Can you continue living your virtual life as if it was your real life?

For those like me who spend most of the time alone playing video games or chatting online. How long do you think you can last living that life? I have been living online for 11 years and been playing video games for 19 years ( i'm 24). If you would have ask me 2 years ago I would have said till I die. Now i'm kinda sick of it, but the addiction doesn't leave on one day.

To a lesser extend I'm not really addicted to video games, but the online life has to go. Sure Real life isn't always that great, but I miss the human touch, I keep thinking of having a real group of friends with who I can go do things like camping or bike riding. I'm tired of being alone. Maybe I'm just dreaming of a impossible dream since most people I meet has nothing in common with me.

No, I'm really sick of it right now. I had spent a lot of time (about 9 hours each day) on the internet going here, playing games, chatting on facebook and whatnot. I had an epiphany a week ago and am strictly cutting down on my internet time. For starters, I'm deleting facebook soon because people are really getting on my nerves and never really gave a s*** to begin with so why bother continuing to go there and post my thoughts and feelings to a bunch of narcissistic a-holes who act like I don't even exist? Besides that, I'm really cutting down on the time I spend on the internet now and am spending more time going outside, getting some fresh air, taking my dog for a walk around the block or at the park, going out with friends, etc. It's really helped improve my SA and I'm actually starting to develop a social life now so I feel confident that someday (maybe not too far from now) I'll be able to conquer, or at least have a tight hold on my SA's leash. I'm done being a slave to it.

^ Good to hear you're taking control of things, Malice.


I have to admit, I've been getting sick of the internet too. I'm definitely addicted. I probably spend up to 8 hours a day, if not more. I've been trying to cut my time, and I really should since school is coming up. For a bit (this was about a couple weeks ago), I actually cut my time to only 2 hours of internet a day, and I actually felt a bit happier. But of course, I got bored, ran out of stuff to keep me busy off the comp, and now I'm back on. Must. Try. Harder.

Phoenixx said:

^ Good to hear you're taking control of things, Malice.


I have to admit, I've been getting sick of the internet too. I'm definitely addicted. I probably spend up to 8 hours a day, if not more. I've been trying to cut my time, and I really should since school is coming up. For a bit (this was about a couple weeks ago), I actually cut my time to only 2 hours of internet a day, and I actually felt a bit happier. But of course, I got bored, ran out of stuff to keep me busy off the comp, and now I'm back on. Must. Try. Harder.

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same here, i been doing good for 5 days but today I'm just hook on this site, so far i have been online for 3 hours which is a lot better then 16 hours. I should get off now

MaliceInWickedland said:

No, I'm really sick of it right now. I had spent a lot of time (about 9 hours each day) on the internet going here, playing games, chatting on facebook and whatnot. I had an epiphany a week ago and am strictly cutting down on my internet time. For starters, I'm deleting facebook soon because people are really getting on my nerves and never really gave a s*** to begin with so why bother continuing to go there and post my thoughts and feelings to a bunch of narcissistic a-holes who act like I don't even exist? Besides that, I'm really cutting down on the time I spend on the internet now and am spending more time going outside, getting some fresh air, taking my dog for a walk around the block or at the park, going out with friends, etc. It's really helped improve my SA and I'm actually starting to develop a social life now so I feel confident that someday (maybe not too far from now) I'll be able to conquer, or at least have a tight hold on my SA's leash. I'm done being a slave to it.

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good for you, show the internet who is boss, I think I should delete my facebook and maybe even remove myself from this site

I spend many hours each day online, the vast majority of my time. I do get bored of it, but I more quickly get bored of anything offline. However, I'm not really an addict. Any day that I happen to have something else to do, I just do it, and being disconnected, even for a week or so at a time, doesn't bother me at all. To me, everything is boring, the internet just less so.

I'd be thrilled if it were possible to live a 'virtual life' instead.
-I can socialize here
-no one has to see my ugly face
-I'm known for my talents
-and I have fans
FANS! Holy crap... I never thought of it before-- maybe I should get more serious about my music, afterall?


