Addiction, to the Computer?

[seeker_of_God]

I don’t know if I’m actually addicted to the computer. I recently went for a five-day retreat and didn’t bring it, and was just fine. But the truth is that I’m on the computer, a lot.

Here’s the issue though (sorry for those who already know this about me). I’m blind. I depend on the computer for just about everything because of that. When I pray the Liturgy of the Hours, I read it through my braille display, attached to the computer. When I go back to college in two weeks D), I will do all my homework, assignments, and papers on the computer, and will take all my notes on the computer. I can’t read print books, so I listen to the Bible on the computer, and listen to audio books on the computer either through audio downloads from Amazon, or CD’s that I put into the computer.

It’s summer time. All I have around here to do is to pray, to go on the computer, and occasionally to play the piano. I don’t have many friends around the area.

But still, I’m concerned. I wish I could not be so dependent on technology, but that doesn’t seem possible.

Maybe I wouldn’t feel so bad if I spent less time wasting time on forums, blogs and such. But on this forum I sometimes don’t feel like I’m wasting time, because I research the answers to questions I have here. But still, for instance this morning I woke up and prayed for about an hour, and then checked my email, and then I’ve been on these forums. It’s currently 8:30 and I got up at 5:30.

I love reading books, so maybe I should do more of that. I’m reading The Diary of St. Faustina and The Practice of the Presence of God. The former is online, and the latter is on CD.

Once I go back to college it isn’t so bad. I plan on going to daily mass, and on socializing once I make some friends hopefully (I’m transferring to a new college so have to start fresh), and I’m generally only on my computer for a rare moment of downtime or to do an assignment or to study. But sometimes I’m concerned about these months over the summer when I’m really not doing very much.

What do you think? What can I do?

 

[dashso40]

As long as you are not like searching sinful stuff and it’s not keeping you from enjoying other things …It doesn’t seem like you have a problem…This is great forum for increasing faith…and what can be wrong with that?

 

[Joe_5859]

Ah, summer break! It sounds like, in lieu of your situation, spending more time on the computer than the average person is justified. We are all probably guilty of spending a bit too much of our internet time doing frivolous things. I think you pretty well answered your own question, though. If you feel like too much of your time is spent on forums and blogs, make the effort to do some more reading.

I would say that you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it too much. It’s okay to spend some time on these frivolous things as a form of recreation. You’ll probably be starting up school again in two weeks or so anyway, right? So it won’t be a problem for long.

 

[seeker_of_God]

Thanks for your replies.

Joe 5859, yeah I think your right. I was a little clearer on the issue once I wrote it all out in my post, but still wanted to get some opinions.

And your right, two weeks until school starts. I absolutely cannot wait.

 

[phoage]

Let me see if I understand your issue correctly.
1. You are blind,
2. You use the computer for things that I use my eyes for,
3. You are worried that you might be addicted to the computer.

Did I get all that correctly? I can tell you right now if you are not addicted, it is only through the grace of God and that addiction is not a bad thing. I use my eyes all the time. I could not get along without them near so well as I do. That you have this technology available to you to make your life fuller is of itself a blessing that I hope you thank the Lord for every time you boot up.

I do not have to tell you but sit and think about what your life would be like w/o your computer. Blind people lived before computers and even lived fruitful lives but it was much more difficult. My wife’s favorite aunt has been blind since birth (she is in her 70’s) and I can tell you, she has much more praise for her machine that my paltry words.

 

[seeker_of_God]

Let me see if I understand your issue correctly.
1. You are blind,
2. You use the computer for things that I use my eyes for,
3. You are worried that you might be addicted to the computer.

Did I get all that correctly? I can tell you right now if you are not addicted, it is only through the grace of God and that addiction is not a bad thing. I use my eyes all the time. I could not get along without them near so well as I do. That you have this technology available to you to make your life fuller is of itself a blessing that I hope you thank the Lord for every time you boot up.

I do not have to tell you but sit and think about what your life would be like w/o your computer. Blind people lived before computers and even lived fruitful lives but it was much more difficult. My wife’s favorite aunt has been blind since birth (she is in her 70’s) and I can tell you, she has much more praise for her machine that my paltry words.

phoage,

Thank you. Yes you have that correct. I am very thankful that I live at the time I do, as there weren’t nearly as many opportunities for blind people just a few decades ago.

Still, especially during the summer when there’s not much else I’m doing, all that I do is on the computer, except when I pray or occasionally play the piano, which is why it concerns me.

 

[aspawloski4th]

For me I don’t think it’s addiction to the computer, it’s a craving for the intellectual in an envirment immediately around me that is severely devoid of intellectualism. The computer and internet are just a rezady handy tool to bring that need to me.