Internet addiction / 2+2 addiction

[MicroBob]

2+2 is an awesome place. Lots of really smart people here.
Lots of great strategy discussions to help improve one's game.
Want to learn the best places to bonus-chase or which books are most worthwhile? Lots of discussion on that too.

And the sense of community is really nice too. Lots of good people and I consider quite a few of the 2+2 posters to be 'friends' even though I haven't met them in person.


But obviously it's extremely easy to get oneself 'lost' in all the drama all the around here.
ZeeJustin cheated. PartyPoker's software is eating people's computers. William wants to boycot Party. Kurosh is a tilter. Any drama in OOT or NVG or WPT or the Zoo. etc etc etc.


I know I'm not the only one who wastes WAY too much time on 2+2...but I do submit that I am certainly one of the top poster-boys for wasting too much time around here (just check the volume of my posts) in discussions that are really not THAT important.


I also submit that my annual income would probably be double if I spent significantly less time here and used that time at the tables instead.
Perhaps even more than that since I may actually improve asw a player as well.

I know this...and have known this.


The internet can be an addiction. And, unfortunately, my current addiction is not a profitable one.
At least if I was addicted to playing (as is a problem for some people) I would at least be making money.
But here, I'm costing myself money and I know this.


I just think that my whole little 2+2-addiction is interesting.
And I'm interested in others' opinions on their own 2+2 time-wasting as I continue to struggle with getting a handle on my own.

[jzpiano]

I have the same problem except I'm suring 2+2 while I usually have 4 tables open....i think that's probably -EV but i'm not sure [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

[MicroBob]

I have done that quite a bit as well.


Timing-out on a table (or coming close) because I'm mid-thread or mid-response is borderline retarded. And that actually DOES occasionally happen to me.


Almost makes me wonder if some sort of ADD medication might be worthwhile for me.
Although, just getting a freaking grip and closing 2+2 might be more effective.

[SNOWBALL]

I'm a stone cold 2+2 junkie also, but it doesn't interfere with my poker playing. Even when I'm wasting time in OOT, NVG, or the zoo, its because I'm on break between my 1k hand stretches. I usually don't play more than 1k hands at a time.

Internet addiction is more pervasive than just 2+2. A lot of people spend countless hours on myspace, WoW, porn sites, AIM, etc. This is part of a general trend of atomization in modern capitalist societies I think.

[rocketlaunch]

I waste so much time on this site. Yeah I have a double-digit post count, but I probably spend as much time here as many of the highest-volume posters. It's like a reality/drama TV substitute.

If it weren't for this site, I'd probably have written a book by now, be playing twice the limits, have my own business, and be doing volunteer work.

But all those learning-disabled illiterate kiddies I would have helped will be failing third grade once again this year because I just have to read every post in the ZJ cheating thread, or laugh at another oral sex thread in OOT, or whatever.

[MicroBob]

Yes, internet-addiction is certainly outside the 2+2 realm.
I've seen little bits about this on TV actually.

It just so happens that my internet-addiction is based solely around 2+2 pretty much.


And for the past 12+ months I've been frequently telling myself to 'stop wasting so much time on 2+2 and get to work'.
My addicition is significantly cutting into my productivity and that's all there is to it.

And I feel like a total moron that I'm actually making significantly less money than I should be just because I'm wasting so much time on this addiction where the solution really should be as simple as, "just stop doing that so much."

[badge]

I work full time currently(since i am on my University Holidays), i would love to see how many hours ive clocked up surfing 2+2. I spend all day in front of a computer, so Im getting paid to read all day. No guilt about it either since im underpaid. Going back to school next week, so will have a lot more spare time on my hands for actual poker. So maybe my addiction is over....who knows?

[Lestat]

You're right. Part of the problem being an online pro is that it sometimes really is in your interest to keep up to speed on the current events in your "industry". And no better place to ge that info than 2+2. Almost like an architect might read architectural journals, etc.

I have the same problem and what I've done is put some forums completely off limits. I won't even click on OOT for example. It might be fun, but nothing productive (for me), over there. My current weakness is SMP, but I actually do learn some things over there in addition to entertainment, so it isn't a total waste. But your post has inspired me to set new rules.

A daily briefing in the zoo to keep up to date on topics that might concern me.

3 times a week scanning the high limit strategy board.

And once a week I'll allow myself to peek in on SMP.

I don't even know what I'm doing over here in psychology lately! Good luck to you!

[CrayZee]

It seems to me that the drama is higher in the poker world at the moment. I know that I have definitely spent more time on non-strategy related thread reading lately. Since I don't have cable, I don't watch that much TV.

Hmm... self disipline hasn't worked for you. Would it be good to set a time limit on here? I'm sure you can figure something out.

[MicroBob]

Yeah...I've tried all sorts of different ideas. And I just let it all slip away.

I mean, it's kind of obvious that I am frequently spending my day posting and arguing and advising as frantically as I can like amphetimine-pumped chimpanzee.

I do think my 'addiction' here is a bit more significant than most.
And it's really freaking dumb.


My new rule is going to be 'play from 12-4p' before I allow myself to check 2+2. If I get up early enough I can check it out...if I play my 4 hours then I can check later in the day.
Something like that.

This might be about the zillionth time I have made this kind of vow.


I don't get paid to surf or post on here.
But I behave as if my life practically depended on me chiming in and defending my thoughts about ZeeJustin or whatever else.

The fact is, it doesn't.