Forum addiction

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Catholic : One Thread

I try not to, but then end up spending way too much time on the forums even if it's just reading people's responses. I think that maybe I should stop spending any time on these boards and just quit, but then I just can't seem to stop. I think that I really would miss it, but I don't want to make a sin of it, if I haven't already done that. So I just wanted to say that I enjoy these forums sometimes it seems too much and I was wondering how everyone here was watching themselves so that they don't make it sinful.

-- Sonya (johnsonya2003@hotmail.com), September 01, 2004

Answers

sonya,

i know the feeling, it comes and goes. when i first came here i was an addict. now i have too much to do to post all the time, and sometimes i go through periods of less activity.

dont let it interfere with your life, but it is a meditation on God. so long as you keep your priorities straight it shouldnt be a problem for you and when you get to be an older hand at this, you get control over being able to put it down for awhile.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), September 01, 2004.


I think that what paul said above - dont let it interfere with your life - is really the key. The simple fact that you spend several hours a day participating in forums doesn't necessarily mean you have a problem. Some people spend several hours a day reading novels, gardening, watching TV, knitting, painting, or working on some other hobby. Which is fine provided you actually have several hours a day to spend in such interests without neglecting other responsibilities like family, children, prayer, job, etc. If you don't go shopping and there is no food in the house because of being on line, or if you never communicate with your spouse or don't get your children to bed at a reasonable hour, or never pray because of it, then there is obviously a problem. But if it's what you like to do with your free time and you can fit it in without compromising other important aspects of your life, then I don't think it is necessarily a problem.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), September 01, 2004.

Sonya, if these forums offered only knowledge that you already have, they would be boring for you, I would think. The fact that you find them so interesting probably means that you must be LEARNING a great deal from them. (At least, that's how it is in my case.)

Don't you think God is pleased that you are learning about Him and the Catholic Faith?

And even if you aren't learning from these forums, you are at least turning your mind towards Him, as Paul H pointed out.

For me, these forums, as well as other Catholic info sites, have been a GIGANTIC blessing, and if I should ever feel guilty about the time I spend here, learning about the Faith, I would immediately suspect it was you-know-who (the guy downstairs with the horns) trying to pull me off my course.

-- JJ (nospam@nospam.com), September 01, 2004.


Thanks again for your input. I think that I do learn a lot from these forums and I am going to try to continue to read different posts, but I will try to just keep a set time limit so that I won't over do it. That way I will feel better about getting things under control without having to completely give it up.

-- Sonya (johnsonya2003@hotmail.com), September 01, 2004.

Hi, Sonya

I rember a few years ago Kathy@nomail.com a non-Catholic posted the same question. I could probably find it for you if you wanted?[ If it wasn't deleted by mad deleter?]

Whats up little paul? Hope all is well.

-- - (David@excite.com), September 01, 2004.



Yes please look it up when you get a chance. It will be helpful, but if you can't find it. It is all right. I don't want you to have to spend too much time doing it. Thanks.

-- Sonya (johnsonya2003@hotmail.com), September 01, 2004.

hey david,

i'm doing pretty well... just got back to school and started classes, plus on one of those low activity swings so i havent been very active on the forum.

Right now i'm taking a class called the "Philosophy of Religion" so i'll keep ya'll updated on my insights from that.

how are things with you?

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), September 02, 2004.


Everything is ok. Thanks for asking paul. Good luck with your class.

The "mad deleter" deleted it because he posted on it. But since your such a special Lady I think it will re-appear for you to read. :-)

God bless you

-- - (David@excite.com), September 02, 2004.


Thanks for finding that out. Maybe it will reappear, but even if it doesn't at least I have some great advice from everyone here already. God bless you all. Please keep me and my family in your prayers. You are in mine.

-- Sonya (johnsonya2003@hotmail.com), September 03, 2004.

{{{As requested by David for Sonya, the following (with e-mail addresses removed) are the posts from a deleted 2002 thread entitled "Addicted to this forum"}}}


Hi everyone,

I took off for a few days with the kids, it is school vacation week. I have to tell you, while I was looking forward to a vacation with my kids, the whole time I was packing this forum was in the back of my mind. I had a wonderful time while I was away, but missed checking in on the forum. So I had to ask myself, "Am I addicted to this forum, is it even possible?" Then I thought, "I actually miss the people in this forum, how is that possible, I don't even know them." Funny thing is, I feel like I do know all of you.

Although I may not post often, I am here more than I probably should be, and maybe more than all of you realize. Is it possible that so many strangers could have such an impact in my life? The answer is YES! I think my addiction is the spiritual connection I feel when I come here. I am so moved by the faith and spirituality that so many of you have. I want to thank all of you who welcomed me with a warm heart. If I am addicted to this forum, I am glad it is here and with all of you!

