Screen Addiction

[Michi713]

The internet is different from any other drug because it tailors itself to exploit each individual’s weaknesses.  Users behave like crack addicted caricatures seeking dopamine hits of attention and approval, bits of information and entertainment.   

 

Even a comparatively light user experiences withdrawal symptoms of anxiousness, inability to focus, and a nagging urge to consume anything in the first days of detoxification.  

 

The culturally created need to consume is the driving force of industrial society.  This post-industrial, virtual hybrid is consuming itself into oblivion.  

 

When one watches a movie or TV show, reality falls away in favor of the programming.  A gap is created in the continuity of experience and is filled with sounds and images provided by the programmer.  Memory is disoriented because although the viewer is able to recall the program, he usually cannot recollect the specific context in his life in which it was viewed.  Multiply this effect by the number of programs consumed in a lifetime and you have complete mind fuckery.  

 

Because programs consist of dramatic and sometimes traumatic content they are associated with an array of emotions in the viewer’s subconscious mind.  This is the goal of programming:  behavior modification by eliciting emotional responses to stimuli:  mass mind control.  

 

Disruption of continuity of experience correlates to disruption of thought processes.  The internet blows to doors off this phenomenon and creates dependence upon itself for what used to be basic cognitive functions.  The ability to focus attention, memorize, and problem solve have all been surrendered to screens.  

 

To the extent that clocks, calendars, grocery lists, and stores disappear from physical reality, so does the individual recede from the physical world.  This half-functioning person is primed to invite all aspects of his existence to be uploaded.  

 

Work, education, commerce, sexuality, even family have all been surrendered to screens!

 

The situation is grave.  In referring to the internet, Tucker Carlson remarked, “Tech companies control the only speech that matters.”  

 

A woman rides her bike holding a phone in front of her face.  Reality is debased in favor of bloated self-importance.  

 

These grotesque absurdities, along with the tyranny of the post-covid world manifest solely from our addiction to devices.  The only rebellion is to break the addiction and regain perspective.  

[Jikwan]

20 hours ago, Michi713 said:

The internet is different from any other drug because it tailors itself to exploit each individual’s weaknesses.  Users behave like crack addicted caricatures seeking dopamine hits of attention and approval, bits of information and entertainment.   

 

Even a comparatively light user experiences withdrawal symptoms of anxiousness, inability to focus, and a nagging urge to consume anything in the first days of detoxification.  

 

The culturally created need to consume is the driving force of industrial society.  This post-industrial, virtual hybrid is consuming itself into oblivion.  

 

When one watches a movie or TV show, reality falls away in favor of the programming.  A gap is created in the continuity of experience and is filled with sounds and images provided by the programmer.  Memory is disoriented because although the viewer is able to recall the program, he usually cannot recollect the specific context in his life in which it was viewed.  Multiply this effect by the number of programs consumed in a lifetime and you have complete mind fuckery.  

 

Because programs consist of dramatic and sometimes traumatic content they are associated with an array of emotions in the viewer’s subconscious mind.  This is the goal of programming:  behavior modification by eliciting emotional responses to stimuli:  mass mind control.  

 

Disruption of continuity of experience correlates to disruption of thought processes.  The internet blows to doors off this phenomenon and creates dependence upon itself for what used to be basic cognitive functions.  The ability to focus attention, memorize, and problem solve have all been surrendered to screens.  

 

To the extent that clocks, calendars, grocery lists, and stores disappear from physical reality, so does the individual recede from the physical world.  This half-functioning person is primed to invite all aspects of his existence to be uploaded.  

 

Work, education, commerce, sexuality, even family have all been surrendered to screens!

 

The situation is grave.  In referring to the internet, Tucker Carlson remarked, “Tech companies control the only speech that matters.”  

 

A woman rides her bike holding a phone in front of her face.  Reality is debased in favor of bloated self-importance.  

 

These grotesque absurdities, along with the tyranny of the post-covid world manifest solely from our addiction to devices.  The only rebellion is to break the addiction and regain perspective.  

You absolutely right.

What your saying is this addiction needs to stop now....its urgent.

Yeah, been urgent for a good many years already.

Trying to find a solution like, now in these most difficult days is not much possible. Conditions at the moment all over the world are so adverse, so stressful, makes for dipressed states....people need their distractions for relief even more than ever. The more difficult life is the more one is driven to distraction.

You take away their internet, utube, social media......what have they to use against these levels of suffering?

They have to face reality.

