Forum Regulars... "Getting a Life"

[caughtinamosh]

OK, so it's highly ironic that this is an online forum thread, but here goes...

It's something that I've been thinking about quite a lot recently. I've been told to (brace yourself for those horrible words) "get a life" by one of my closest friends for frequenting an online forum. Apparently, being an active member of any forum just screams "no life." Personally, it's ludicrous, and I can take it in good stride. She and I are always ripping the piss. *BUT*, it got me thinking... how much online time is too much? Are we abusing forums to the point where we could be doing more physical, "real world" activities? Do we start to care too much about logging in and checking out new threads in comparison to "real," "important" issues? Could we spend our online time so much more productively? Are we just procrastinating? How much online time is too much? It's something that's been crossing my mind a lot recently, and made me realise just how much time I've spent on SS.org over the last while.

Please note - I'm not criticising *ANYONE* with this thread. This is an observation, and I want to hear your thoughts. GO!

 

[Konfyouzd]

i like being here...

hell my job makes me spend all day on a computer and half of that time i'm here. so i probably spend "too much time" here... but i don't really care.

 

[hufschmid]

I happen to have my computer on top of my workshop so for exemple today i'm gluying a fingerboard and i must wait for the glue to dry

I also only post in this forum because I really enjoy it and the members, I find this forum to be the best out there...

Living and working in the same appartement is an advantage

 

[synrgy]

Generally speaking, I only really post here during work hours, when I'm figuratively tethered to my desk to monitor incoming email/phone calls. If I'm not dealing with one of those, I gotta do SOMETHING while I sit here.

 

[wannabguitarist]

How much time does your friend spend on Facebook/Myspace/Twitter? I'd say that's just as bad.

And I probably do spend to much time here, but I'm usually doing something productive at the same time so I guess it's ok

 

[Stealthdjentstic]

Im usually posting from a laptop while playing guitar so

 

[RenegadeDave]

Ask yourself if you're happy with your life overall. Are you satisfied with your body? Are you satisfied with your guitar playing ability? If not, are you satisfied with the amount of practice you get? Are you satisfied with your love life?

If the answer to any of those is "no" , then I might suggest toning down a bit on the forum and kicking it up a notch in whatever category you're unhappy with.

I'm in Synrgy's boat, I'm at my desk all day anyway.

 

[Konfyouzd]

^ maybe i should get off this damn forum... hahahaha

 

[caughtinamosh]

Ask yourself if you're happy with your life overall. Are you satisfied with your body? Are you satisfied with your guitar playing ability? If not, are you satisfied with the amount of practice you get? Are you satisfied with your love life?

If the answer to any of those is "no" , then I might suggest toning down a bit on the forum and kicking it up a notch in whatever category you're unhappy with.

I'm in Synrgy's boat, I'm at my desk all day anyway.

RD, that's actually one of the major reasons behind my thought... I started to consider my life, and all that it involves... Am I totally happy with my life? No, I am not. In fact, there are quite a few areas that could use a lot of improvement, including those you mentioned...

See you later, folks.

 

[orb451]

Obligatory XKCD (and very apt for the discussion):

xkcd - A Webcomic - Addiction



I'm at work most of the time you see me posting here. Usually I'm doing stuff in the background (as others are) "multi-tasking". This place makes the day go by quicker and I like reading others' opinions and stories. Not to mention I'm a geek for guitar porn and this place has plenty. Now off work hours, that's when I'm playing/practicing, outside or generally doing other *real* stuff, in addition to playing xbox.

I think addiction or online-too-much is all relative. What you and I consider normal, others may consider extreme and vice versa. Ever here about the folks that play World of Warcraft? I've heard stories about guys on there for 20+ hours a day hording gold or raiding or doing whatever it is you do in that game. To me that's too much, but to them it's normal and hell, if they function in society with so much time spent online, all the power to them.

To each his own, or horses for courses as some UK'ers might've said.

orb............

 

[RenegadeDave]

RD, that's actually one of the major reasons behind my thought... I started to consider my life, and all that it involves... Am I totally happy with my life? No, I am not. In fact, there are quite a few areas that could use a lot of improvement, including those you mentioned...

See you later, folks.

Yeah man, do it to it. it's a lot cooler to post less and be happy with your situation than it is to post a lot bitching about your situation. You have the power to change nearly anything you don't like about yourself, all it takes is time and effort.

 

[MF_Kitten]

i too, think that this is a relative question. too much is when it has a direct impact on your well-being and social life. i spend "a lot" of time on here, yet my life is pretty much as good as i want it to be. the time i spend on the internet, or on forums, or on the computer, or whatever, is the same amount of time i'd spend doing some other equally un-important activity, so cutting down on it wouldn't make me more socially active or anything like that.

i don't think i'm addicted to the internet/forums, but when i'm messing around, and don't have anything special to do, i geek around.

fanatical WOW-gamers, however, show some pretty bad addiction. i've heard of many cases around here, and also from other parts of the world (probably all over the world, huh?), where people lost their jobs and spouses and all that, because they were spending all their damn time on WOW. silly.

 

[Covenant]

No.

 

[Konfyouzd]

No?

 

[JeffFromMtl]

I don't see any problem with using forums at all... I wasn't active at all on here during the first two year of my membership, as I just signed up in '07 to buy a guitar off of a member (and that ended up falling through anyway). But since March of this year, I'd say sure, I might be a regular, even though my post count isn't very high. Either way, this is a forum for people who love playing and talking about guitars and music, and for those purposes, it's perfect. I've had some questions about gear and electronics answered by people far more knowledgeable (and patient) than pretty much anyone I know in "real life". And while talking to people about guitars and music, I've had a chance to speak to a few interesting individuals about a few other things, which I think is great.

As far as getting a life goes, I feel like I've got a pretty good one already. I have plenty of friends, a girlfriend, a family and a band - I'm going back to school in the fall in a very exclusive program that I worked my balls off to get into, and my life is full of incredible people who I love. And even if I weren't fortunate enough to have these things, I'd blame work (being a night-shifter and all) before ever blaming a forum.

 

[DaveCarter]

Based on the intellect of the average person where I work, compared to the insight given on this forum, I know where Id rather spend my free ime

 

[TomAwesome]

Sometimes I have better things to do, and sometimes I don't. I think I'm okay since the things I'm doing in the real world determine how much time I spend here and not the other way around.

 

[renzoip]

My view on it is that you are only spending too much time in forums when it interferes with other more important activities in your daily life. Also, you should consider how you spend time in the forums. For intance, if you are getting useful information then you have a good reason to spend a lot of time in forums. On the other hand, if you spend your time on inside jokes or tolling around then you need to get a life.

 

[TomParenteau]

Most of the stuff I read on this is worthwhile, and not mind-rotting.

I'm at my job, too!

 

[vampiregenocide]

Could be worse, you could be on 4chan.