The Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers: Yahoo Groups

Internet Affective Disorder

By Sherry Morris

I used to be addicted to email. I loved all of my Yahoo Groups. The Bee Gees, Perry Mason and General Hospital fan loops. Romance Writing loops. Homemaking loops. And personal emails from epals I met online, family and friends.

I checked my messages a gazillion times a day. I was always typing witty responses, and congratulations and perk up posts, I always tried to make everyone feel positive, because they are worth it. My family had to wait in line for the computer and for Mom.

Something weird came over me around September. I lost interest in the Internet. I'd only check my messages three times a day, and more often than not, I'd read and not reply. Even to personal messages that deserved replies. I'd get to them, in a day or few or week or a month or so. Then I'd have to come up with some sort of explanation/excuse as to why I so rudely delayed responding to my beloved pals.

In with my New Year's resolutions, I actually scheduled a day each week for each group. I figured I could reply and contribute and boost up everyone that needed it at least that often.

Guess what? That lasted one day. I really have lost interest in the Internet and I don't know why. I had so much fun when I was in the thick of the World Wide Web. Nothing happened to turn me away, no flames, no embarrassing faux pas on my part (that I'm aware of).

It is now a chore to go through my messages. I'd much rather spend time with my kids, hubby, dog, bird and DVR. But the thing is, I really do need to reconnect and network, because I'm an author and because I don't have any neighborhood pals. But I'm bizarrely not interested.

Has this ever happened to you?

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