Forums

Thanks for your thoughts, mnicolaug. I like your idea that the savage capitalists are actually suffering from money addiction! We should feel sorry for them and send them to a therapist, no? Then the rest of us could live in peace, maybe! :)
See you soon,
Pieter

What do you think?

1. What would you advise Roger Ridgway to do?
Although I’m not an expert, I agree with Dr Diane Phelps on it’s a case of finding balance, because Internet in general is actually a good tool nowadays. In obviously a part from to be treated by a doctor, I guess it could be useful, too, to ask for a technician to configure his computer just to work during a specific number of hours, established with the doctor. But considerating that Roger is studying at university, I’m quite assured that there is that special person who makes him crazy. So I suggested him to forget the machine and take the risk of just say “Hello” one day. Perhaps one day is that person who greets him first. Fear is bad, bad companion of the travel.

2. Do you think that Net addiction is exaggerated? Is it another case of media hype?
Once diagnosed, I think that social network dependence is not exaggerated. And I’m not able to valuate if it’s another media hype or not. Starting on that my opinion about media is that any media information won’t be never completely objective, and also it is consciously elaborated chasing a specific goal: manipulate opinion of the people, according to that, yes, it could be an interested media hype.

3. Do we really live in an age of addiction? Can you think of any other so-called addictions that may be an invention of the media?
Actually, I don’t think we really live in an age of addiction. Maybe I can think on one "addiction" that may be a result of the media: the addiction to the money that just a few people have, in the entire world, which thing has complicated the life of the others 30.000 millions of people.

4. Do you use a computer regularly? What do you use it for? Could you live without it? Why/Why not?
Yes, I use a computer regularly. Every day at my job, as a director’s assistant, and out of the office obviously for this English course.
With the progression of how different aspects of the society are being adapted to the technology advances, for example procedures of the public administration, surely I couldn't live without it. However, if the moment or the need to do without it arrives, I hope being able to adapt at the new situation.

Those are just some unexpert opinions.
Greetings,
mnicolaug

Great Maarit, thanks for this. I think it's great that you can leave your computer behind at the weekends and during holidays! I can't even do that: I have three different jobs and they all require me to use the computer. SO even at the weekends I switch on the computer.. oh no! Am I addicted? :( Some suggestions:

to limit the use of Internet only himself= .. by himself.
"kick the habit"= Very nice expression. But "kick off a busyness" sounds strange. Maybe you can say: "Start up a computer busness".
the reasons of his obsession= ..the reason FOR his obsession..

Have a good new year Maarit and keep up the good work!

What do you think?
1. What would you advise Roger Ridgway to do?
I recommend he contacts a counsellor because he seems to be addicted to the Web very badly. It is necessary to find out the reasons of his obsession. If he got help he could kick the habit. However it might be too difficult to limit the use of Internet only himself. Maybe he could start to study computer sciences and then kick the habit and kick off a computer business.

2. Do you think that Net addiction is exaggerated?
I do not think Net addiction would be exaggerated because it is a very bad problem so many adolescent boys, girls and adults. The use of Internet is a good thing in moderation, but in excess amount it can lead to dependence and obsessive behaviour.
Is it another case of media hype? Maybe Net dependence is another case of media hype.

3. Do we really live in an age of addiction?
Surely we live in the age of addiction now in the western countries. However I think people have had in every ages some obsessions for example alcohol, drugs and gambling. So obsessions are not any new phenomenon. Of course Net addiction is however a quite new version of obsession.

Can you think of any other so-called addictions that may be an invention of the media?
Other addictions are for instance watching TV, reading news, trading stocks.

4. Do you use a computer regularly? What do you use it for?
I use a computer regularly in my work and in my English studies. In addition I follow my private emails and Facebook quite often, sometimes too often.
Could you live without it? Why/Why not?
I am in the habit of living on holidays and in the weekends without Internet a couple of days. Then I can meet or phone to my friends and Internet does not interfere with my free daily life and relationships.
However I have to follow emails in my work.

Best regards Maarit

Dear students,

Welcome to our new Forums. Please post your tasks for Unit 6, Advanced level, in this Forum.

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Net Languages