Freedom from Addiction

My experience today in Communications 101 was a sobering experience. Usually, this class is relatively lighthearted, involving listening to debating presentations, learning vocabulary, and getting glimpses of the media. Today, however, was different--we spend most of class watching a video about how the internet affects our world today.

In this video, they took us for a brief look into South Korea, where the internet is a particularly popular form of media. They talked about the Internet cafes lining the streets of Seoul, and how young people there spend hours on end--sometimes all night--playing video games there. These kids spend 7 to 10 hours a day just playing video games. They just sit there and play without eating, drinking, or sleeping. Some kids have even died sitting in these internet cafes!

These kids are examples of people with an internet addiction. They live and breathe internet and video games. They literally couldn't live without them.

I'm so thankful that in the course of my life I've learned how to avoid potential addictions. I've been taught to just not even touch something that could easily lead there--drugs, alcohol, a knowingly addictive computer game. Because once you get into one, your life stops. Just slows to a complete halt as far as personal progress is concerned.

I'm unchained. And happy.