That being said, I have four days of catching up to do!

God Bless all of you,

-- Kathy -- April 19, 2002


Hi Kathy:

Welcome back! I understand your feelings. My husband is always asking "what are you doing on that computer all the time." Hey, when you live out in the middle of nowhere (30 miles to the nearest town) and two small children, sometimes it really is a lifeline to the 'REAL WORLD.'

God Bless

Gail

-- Gail -- April 19, 2002.


Hi Gail,

It is good to be back. I'm just catching up on the new threads. And I can certaintly relate to you and your husband. My husband is always asking me the same question. He now stands over my shoulder and reads along with me!!

God Bless you Gail,

-- Kathy -- April 19, 2002.


Hi Kathy,

I have only been here a short time, and I'm beyond help! I know some people have problems with alcohol, drugs, or some other drug. I guess we could have worse addictions to deal with! :-)

Your fellow addict,

Mateo

-- April 20, 2002.


Hi Mateo,

It's good to know I am not the only one!! LOL

God Bless,

-- Kathy -- April 20, 2002.


Hi Kathy

I had the same thing happen to me this month, but when I returned from vacation I started a semi-habitual dialog with a fellow Catholic who I met on the forum here. We just send letters directly to each other. I have had a lot of growth by typing with this person. I also learned many great things while I was more active here, before my Easter vacation. I hope to wander back here more often. Sometimes I get so much into Catholic dialog with people whom I never met, that I get angry when I am interrupted, I don't like that, so if I feel prone to that then I type while listening to some Christian music played through a web page and it mellows me out.

I can relate to Gail, 30 miles from town, I live in an area that is 3% Catholic, so the PC is a serious spiritual hook up for me. My priest and spiritual advisor said that if St. Maxamillian Kolby were alive today he would use the internet to promote devotion to Mary. Kolby use to run a print shop with his friars to tell people about Mary.

Just remember to take a break occasionally like you just did! Glad to be back today myself. Thou shalt not let thy love for Jesus turn into jelly!

God Bless Us and our enemies

-- Mike H -- April 20, 2002.


Hi Mike,

Like you, I've also learned a wealth of information from so many wonderful people here. I can certaintly relate to the PC spiritual connection! Isn't it wonderful to know that with just a click of the mouse you can engage in instant conversation about the Lord Jesus!

We have been justified through faith. ROMANS 5:1

God Bless you Mike,

-- Kathy -- April 20, 2002.


Hi, Kathy. Good question. A lot of people are helped here, and that this forum sometimes has info and analysis I haven't seen anywhere else on the Internet. That nice lady Marcella got "maxed out" on the forum recently, which is understandable. Manytimes, though, a person really gets a lot out of spending a great deal of time here.

There is also a bit of the old Republican versus Democrat kind of stuff out there on many of the various Catholic websites (sometimes this is revealed purely in what a website is silent about), which is a problem, and IMHO, this forum breaks out of that Republican versus Democrat ideology more than other Catholic websites on the Internet.

The faith is such a learning process. The forum is a good place to hash things out.

O.K., just my ramblings for the night. One good reason for you to be here on the forum a lot is that you're a nice person! God bless you!

-- Chris TMD -- April 21, 2002.


Hi Chris,

I am sure we will all see Marcella back here to visit. And yes, other forums just don't measure up to this one, I agree. And I must also agree with you that faith is a learning process. There are so many benefits for me personally by coming here. Not only am I learning, meeting new people, and growing spritiually in faith, but, because I find myself thinking about this forum so much when I am not at home, sitting in traffic gives me time to reflect instead of moaning about getting somewhere, all the little irritating things I'd normally let get to me somehow don't bother me anymore. I know it is because Jesus is in my mind more now than ever. And in part it is due to this forum because of the daily connection I have here. I feel like I have found a treasure right here on the internet! Who knew!! Anyway Chris, you are a very nice person yourself, thanks.

God bless you too, Chris,

-- Kathy -- April 21, 2002.


I usually dont get hooked up to any of the sites. But I dont know that it is the first time in my life that I feel that I have gotten hooked up at this place. This forum really rise my spirit high as I read and post messages.

Cheers,

-- Xavier David -- May 13, 2002.



-- The Thread Restorer (thread@restoration.com), September 03, 2004.


Thanks "Thread restorer".

Thanks for the prayers Sonya. I will pray for you& your family too. I promise.

Your brother in Christ.

-- - (David@excite.com), September 03, 2004.


Thanks for the prayers everyone and thanks for the information thread restorer. I think that her addiction didn't really seem like she felt it was a problem and I can't say if it was a problem for her either. My problem is that even though I set a time limit, I have a hard time keeping it. Good grief!

-- Sonya (johnsonya2003@hotmail.com), September 10, 2004.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