Too much time on Mumsnet and 'The Internet'.

[MrGoat]

My partner goes online at 7am and stays there till late in the evening talking to Mumsnet 'friends'. Is Mumsnet, Facebook (and other social networking sites) becoming guilty of 'reality theft'? But then again maybe I'm ignoring him.

I'm a full time carer and spend most of my life at home. I wouldn't be at home so much bored otherwise. MN/internet is a major part of my education, socialising, just now in life :)

I'm logged in most of the day.

MN is something that you can do in the 2 mins between other jobs.

and the 20 mins for lunch, and the hour while the baby sleeps, and while DH is playing PS3, and

I liked it better when we watched telly and had a cuddle but he doesn't want to watch the same as me so...

me too, its an addiction, the internet - im not sure i actually enjoy it anymore

I agree with desperatenotstupid.

Yes, an addiction for me too, it's a relief to be away sometimes and to actually get up and walk around every now and again.

MN is a great buffer against loneliness though

I'm terrible since I got a smartphone - it's just too easy to be here. I dip in and out all day. Good thing mostly - overall I benefit I think. I work PT so am forced to do reality anyway, in a way that's otherwise hard when life revolves around the Octonauts and Duplo

Yep, i find myself glued to the computer for a long time. And feel its sort of eating chunks of my life! Actually im logging off right now!

I found MN a lifeline during pregnancy and in DD's 1st year but now I find myself browsing and commenting on threads that have little personal relevance to me. I can be in and out of MN all day, especially since I got an iPad. I get very annoyed with myself as it is a time suck and "reality theft" (as you put it). I'm weaning myself off and have found that I do much more now - read more books, read more of the newspaper, go out more chatting with other real life people, knit/sew/write, work more! I still like it but am trying to using it less and less now.

Tell us more about MrsG.

I'm thinking about giving it up for lent. Might be easier said than done.

My ex partner thought I was spending too much time on MN. Everyone on MN thought I should leave him (as did Women's aid).

I do spend too much time online though. I am bored and lonely (a full time carer) and although I used to find it eased my loneliness I'm not sure it does anymore. It just steals my time I think. Hmm. This thread has made me think about my own internet usage so thanks op.

you are asking the wrong people really?

Just like Bsssh, I MNed like crazy on mat leave and loved it, but am not back at work FT and I really need to wean off. I want to do more with my precious evenings than TV and Internet browsing.

I would be so happy if the Internet broke and if we could count the last twenty years as a blip and people would finally see sense. Dreams yes we can dream.

If I'm honest about it then yes it definitely is!

But it's also excellent - I find I have some real interesting and enlightening discussions. If only I could weed out all the crap, and only ever come on for the really engaging ones then it would actually be useful!

It does seem really all encompassing though in a way that TV etc never really is.

Means I don't have to talk to the other half.

MN is not social networking. It's a forum/message board.

I agree. I am spending way too much time on the internet and Mumsnet in particular. For me, Mumsnet has become a buffer to real life and to proper interactions with people. I think you can even end up living your life vicariously via Mumsnet and I do not think this is healthy.

Having said that, I enjoy it and I get a lot from it but if it was not there, I believe this would give me a kick up the arse to do other more enriching stuff.

I don't think it's healthy for me. it encourages me to sit still for far too long, which makes my muscles seize up and then I convince myself I'm too achey to do anything useful so sit still for much a bit longer.

I have found really useful tips and insights, and seen things from different viewpoints in a way I probably could never have had I not come across MN.

But I also find I just don't get around to doing a lot of things that potentially could improve my life and felationships, and if I'm honest I'm disappointed in myself for being so weak.

And I don't get enough sleep as I invariably get interested in something just when I should be turning in, so I'm tired all day.

Felationships? Relationships, obv.

I definitely spend too much too much time on the net and especially on mn. Recently someone asked me what my hobbies were and I couldn't really think of any. I listed some I had as a teen and realised u was so much more interesting back then (pre Internet!). Yesterday I showed my sister something on a forum and asked what 'bump' means as she doesn't use forums or anything similar - it made realise that I could do the same! I could break free!

Giving it up for lent is a great idea asiatic

I have an medical problem so it depends how im feeling is how long in on the internet if im having a really awful day i can be on for most of it , It keeps me sane(ish)

it can lead to depression doncha know. Too much unreal interaction not engaging in the real world blah blah blah so they say....
Personally dont find that with this as I just use it for amusement its NOT REAL