitted to this problem as well. We can’t overcome anything unless we first admit it and not attack those who bring it to our attention. Getting mad at me or Pope Benedict XVI doesn’t solve anything.

Fight? Defensive? I didn’t intend to do that except to present a different point of view, and when it didn’t get across I supplied more information about what I was talking about.

Is it possible to spend too much time here? Of course.

Are online relationships automatically inferior to in-person ones? Not necessarily. This is my main point. You can become addicted to Adoration to the extent of neglecting your duties, and it isn’t any better than being addicted to CAF.

Let’s not do the “double dog dare” thing. I passed that stage in my life many years ago.

I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist.

Alan

 

[ephesians610]

I would like to comment that some people have addictive personalities and as such it is better to chat in a Catholic community and find reassurance than the many sinful avenues they could take instead. However, that being said, if they are neglecting their family and work obligations (i.e chatting on the clock) it could fall into the category of “too much of a good thing” and be sinful even.

 

[ilySHJ]

… But here are some general warning signs that your Internet use may have become a problem:

 

[saveusfromhell]

I think you can, and i certainly use to spend too much time posting.
For me, if I have posted more than twice in a thread, paticularly one that is opinon based, like this one, than i have crossed the line into excess. as it seem i’m posting to be right rather than to teach or to learn.

 

[Googler]

Addicting?
I think it is habit-forming and somewhat worry about it but there are far worse habits.
Prayer?
It is one source that has only enhanced my daily prayer life.
Spiritual reading?
It has increased my awareness of what to read but not the devotion to get things read.
I see you’ve posted nearly 3000 times over 5 years.
I’ve posted 550 over 3 years.
I come here mostly to learn but can’t help but also share knowledge, pray, and laugh (sometimes).
I spend much more time reading posts than posting. I’m trying to change that around. I can imagine unlimited possibilities for Thread Starters with the unlimited space available. It’s an opportunity for rapid Faith building and evangelization.
I do agree you have a valid concern and perhaps you could come up with some tips about moderation for those slap-happy posters.
I’m with ruth0903. Limiting this time-consuming habit to one hour a day would be wise.

If the desire for virtual connectedness becomes obsessive, it may in fact function to isolate individuals from real social interaction while also disrupting the patterns of rest, silence and reflection that are necessary for healthy human development.

This is true. And it’s sad.
I love our Holy Father for warning us about this.
What’s the remedy to this distraction?
Let’s say we have evaluated that this is harming us.
How do we defeat the demon of excessivity?
Should we fast from CAF?
Your linked article…(thanks)
I may be guilty of Information Overload. Thank God none of the other problems.
I hope I don’t get information overload researching information overload
I’ve bookmark so many interesting CAF threads to read later, it would be a miracle to get through all of them.
Seriously, those symptoms are for real. Again, rather than needing to ask ourselves about this from time to time, what can be done about it?
Is it to use common sense and just spend spare time on CAF?
Is it that simple?

Likewise, for some CAF can be their “ministry”. Through CAF they reach out to others, promoting the faith.

This is an excellent point!!
Where else can you reach more souls for the Kingdom of Jesus other than the Eternal Word Televison Network? Amen. Alleluia.