I have always known myself to be an addict of the internet. Ever since I first connected to AOL instant messenger on a 28k modem to talk to the one other kid I knew with AOL in third grade, I've always been online more than is good for me. Until recently, this hasn't been too problematic. I knew I could be doing other things with my time, but I was an effective time manager, and there were no negative effects. Recently, however, I've begun to invest money in the stock market. While I've made some MAD MONEY, my addiction to the internet has gone from bad to worse. I probably lose more money on my cell's data plan than to capital gains, because I just simply can't go anywhere with out being in the know. From the readings, I now have an understand of why I'm so obsessed. Has it helped me? No. Not at all...
Caplan breaks internet addiction into two categories. Excessive and Compulsive. Excessive use is categorized by using the internet for longer than planned or is considered "normal". Compulsive use is categorized by being unable to control internet use, which results in guilt. I totally fall into both of these PIU (problematic internet use) symptoms. I need to be online, and spend time in class checking my portfolio. At the same time, I'll check stocks walking from class to class on my phone. I just need to know all the time, and I feel guilty because I know I should be doing other things.
To add insult to injury, psychosocial and internet affordances also contribute to my addiction. Caplan explains that because social interactions in online spaces are more anonymous, controllable, and have lower social risk, they are more attractive and act like a vicious cycle. Now this doesn't apply perfectly to my case, because it's not hurting my social life in the real world, and most of my addiction is just getting information. I wind up posting comments online about stock speculation that I would never make in the real world because, when I'm anonymous, there's no risk that someone could judge my intelligence. Theoretically though, Caplan would suggest that I could end up getting my feelings hurt in real life, turning to these stock forums for comfort, getting worse at speaking in public, and than relying on the forums even more.
Wallace attributes my PIU to an internal locus of control. Locus of control can be internal or external. Internal is the feeling that you have control over your life. External would be if you feel you don't have control over you life. The stock market is a very unstable thing, that leads to feelings of uncertainty. By checking up on it all the time, I get a sense of control, and am thus rewarded. In this sense, you would have to blame me, not the internet, for my addiction. It's my desire for control that leads me to it.
I commented @:
http://comm245blue.blogspot.com/2007/11/assignment-9.html
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http://comm245blue.blogspot.com/2007/11/facebook-gift-and-curse.html
4 comments:
While I am not obsessed with checking stocks online, I can completely understand why you feel the need to constantly check up on them. I check perezhilton.com once and then 5 minutes later, I check it again. Why? I have no clue! I know that in those five minutes, absolutely nothing has changed, but I feel that if I keep checking, I will somewhat be in control of what is happening.
I really like that you brought Wallace in your post because I think the idea of "locus of control" really has a lot to do with why most of us feel so connected to the Internet. The general population does not have the psychosocial problems Caplan refers to, yet we still feel the need to be on the Internet at all times. I think that bringing Wallace into the equation helps to explain why. It is all about having control!
I liked you post because I found it rather amusing that you check stocks that often. I am the complete opposite when it come to checking up on things online. I am the guy who responds to an email 3 days later. I did like how you mentioned Wallace's locus of control and how you feel as if you are rewarded by checking stocks and seeing how yours are doing, but I do not imagine that you feel this way when you are losing money do you? Well done.
Wow, I completely know how you feel. But I guess my addiction would include constant e-mail checking. It's like waiting for a package to come in the mail but the rewards are more instant. Who knows? I could have an offer from a company waiting in my list serve, right now? Or another graduate program requesting my participation. My addiction didn't begin before Cornell. Upon arriving here, one of my counselors informed me that we MUST check our e-mail at least 5 times a day. I made it into such a habit that I would just check constantly. Unfortunately I do not have a blackberry or anything like that so I carry my laptop. It got to the point where I had my webmail put into Outlook, so I would know instantly when e-mail arrive. :/ At least it makes me an efficient e-mail answerer....
Steven,
I really enjoyed your post. You do a great job of tying in concepts from class into your post. I also wrote about the addictive internet issues that have arisen from the online stock market environment. I really like your comments.
Great job!
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