What do you suggest?

[andy1033]

Its absolutely crazy how attached people are to these phones, and how they constantly are needing visual stimulation all day. Thats what addicting to it.

 

One has to wonder what freq the phone screen is operating at or something, or the colours.

 

The people are like locked onto those screens, and for some reason can never put those things down.

 

The addiction is some way the phone is addicting to there brain, ie stimulating there brain, and they cannot put it down. Its got nout to do with the net, people are locked to these phones, whether thats the freq of the screen, or colours on screen, or just the visual stimulation of those screens, and what they are doing.

 

Its more then just net use.

 

They are addicted to the visual stimulation of the things, and we can only guess what is doing it.

Edited January 29, 2021 by andy1033

[facere arbitrium]

I'm with you on this one andy1033. I've been using the computer more and more since the lockdowns, tech can be really consuming. It doesn't help that a lot of it is designed to be addictive or create emotional dependency. Digital opium for the masses.

[Michi713]

On 1/29/2021 at 6:05 PM, Jikwan said:

What do you suggest?

Unfortunately, a lot of the destruction done to the mind is likely permanent.  

 

1.  The fact that you hearted my post and I hearted your posts is not helpful to the cause.  Approval, however silly it seems, is a huge part of the hook.  Being raised with the TV we are conditioned to want to be on TV.   Social media says, “Look you are on TV!”  And the little bits of acknowledgement received from others only feeds the delusion.  
 

2.  Existing in online communities in place of real communities contributes to societal breakdown and personal alienation.  The people in your physical world need you more than your online group.  Putting yourself out in your hometown will save the world. 

 

3.  A 30 day screen detox done periodically will not break the addiction entirely, but changes will occur.  

Observations:
It sounds cliche but after withdrawals, energy greatly increases.
Time is freed up for other pursuits and there is impetus to accomplish more.
Ability to experience life somewhat uncorrupted.
Seemingly mundane things are seen with greater resolution.  Like individual droplets of vapor rising from your coffee.

However, absurd behavior of other people becomes more starkly apparent.

It is helpful to record changes and observations.

 

I understand it is difficult for men because you feel a duty to be informed for reasons of leadership.  Everyone looks to you guys for what to be done.  But you also deserve to reclaim your lives from the hold these things have on you.  Everything will be there when you return, and others will be more than happy to fill you in on the day’s atrocities.  

[Jikwan]

I say there is no solution for the say, 4 billion currently addicted to this, the no.1 drug

No quick and easy way out. Even some of them try to practice 1 or 2 of your suggestions, they soon find out 2 strong forces opposing them

1 no willpower. When you keep following your desire for pleasure/curiosity/distraction at 300 times per hour clicking the mouse, should find the capacity for restraint is zero

2 everyone you see or live with is doing the same thing. Not many scources for inspiration. These guys encourage you to keep.on doing it

If you been a drinker, want to stop it but still go to the pub everyday for 5hrs.....aint going to stop

Freedom from this problem is for the very few.....imo

Have to look for as many supporting conditions to help you get through it

Dont they have AA-type meetings for this?

[Michi713]

Headaches and lack of sleep are adverse effects of screen exposure, but do not necessarily indicate addiction. 

 

Signs of overuse:

 

Compulsive checking of newsfeeds and social media accounts

 

Feeling butt hurt/ placing too much value on replies and approval

 

Inability to focus on anything is an extremely devastating sign of overuse.

 

Feelings of hopelessness or impending doom indicate too much consumption of news, and over exposure to disturbing videos and images can lead to invasive thoughts. 

 

Inability to read a book that interests you without your mind wandering or checking your device

 

The threshold of excitement or variety has been tinkered with to where real life seems too mundane without screens 

 

Miscellaneous: 

 

If you are receiving one package in the mail per day for several months, stop shopping.

 

If you feel a need to exploit your sexuality to garner (unpaid) attention from the opposite sex it’s time to detox. 

 

Can’t manage 30 days? 

 

Try one day a week (preferably a Saturday) when you can refrain from consuming all media.  

 

Or eliminate device usage from your morning routine.  

 

At the very least, shield yourself, like you would shield your child from disturbing content.  Do you really need more unsettling images floating around in your mind? 

 

Edited February 2, 2021 by Michi713

[zarkov]

1 hour ago, perpetual said:

 

 

Just found this. He explains further re: lung capacity, then goes into different brain waves/states.

Brilliant! Find genius within.

