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Internet Addiction

In your view, is the Internet addictive? Why or why not?
In my opinion, Internet is not addictive as it can be considered as an environment and people cannot be addicted to the environment. I believe that Internet itself is not addictive at all. It is a virtual space that allows its users to do different things with it. The problems that we might see nowadays which accused by the public as Internet addiction, are actually lying with the Internet user's priorities. Internet users use Internet for numerous purposes, some for the business purposes and some for the personal life purposes. They are actually using the Internet to deal with their real life matters. In fact they are making their lives even more successful and better such as broaden one’s business opportunity worldwide and also tighten one’s relationship with the others even though they are far away from each other.
Nevertheless, what that makes the Internet users addicted is actually the content within the ‘environment’. As compared to our real life environment, there are a lot of things that can lead to addiction like drugs, gambling, work and sex. Internet also offers chances for one to contact with these activities. Therefore, it is all rely on the users to whether or not get involve with it, and become addicted to it. A passion adds value to one's life, an addiction takes away value. In conclusion, internet is just an environment for all of us to pursue of passion. Addiction only happened when one’s passion causes him or her obsession, compulsion, or excessive physical dependence or psychological dependence to it. Therefore, Internet is not addictive.


Can one find companionship online? Why or why not?
One can find companionship online. As I have mentioned earlier, Internet is a new form of environment that human face nowadays. It is also new domain of social interactivity which offers a space for people around the world to contact with each other and also an opportunity to experience a form of social contact, with no real social presence. This is a good opportunity for one to broaden their social life, especially for those who always found socializing difficult. Whether or not one can find companionship online, it is all depend on his or her attitude and personality. There are different kinds of people in the world we live in, so do the world of Internet. Therefore, one can definitely find companion online if he or she is being sincere to the others.
In fact, Internet is actually giving a better chance for those who are diffidence to communicate with others. They will feel freer and stress free when they communicate with others via the Internet as can easily voice out and share their thoughts with others since there is no one recognizes them. Even though this is not a good way to improve their diffidence problem, however it is still a good start for them by giving them a chance to open their heart for others to understand each other. This is a very good circumstance as they can get to know a lot of friends who are willing to share each ups and downs, help and support each other whenever they need it. As a result, they can build up their confidence once they get to mix in and get along with others day by day.
In conclusion, if one is a sincere soul who seek for companionship, whether he or she is in the real life or on the Internet, there will always be friends and family who accept you as who you are, there for accompany.


Do you agree with the author when she states, “If you can’t face the world, you’ll always find somewhere to hide”? Why or why not?
Yes, I agree with the author’s statement that if one cannot face the world, he or she will always find somewhere to hide. People always tend to have a lot of excuses whenever they face any difficulty. This is because they cannot handle the stress that the problem brings. They feel stress about the failure that they might need to face if they fail to solve the problem and therefore, they do not have the courage to face the challenge. They will then ignore the problems that they are facing, and get themselves involve to other activities that can make them feel happy, which they think that can ease their mind and pain. Many examples of this situation happened in our life such as drug abuser, pathological gambler, workaholic, alcoholic and etc. Most of them get themselves involve with these activities during their tough time whether it is family problem, financial problem or personal problem.
All of these activities offer them a temporary ‘shelter’ to hide from their problem, which is the reality of the world. It is exactly the same situation as the author statement, where they will always find somewhere to hide. Even without the existence of Internet, one can still get to find other excuses to get themselves away from facing the reality. This is one’s recreancy that makes them to choose to get into the addiction, the addiction of excuses and the addiction of escape from reality.


Is it safe to infer that the author believes that couples living together do not communicate enough? Why or why not?
No. This is because the author only point out her opinion, point of view and assumption. The author does not state out that this is a fact but it is only her own belief instead. The author does not have any strong evidence that all couples that living together do not communicate enough. There is no certainty by far that every couple that lives together is having lesser communication compare with those who are not living together. Some might think that word can be easier to utter when it is not face to face. However, communication is not all about utterances and writings. When couples live together, everything that they observe from each other is a communication. A smile, a gesture, a body language or even the way of how they utter their words is also considered as communicating as the term ‘communication’ is defined as the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior.
Other than that, whether or not the communication is enough for the couple is always depend on their personality and their attitude toward their relationship as well. If both of them are not willing to spend more effort and time to understand each other, of course their communication will not be enough. This is not the matter of living together, nor the use of Internet to communicate is more efficient. This is one’s responsibility and attitude toward a relationship. If one is concern and care about the relationship, everything is possible to be perfect. Therefore, the use of Internet is just a method to tighten couple’s relationship, but it can never be the reason or excuse for couples to become closer.



by Ashley Ng
ps: please take note that some of my writings are based on references.