Re: GEN: LM_NET not "sad, lonely world in cyberspace"

[Joni J Rathbun <jrathbun@orednet.org>]

>
>BTW:  I suspect we've all met people who tell you they know
>someone whose life was"ruined" by the internet, etc.
>Turns out they never really can give you  names. . . .
>just that they heard about it from someone else.
>Do you think the same fright rumors were spread
>when radio first came out?

I can name names if you'd like. My ex husband lives with
a woman whose husband left her for his online girlfriend.
My assistant's son-in-law ran off with a woman he met
on AOL -- leaving behind two beautiful daughters. The
neighbor lady left her husband for a man she met online.
That relationship didn't work out. She recently moved
to the midwest to live with online boyfriend #2.
I can list 7 other specific examples with "names"
if you'd like.

I strongly believe that the internet is changing
how many ppl deal with life. For some it's a positive
thing (collaboration, networking, staying in touch), but
for many it is not. It becomes an addiction as damaging
as many other addictions. Visit the EFNet irc servers
and meet a few ppl there... people who spend entire
lifetimes and fantasies online vs real life. I think
we're seeing just the beginnings; and I think now
would be a good time to become a psychiatrist
specializing in online addictions.

This particular "study" wasn't especially scientific
but it hints at what is out there beyond the protection
of LM_NET.



--
 --              Joni Rathbun | jrathbun@orednet.org              --
North Area Regional Media Specialist | Lincoln County School District
                   http://lincolncity.org/bookmarks
 --     If you need a vacation you should see the state I'm in!   --

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