*** Copyright c 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1995 by Nicholas
Johnson.  Conditions:  This material is copyright by Nicholas Johnson. 
However, permission is hereby granted by him to download, copy and
distribute the text to others if (1) the text is not altered, and (2) there is no
charge to the recipient, and (3) this copyright notice and conditions are
attached.  It is a copyright violation to distribute this material altered, or
without the copyright notice and conditions attached, or to use the
material in any way for which remuneration is received without the prior
permission of Nicholas Johnson.  Contact:   1035393@mcimail.com; Box
1876 Iowa City IA 52244; 319-337-5555.  Anyone using this material
should also be aware that, as a syndicated column, copyright may also
have been retained by the syndication services.  During the 1982-86
period of publication syndicators included:  The Iowa City Press-Citizen,
Gannett Corporation, Register and Tribune Syndicate, Cowles Syndicate,
and the King Features Syndicate. ***

Are You an Electronics Junkie?

     Are you hooked on electronics? Addicted, I mean. You just may be.
     Psychologists tell us patterns of addictive behavior are similar.
Whether alcohol or jogging, TV or eating, cigarettes or work, our
behavior can resemble a junkie's.
     Compulsive dependencies may be chemical. They may be
psychological. Jogging may be both.
     The "jogger's high" may come from a narcotic substance created by
exertion. Whatever it is, many joggers confess they're hooked.
     The sign of addiction? Increasing dosages, indiscriminate selection,
impaired memory, single-mindedness, unwillingness to confront it,
financial impact, interference with work and family.
     Think about it. Ever seen an alcoholic drink mouthwash? Watch a
jogger at 20 below zero? Heard a smoker say he or she can quit anytime?
     Are electronics addictions worse?
     A university computer center sign says, "This room is cleaned at
4:00 a.m. Please cooperate." Computer freaks don't know day from night.
     Video game players can go dozens of hours (and dollars) without
need for reality.
     Marie Winn's book, The Plug-In Drug, details the narcotic quality
of television. Consider the detachment from reality. The increase in
viewing time. The lack of discrimination choosing programs.
     Ever caught yourself watching a TV sign-off? A kid was found in a
closet, watching a TV set that wasn't plugged in.
     Viewers fall asleep with TV. Next morning they can't remember
what they watched. The lack of sleep interferes with work.
     TV's schedule becomes our own. All else must conform. TV comes
before visits with family or friends.
     It's administered like a drug -- to children at home or preschool, or
the elderly in institutions. It works like other tranquilizers in easing
pressures on supervisors.
     Finally, TV addiction is very hard to break.
     Withdrawal may cause physical symptoms of dizziness and nausea.
     I'm not immune to electronic addiction. Each in turn -- shortwave
radio listening, TV watching, computer conferencing, videotaping,
computer programming, amateur radio -- have sometimes taken me,
unconsciously, through the night to a sunrise.
     I'm addicted to jogging, too. And an occasional food binge. But I've
never started jogging in the early evening, and then looked at my watch to
discover I'm still running at 4 a.m. That does happen with electronics.
     Electronics addicts want bigger dosages -- more powerful
computers. Radio amateurs seek highs -- higher antennas and higher
power. They make financial sacrifices to feed their habit -- skipping meals
in its pursuit. What is an amateur radio "field day" if not a "lost
weekend"?
     What the answer? Perhaps we need an Electronics Anonymous. We
need fellow sufferers to talk to. Families need counseling, too, on
confronting the addict. No telling what would happen to a teleholic whose
TV was taken away, cold turkey.
     We need rules for withdrawal and addiction trading. Perhaps TV
watchers can go to the movies (a controlled environment) but can't play
video games or walk through TV displays in department stores. They can
escape into books, but not TV Guide. Radios can be substituted, but not
those that receive audio from TV programs.
     Maybe electronic addicts can operate electric appliances, but no
vacuum cleaning for hours. They can use door buzzers, but not if they
know the house is empty. They should cover electric outlets to avoid
temptation. Electronics stores could be closed on Sundays.
     Electronics addiction. Just one of the human hazards of the
communications revolution.
                                                  [ICPC July 19, 1982]
END OF FILE