The Acceleration of Addictiveness
“People commonly use the word “procrastination” to describe what they do on the Internet. It seems to me too mild to describe what’s happening as merely not-doing-work. We don’t call it procrastination when someone gets drunk instead of working.”
A short article about how there are more addictions now than in the past, and will be more in the future.
This is actually turning into a real problem. By “real problem” I mean measurably affecting the health and happiness of a significant number of people. It’s not as easy as “say no to drugs” when the tool you use to earn a living and communicate with loved ones doubles as a mind-paralyzing time-suck.
The first step to overcoming any addiction is to consciously admit you have a problem. The second step is to start keeping track of your indulgences. Every time you drink a cup or click a cow, you must jot down the fact that you did it. Accountability turns a well-worn mental path into a fork in the road, prompting you to ask yourself if it’s really worth it this time.
You can use WeHaveStandards to quickly make helpful printouts to keep track of daily addictions (or goals). My next step is adding social accountability features to the site, which I’m developing now with my favorite beta tester.
Link via Ronen Reblogs