...anyway... my real life is dull and filled with paranoia and anxiety. I'm terrified of everything and everyone and probably wouldn't be able to return to the stage even if I really really wanted to and had the opportunity.
That's just life.
/unfair.

da_illest101 said:

For those like me who spend most of the time alone playing video games or chatting online. How long do you think you can last living that life? I have been living online for 11 years and been playing video games for 19 years ( i'm 24). If you would have ask me 2 years ago I would have said till I die. Now i'm kinda sick of it, but the addiction doesn't leave on one day.

To a lesser extend I'm not really addicted to video games, but the online life has to go. Sure Real life isn't always that great, but I miss the human touch, I keep thinking of having a real group of friends with who I can go do things like camping or bike riding. I'm tired of being alone. Maybe I'm just dreaming of a impossible dream since most people I meet has nothing in common with me.

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If doing what you're doing now makes you happy, then I don't think that should change.

It's not an impossible dream, but when you have SA, getting out in the real world and talking to people isn't easy...at all. Therapy might not be helpful that much either, but what I suggest is that you go outside and walk, take a bike ride, or things of that nature.

For me, I can't really sit on the computer all day. I always get the urge to go outside and go walk around on the trail next to my house, or walk through neighborhoods. That kind of thing makes me feel really good.

And the thing about most people you meet having nothing in common with you...well, whether your social life is on or off of the internet, it's something that shouldn't really be taken for granted.

But if you really want to have friends outside of the internet, then you should really work as hard as you possibly can to achieve that. Forcing yourself to do something might not be healthy at all, but if you really need something like a REAL social life, then you should do just that.

Eh, all this talk about too much time on the internet, it's not an end, it's only a means to an end. It's convenient and efficient. As a means of entertainment, like I said, it's a means to an end, it holds the greatest variety. As a means of socializing, if you could get what you get outside of here, wouldn't you? I mean, we all do what we do because we must, and also my personal reason, if you restrict yourself to only those in your vicinity, then you're greatly limiting yourself on the great compatible personalities you will meet. For instance, I have friends in the UK, Denmark, India, Mexico, Netherlands....... even people from other states, would I have met them otherwise?

I think what you have to do is do what's right for you. If you don't like the internet, fine don't use it, but like I said, it's not an end, only a means.

I spent something like 90% of my time on the computer, either playing, chatting or just pressing F5 at some random page.
The thing is, I don't think I'm addicted because I don't give up things to be on the internet. I just don't usually have anything else to do, really. It's depressing, I know, I know ...
My closest friends all play videogames, so we just gather at teamspeak (voice chat program,for those who don't know), boot up a game and have a good time laughing while playing. But, as soon as we close the game, I'm all alone with my thoughts again.

As for the topic question, I'm getting a little tired of this. Heck, most of the days the sun doesn't even hit my face. I don't meet new people (lol,wut?)and I don't try out new stuff. Sometimes I wonder what good memories I will have from this.

I feel you. You summed it up better than I could have. The computer/television/what not does not keep me entertained anymore, it doesn't seem to generate any feelings out of me anymore, yet there is not much of my real life that attracts me... I think we have a lot of building to do. Must keep remembering that this life that we're looking for exists

I'd like to get off and do other things, but I just don't have anything to do or anywhere to go so I turn to the internet to entertain me.

Edited MEssage

I used to play RuneScape too, for almost five years. We all did, my brother, my friends and me. In fact, as I write this my brother is on it right now! But me, I knew that it was time to stop back in November. College projects were becoming more time consuming, and they couldn't be put second after a game. RuneScape was often a nice place to be at. I felt like a real somebody there. I had loads of friends, I mean 100+ and yeah, I could have counted them all as friends - I spoke to them all often. People respected me there. I never got addicted to it like my friends, so quitting was no trouble at all. I still use the clan chat though - it's like MSN to me, because my friends still play.

It's all changed there now anyway, I don't think I could recommend it as a game. Scamming, luring, begging, it's all back. Just recently I logged on to lend my brother some gold and (since I'm now F2P) a "girl" (yeah right) approached me, telling me she loved me so that she could get some money out of me. I gave her a little (500K - but more than I'd ever had myself at her level), and she wanted three times that much. It's ridiculous.