 

Thanks - out of likes. great info and thread

[Michi713]

Marketing has always been about creating needs where they previously didn’t exist.  It’s the driver of the modern economy.  

 

The TV is a lack box in that it transmits the message that you need this to be that.  You are not okay unless you have this lifestyle, or support this bunch of causes to have an identity.

 

You are constantly compared to a predetermined ideal that you do not embody.  This cycles until you are programmed to operate based upon lack.  It bores an unfillable hole into your psyche.  You become the lack machine.  

 

Social media is programming on autopilot. It is lack machines throwing up all over each other. Users strive to be the ideal that others want to emulate:  more fashionable, worldly, healthier, more in-the-know than one another.  Nothing is relevant unless it is broadcasted to the world for consumption.

 

Any status obtained on social media is purely make believe.  The true status is that of slave to the lack box.  An artificial life lived for the sake of a fickle audience.  

 

To extricate oneself from lack boxes is not to fall into obscurity.  It is deprogramming.  An attempt to renew the mind and heal the void.

[TetraG]

Well described and simply put

 

My take may go a little something like this....

 

Fill the world of whatever TRUE PRECEPT (believable or actionable) and so of all things of whatever makes palpable or as is knowable a feature of strength or fortitude in one's life....and of this formula if it is provided such by own aspiration or team aspiration (maybe of activists) then all may turn out okay.... (or AT LEAST *generally all is well even if not exclusively always a thing we control exactly by self governing will and power of discernment*), So anyway ~ of all things which is focusing aside from internet first of all... So given self automony over one's decisions, and a reasonable outlook IN 3D OFFLINE LAND all of what one is surrounded with *could be* APPEARING AS OFFERING POTENTIAL in a life less reliant on the internet (but where usefulness & creativity can re-emerge back to life etc) in terms of HUMAN FRIENDLY SOUL BASED ACTIONS wherever reason justifies and without harm....... And in our own way, our own projectiions of reckoning may acquire good faith of a sort... Whatever leads us to the GOOD,, whether by our interpretation or however individually devised to our own sacred judgement, to become REAL for filling the void of an empty soul, fill it within us with REALNESS (obviously)/// and... (esp of spiritual sustainance and self avowment in whatever ordinance, truism or guise or manifestation it suits the person knowing of their personality whilst also developing that mostly OUTSIDE of the internet where one can....)

And to help, we have the mind, which is the main scaffold upon which we all build or fall, in tune with whatever brings harmony disharmony, accord or discord.

 

To fill only with internet JUNK is to never be able to fill (*or satisfy*) the unfillable "lack" appearing by an ever widening divide or hole being 'bored out' & driven by the tentacles of the overlapping engulfing artificialness tailored to =relentless consumerism=, gullibility, attention misdirection and falsity, non-self-sanctity and a lack of originality when born in conditions of abnormal deficit or depreciation of self created ethos (& thereby losing the ability or opportunity for learning true wisdom authentically by a more enlightened more natural path otherwise).... and likewise for ingenuity and intuitive exploration, little arguably there to render self as the creator even when thinking Etsy or Pinterest (*as 2 blindingly obvious examples of online sources of gain for your business or mind more generally*),,, However even though I DO like Pinterest somewhat, the point is to STAND BACK FROM THIS SOMETIMES, where we see REALLY where the internet is concerned;; we can end up furthermore (-If we are not careful-) with no ground-up grassroots community, (with a few exceptions) lack of self esteem, over reliability of glitz and quick fixes and unsustainable carry ons,, rendering the user of the internet like a highly dependent pawn encouraged to become greedy but in a highly confusing and competitive game of sorts;; etc...

Edited October 4, 2022 by TetraG

[Ethel]

Outstanding post, and insight. This is the kind of insight this forum, and the truth movement in general desperately needs.

 

I have an Internet dependency, and I haven't got the slightest clue what to do about it.

 

How does one end an addiction to something they have absolutely no choice but to use?

 

I gave up a long-term addiction to cigarettes and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I knew that it was actually within the realms of possibility that I could go the rest of my life without ever having to buy cigarettes and light one up ever again. No such guarantee exists where the Internet is concerned. 

 

How many people on this forum can honestly say, hand on heart, that they have the option of never using the Internet ever again?

 

I can only thank God I don't have the same problem with my mobile phone. I only ever use Internet on a laptop and never fully caught the bug of using Internet on a smart phone. Plus I insist on buying cheap, low quality phones because I refuse to be sucked into that particular cult.

