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Filed under: Internet, News

Downloaders Anonymous: We're addicted, it's official

internet addictAn article on NewScientistTech via Slashdot alerts us that many people these days are addicted to the Internet, and may be as clinically ill as alcoholics. Apparently Internet addicts try to hide their online activities and go online to get rid of a bad attitude (most likely trolling blogs), a habit that researchers say is dangerous and isn't healthy. First off, I thought most of us who are "addicted to the Internet" already knew we were, and I don't know if it is such a bad thing in many cases. Sure, there are times when it goes way too far, and mental help is required to fix the problem. Severe cases do exist where there is no end in sight. On the other hand, for all of us only mildly addicted, I think we are addicted because work requires it or because of our individual interests, and it can be a good thing. The lead author of the study, Elias Aboujaoude says "In a sense, they're using the Internet to self-medicate..." I don't consider this a bad thing, at least we are being medicated. It can be awfully helpful after a stressful work day to come home and surf, browse, read Download Squad and check on the latest news. I find writing code is therapeutic as well. I personally think that the reason we want to hide our Internet habits is because it is the very last place we can control a degree of privacy. With the whirlwind that is our busy life, it is comforting to know that you can have somewhere to go to drop everything and just be who you are, even it is on the inside of your head and stored behind a password. This article was an interesting read, so if you have some time to be Internet addicted today, check it out.

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The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

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