As for Facebook, I wish I didn't have to have it, but I use it to talk to one or two friends, and I use it for FarmVille, which I play because it's one of the few ways I can feel connected with my extended family. I put as little on there as possible because I'm really concerned about privacy, despite having privacy settings tuned to the maximum, and I haven't written a "status" of my own in at least two years.

to me, TV, video games now & then, smoking ad infinitum, and plain worn out feels like it has become an addiction, there's nothing else left. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm being followed & watched 24/24 because i'm on disability (or at least they try to make me believe this for some reason), perhaps i would would grow some trust to slowly get out of my cave step-by-step.

MaliceInWickedland said:

No, I'm really sick of it right now. I had spent a lot of time (about 9 hours each day) on the internet going here, playing games, chatting on facebook and whatnot. I had an epiphany a week ago and am strictly cutting down on my internet time. For starters, I'm deleting facebook soon because people are really getting on my nerves and never really gave a s*** to begin with so why bother continuing to go there and post my thoughts and feelings to a bunch of narcissistic a-holes who act like I don't even exist? Besides that, I'm really cutting down on the time I spend on the internet now and am spending more time going outside, getting some fresh air, taking my dog for a walk around the block or at the park, going out with friends, etc. It's really helped improve my SA and I'm actually starting to develop a social life now so I feel confident that someday (maybe not too far from now) I'll be able to conquer, or at least have a tight hold on my SA's leash. I'm done being a slave to it.

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You are certain they are narcissistic?
Enjoy the spoils of a richer offline social life but there is no need to limit yourself from online socializing. As Ridicule says below, a means. Online is here, some fantastic people you may not know otherwise are from this online means.

Now, limiting yourself to keeping in touch with online friends and quitting the, let's say online gaming for more real world, this is a good idea.

ridicule said:

Eh, all this talk about too much time on the internet, it's not an end, it's only a means to an end. It's convenient and efficient. As a means of entertainment, like I said, it's a means to an end, it holds the greatest variety. As a means of socializing, if you could get what you get outside of here, wouldn't you? I mean, we all do what we do because we must, and also my personal reason, if you restrict yourself to only those in your vicinity, then you're greatly limiting yourself on the great compatible personalities you will meet. For instance, I have friends in the UK, Denmark, India, Mexico, Netherlands....... even people from other states, would I have met them otherwise?

I think what you have to do is do what's right for you. If you don't like the internet, fine don't use it, but like I said, it's not an end, only a means.

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Not an end, agreed.

I didn't answer the poll because I have no virtual life or real life. I don't have any friends either way. I spend plenty of time gaming and online, but apart from posting on here once in a while, I don't interact with anyone in the virtual world.

Summoning said:

I don't give up things to be on the internet. I
just don't usually have anything else to do, really.

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Pretty much this for me. I got my share of real life when I go to university, but with my few freinds over there I barely share any interest different from those related to our career.

Also, I just got an internet connection at home since the end of last year, so I guess that still I have some time before I get tired of my virtual life (if I ever do).

ridicule said:

Eh, all this talk about too much time on the internet, it's not an end, it's only a means to an end. It's convenient and efficient. As a means of entertainment, like I said, it's a means to an end, it holds the greatest variety. As a means of socializing, if you could get what you get outside of here, wouldn't you? I mean, we all do what we do because we must, and also my personal reason, if you restrict yourself to only those in your vicinity, then you're greatly limiting yourself on the great compatible personalities you will meet. For instance, I have friends in the UK, Denmark, India, Mexico, Netherlands....... even people from other states, would I have met them otherwise?

I think what you have to do is do what's right for you. If you don't like the internet, fine don't use it, but like I said, it's not an end, only a means.

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While I do agree with it but I still think its also essential to have connections with the real world cos no matter how much you socialize in the internet you're still gonna need human touch.I mean no matter what you can't deny real life.So I think its better to keep things balanced.There's no harm in chatting to ppl online if you have atleast some ppl to chat in real life.