 

But, try as I might, the Internet keeps calling me back. The worst behaviors are when I sit compulsively refreshing the youtube logo at the top left of it's website, to bring up a new set of recommended videos. The sad part is youtube is fucking shit now. It's been years since I saw a good documentary on it. I'm literally looking for something which isn't there.

 

I wish I knew what the fuck to do, but thanks for highlighting the issue anyway.

[- TZC -]

I put in 1 hr 36 minutes last week on my ipad,  and I can guess I was drawing on it at that time. Trying to finish a piece of art - though I wonder if they somehow, the watchers got that wrong because also I leave it on audiobook to go to sleep. Then again screentime doesn't include hours of offscreen audio I guess.

 

The phone time  I can't say because DERP phone hasn't told me but I never caught the all day every day bug either, it's better on proper computer. . How about forgetting it all and do what you do, while trying to reduce for something else. I need a haircut for instance. Wanna butcher my barnet?

[Macnamara]

3 hours ago, Ethel said:

How many people on this forum can honestly say, hand on heart, that they have the option of never using the Internet ever again?

 

i could imagine a situation where the state blocks people like me from posting online with some sort of cyber-asbo not to mention social credit scores etc. I also expect them to stop making computers with hard drives so that everything moves onto the 'cloud' and I will not accept that

 

So one way or another i don't expect to be on the internet forever. It might present some challenges for my work but i don't think they are insurmountable. I don't use any social media except this forum so i won't miss that and if the new world order takes total control then what use is the 'news' to me anyway? So at that point the internet has become redundant

 

Entertainment-wise i remember a time before internet and could replace it with books.

Edited October 4, 2022 by Macnamara

[Ethel]

On 10/4/2022 at 10:44 PM, Macnamara said:

 

i could imagine a situation where the state blocks people like me from posting online with some sort of cyber-asbo not to mention social credit scores etc.

 

I am astonished you believe this could be a possibility. If you have not figured out by now that the PTB want as many people as possible addicted to technology then you must be walking around blindfolded. If they do, as you say, ban "people like you" from using the Internet then you can consider yourself lucky, although I cannot imagine you will find the transition very easy given the amount of time you spend on this forum alone. 

 

On 10/4/2022 at 10:44 PM, Macnamara said:

So one way or another i don't expect to be on the internet forever. It might present some challenges for my work but i don't think they are insurmountable.

 

I am hearing denial. On the one hand you are continuing entertaining the unlikely scenario that the ptb will give a free pass to people with an interest in conspiracies and allow them to opt out of the mass addiction that is unfolding before our eyes, but on the other hand point out that you are reliant upon the Internet for your job. Do you not see the millions of people walking around holding smart phones in front of them, bumping into things? Or did I just imagine that?

 

On 10/4/2022 at 10:44 PM, Macnamara said:

Entertainment-wise i remember a time before internet and could replace it with books.

 

Which you can say safe in the knowledge that you aren't going to lose your Internet connection any time soon. Screen addiction is an issue. I'll let you in on a secret. A person can have this problem for years before they even become aware of it. You could have a screen addiction yourself and be in complete denial about it. This is one of the most serious issues facing the human race, it's best not to be flippant about it.

[TheConsultant]

Were they not considering internet access being a basic human right, legally speaking? Imagine prioritising that over well I wont get in to the list, I wish to go to sleep at some stage.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/internet-access-human-right-politics-labour-party-uk-government-a9208841.html

https://www.businessinsider.com/un-says-internet-access-is-a-human-right-2016-7?r=US&IR=T

I do think they would push for that over equality, sovereignty, freedom of choice. Having access to a free open web of information, that's a different story altogether as we are already seeing censorship occur in real time regarding an ever expanding list of topics of discussion. It has been going on for a lot longer than that people are just waking up to how they operate.

Edited December 7, 2022 by TheConsultant

[Macnamara]

2 hours ago, Ethel said:

I am astonished you believe this could be a possibility.

 

they don't see us all as equal. This is why they want social credit scores. Not everyone is saying things that really skewer them and their agenda. Some people are talking complete hogwash. I think i would be one of the people they would want to censor.

 

2 hours ago, Ethel said:

If you have not figured out by now that the PTB want as many people as possible addicted to technology then you must be walking around blindfolded. If they do, as you say, ban "people like you" from using the Internet then you can consider yourself lucky, although I cannot imagine you will find the transition very easy given the amount of time you spend on this forum alone. 

