NationStates Jolt Archive

Thread Over.

No, it is a result of it, not a cause.

Spending too much time on the Internet is a cause of depression.

I'd like to demand the evidence basis for this.

Spending too much time on the Internet is a cause of depression.
Depends... watching too much porn can be the source of serious depression (and disillusionment)
Communicating with others online is mentally stimulating, therefore preventing depression. At least in my case. It can even be a cure.

No, it is a result of it, not a cause.

It is both. That's called a viscious circle.

Spending too much time on the Internet is a cause of depression.


Thanks now I'm even more depressed.


:(

I'd like to demand the evidence basis for this.
And a statement from some Concerned Suburban Families of America type oganisation does not count. :D

I don't know if you noticed but most of the "suicide threads" as of late come from little 13 year olds who are just realizing their peckers work. These kids are just drama queens it is really better if you just let them work out their daily dose of sympathy/abuse from random people on yahoo chat.

It is both. That's called a viscious circle.
Erm, bullshit.

Boom Headshot. :sniper:

It is both. That's called a viscious circle.

Does it further depress an already-depressed person or make a non-depressed person depressed?

And a statement from some Concerned Suburban Families of America type oganisation does not count. :D

Damn, I was half way across the atlantic ocean when I read that post and now I have to go back.

Seriously though, the only evidence I can give is my personal experience, although I did read it somewhere else too. Unfortunately, I didn't think "I may need to use this as a piece of advice on a forum in a couple of years time, better write it down somewhere safe!"

Erm, bullshit.

Whatever. At least I can admit I'm addicted.

Unfortunately, I didn't think "I may need to use this as a piece of advice on a forum in a couple of years time, better write it down somewhere safe!"
Pfft, then you'll never be pro like us. :rolleyes:

:p

It is both. That's called a viscious circle.

I think you meant "viscous" circle. That is what usually ends up on the keyboard when you spend too much time on the internet. :eek:

And a statement from some Concerned Suburban Families of America type oganisation does not count. :D

It never has.

Whatever. At least I can admit I'm addicted.
Well, I work for a company which has placed all its IT functions on a network. I can't even check a comment someone made on an invoice without being on the Internet. The moral panic is merely an inefficiency in accepting new technology.

Well, I work for a company which has placed all its IT functions on a network. I can't even check a comment someone made on an invoice without being on the Internet. The moral panic is merely an inefficiency in accepting new technology.

I don't subscribe to any moral panics. If I were to use what science I know to hypothesise, I'd say it is a lack of stimulation to parts of the brain that are involved in dealing with the world away from the Internet that causes unhappiness. But I'm no psychiatrist or neurophysiologist. Just a guy to tries to look at things objectively.

I don't subscribe to any moral panics. If I were to use what science I know to hypothesise, I'd say it is a lack of stimulation to parts of the brain that are involved in dealing with the world away from the Internet that causes unhappiness. But I'm no psychiatrist or neurophysiologist. Just a guy to tries to look at things objectively.
What? :rolleyes:

The human brain has parts of the brain for dealing with the Internet? :headbang:

omfg

dealing with the world away from the Internet

Do people have no social life because they are on the internet, or are they on the internet because they have no social life? And how does not dealing with the outside world make you depressed?

It keeps me from shooting myself at work.

Do people have no social life because they are on the internet, or are they on the internet because they have no social life? And how does not dealing with the outside world make you depressed?

Just watching the news can get me seriously depressed.
I think social life and internet are not necessarily mutually exclusive, it's just when you get the balance wrong and spend more and more time online that you might end up pretty isolated.

What? :rolleyes:

The human brain has parts of the brain for dealing with the Internet? :headbang:

omfg

omfg! straw-man arguments are so fun! anyway, time for you to go turn someone elses thread into a debate, since my advice is obviously wrong. I mean look at the arguments against it:

"Erm, bullshit"
Rolled eyes
"omfg"

Never have I been so convinced that I have made a mistake.

Do people have no social life because they are on the internet, or are they on the internet because they have no social life? And how does not dealing with the outside world make you depressed?