 

well i don't own a tv, i don't watch sport, i'm not on facebook or twitter or instagram etc etc etc

 

I basically listen to mark passio podcasts and whilst i do that i peruse conspiracy aggregation sites like the ickes headlines page. I also scan the headlines of rt and the daily mail but i'm considering cutting the daily mail out altogether and watching Ikonic instead

 

Once i have LEARNED from those i then go onto this forum to discuss what i've learned. So i'm using the internet in a very controlled and disciplined way to learn and share what i've learned.

 

2 hours ago, Ethel said:

I am hearing denial. On the one hand you are continuing entertaining the unlikely scenario that the ptb will give a free pass to people with an interest in conspiracies and allow them to opt out of the mass addiction that is unfolding before our eyes, but on the other hand point out that you are reliant upon the Internet for your job. Do you not see the millions of people walking around holding smart phones in front of them, bumping into things? Or did I just imagine that?

 

i'm not reliant on the internet for my job. I work with my hands and would be happy to take payment in cash

 

2 hours ago, Ethel said:

Which you can say safe in the knowledge that you aren't going to lose your Internet connection any time soon. Screen addiction is an issue. I'll let you in on a secret. A person can have this problem for years before they even become aware of it. You could have a screen addiction yourself and be in complete denial about it. This is one of the most serious issues facing the human race, it's best not to be flippant about it.

 

you might have noticed i was off the forum this summer for two weeks as i was away for a while. I can do that no problem. I don't have a smart phone and don't use social media so i don't have anything to check except the notifications on this forum.

 

So i think i can say i'm able to live without the screen. For me if there was an addiction angle it might be more related to the need to speak my mind. This forum gives me an outlet where it is difficult to discuss these things offline. If i was cut off from the internet for example through a cyber-asbo would i experience frustration at not being able to air my views on things? Maybe but then perhaps i would put those energies elsewhere instead.

Edited December 7, 2022 by Macnamara

[Ethel]

7 minutes ago, Macnamara said:

 

they don't see us all as equal. This is why they want social credit scores. Not everyone is saying things that really skewer them and their agenda. Some people are talking complete hogwash. I think i would be one of the people they would want to censor.

 

 

well i don't own a tv, i don't watch sport, i'm not on facebook or twitter or instagram etc etc etc

 

I basically listen to mark passio podcasts and whilst i do that i peruse conspiracy aggregation sites like the ickes headlines page. I also scan the headlines of rt and the daily mail but i'm considering cutting the daily mail out altogether and watching Ikonic instead

 

Once i have LEARNED from those i then go onto this forum to discuss what i've learned. So i'm using the internet in a very controlled and disciplined way to learn and share what i've learned.

 

 

i'm not reliant on the internet for my job. I work with my hands and would be happy to take payment in cash

 

 

you might have noticed i was off the forum this summer for two weeks as i was away for a while. I can do that no problem. I don't have a smart phone and don't use social media so i don't have anything to check except the notifications on this forum.

 

So i think i can say i'm able to live without the screen. For me if there was an addiction angle it might be more related to the need to speak my mind. This forum gives me an outlet where it is difficult to discuss these things offline. If i was cut off from the internet for example through a cyber-asbo would i experience frustration at not being able to air my views on things? Maybe but then perhaps i would put those energies elsewhere instead.

 

 

Okay, lets try this another way. Leaving yourself aside, do you acknowledge we are now living in a society in which screen addiction is highly prevalent?

[Macnamara]

Just now, Ethel said:

Okay, lets try this another way. Leaving yourself aside, do you acknowledge we are now living in a society in which screen addiction is highly prevalent?

 

absa-fucking-lutely!

[Ethel]

16 hours ago, Macnamara said:

i'm considering cutting the daily mail out altogether and watching Ikonic instead

 

 

This sounds like a great idea. Some of the journalism they turned out in the week after the queen died was laughable. Ickonic is a better alternative. Even better are books. But yeah, walking away from the daily mail sounds like an excellent idea.

[Macnamara]

4 hours ago, Ethel said:

 

This sounds like a great idea. Some of the journalism they turned out in the week after the queen died was laughable. Ickonic is a better alternative. Even better are books. But yeah, walking away from the daily mail sounds like an excellent idea.

 

it's total trash but i like to scan some sort of newspaper to keep me in touch with normie world and as a quick reference to see if anything big has happened in the world (even if they won't give you the real inside scoop!)