...what the fuck are you people talking about? I don't know if anyone has noticed but the internet is the nexis of college social life now. You leave your computer online all the time and find out whats going on and shoot the shit then go out to parties and drink with people and meet new people to add to facebook or whatever and then go to their parties too. Cell phones are the social lifeline when you leave your computer. There is no point in the day when most college students are totally disconnected from eachother. Granted it is pretty often that people just don't answer their phones or whatever to keep the normal state of privacy and alone time but if you want the connection is always there. Not spending any time online in college will leave you out of the loop not put you further into it.

Never have I been so convinced that I have made a mistake.
There is no point in debating with an individual who has not made an argument. What you posted barely works as an assertion.

omfg! straw-man arguments are so fun! anyway, time for you to go turn someone elses thread into a debate, since my advice is obviously wrong. I mean look at the arguments against it:

"Erm, bullshit"
Rolled eyes
"omfg"

Never have I been so convinced that I have made a mistake.

I just posted my counter argument. The internet has no relation to depression besides being an outlet for depressed people to turn to. It is actually making just as many people meet and socialize more as it is hampering those who would already be hampering themselves.

Never have I been so convinced that I have made a mistake.

Indeed. Using the law of inverse veracity and applying it to those responses, it would seem as though your argument is very correct. But you have no proof that not dealing with the outside world causes depression, nor that being on the internet negates dealing with the outside world.

...what the fuck are you people talking about?

My fault, I used "having a social life" and "dealing with the outside world" interchangeably.

There is no point in debating with an individual who has not made an argument. What you posted barely works as an assertion.

Hence, "turn someone elses thread into a debate". It wasn't supposed to be an argument!

I just posted my counter argument. The internet has no relation to depression besides being an outlet for depressed people to turn to. It is actually making just as many people meet and socialize more as it is hampering those who would already be hampering themselves.

Well, I give up. Really. I know I'm not wrong, because I am an Internet addict, but I can't be arsed to convince anyone that I'm right.

My fault, I used "having a social life" and "dealing with the outside world" interchangeably.

...and? Did you read my post or did you just hit keys until they made a sentence? I just explained how the internet allows people to keep up with eachother and meet up more often in college. How does your response make any sense in reply to that?

No, spending too much time on the internet is a sign that you have too much free time....or you're in college.

Well, I give up. Really. I know I'm not wrong, because I am an Internet addict, but I can't be arsed to convince anyone that I'm right.

My post had nothing to do with you being an internet addict or not. It was in response to you talking about the internet hindering social life and making someone depressed. Way to read champ.

Well, I give up. Really. I know I'm not wrong, because I am an Internet addict, but I can't be arsed to convince anyone that I'm right.

Wait, your point is that the internet causes people to become depressed, yet the majority of the people on this forum, which is representative of the internet in general, said you were wrong, but you still think you are right based on your own experience?

Well, I give up. Really. I know I'm not wrong, because I am an Internet addict, but I can't be arsed to convince anyone that I'm right.
Meh. I doubt if you are depressed, the original source of your problems was the Internet. Most likely you took to spending too much time on it as a result of some other issue the importance of which you have overlooked. Cutting back on internet use may give you more time in which to find a solution, but it will not be a solution in itself.

My post had nothing to do with you being an internet addict or not. It was in response to you talking about the internet hindering social life and making someone depressed. Way to read champ.

When did I mention social life? Are you sure I was the one not reading?

Meh. I doubt if you are depressed, the original source of your problems was the Internet. Most likely you took to spending too much time on it as a result of some other issue the importance of which you have overlooked. Cutting back on internet use may give you more time in which to find a solution, but it will not be a solution in itself.

Anyway, I'll leave this thread to the barbarians now. Whether what I meant to say (but may not have conveyed) is right or not doesn't really matter, since I realised people here are so bitchy that I don't really want to help them.

When did I mention social life? Are you sure I was the one not reading?

I dunno I'm too lazy to look back through the posts so lets just assume it was you. Way to read champ.