Is Thai Visa Addictive?

[Beetlejuice]

I was never involved with forums in the past, mostly because of not having the time, until I went into permanent retirement a few years ago.

But now It`s like I feel compelled to see what’s going on. I’m not a Thai television enthusiast or into book reading, and my reason for using and participating in Thai visa is that it`s something I can relate to, with others that speak my own language, within the ex-pat circles and to keep myself conversant with what’s happening while here at the bottom of world, plus of course it`s all for free.

But although I do try to keep my Thai visa viewings and participation in moderation, I am concerned of becoming addicted to virtual reality, which really is what these forums are, a sort of intermediary between the real world and what we may conceive as being the real world, all contained within the safety of a box in the convenience of our own homes.

My point is, especially as we grow older and the social outlets of interaction seem to become more limited to us, is virtual reality where we are all contained in our own little worlds, good for the mind, soul and body? Somehow I don`t think so, but this now seems to be a sign of the times.

I realise there maybe those who will say, just switch it off and follow other pursuits or simply; get a life, but I doubt whether it is as simple as that, for numberous reasons.

Do other people experience this? And believe it is either acceptable or unhealthy?

[raro]

Naa, nothing to worry. All my real live friends are either mod or admin on this board and can certainly testify that I'm totally sane.

sent from my Android phone

[Chittychangchang]

If your the only farang in the village then TV forum is a great lifeline to other like minded expats.

The info on here is invaluable.

Even if you fancy beer and a laugh/crack come on here in general topics- it's full of comedians.

As for it being addictive only an OCD person could answer that, could answer that, could nswer tat ;-)

[brit1984]

Addictive?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

Unhealthy?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

[Beetlejuice]

Naa, nothing to worry. All my real live friends are either mod or admin on this board and can certainly testify that I'm totally sane.

sent from my Android phone

How can you find the time to socialise with the mods, when they`re on Thai Visa for most of the time, watching us being on Thai visa for most of the time?

So I guess that makes you all as sane as the rest of the Thai visa members. Some of the Admin and Mods may take that as a compliment or an insult. Not sure which? (lol).

[Beetlejuice]

Addictive?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

Unhealthy?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

I think all cucumbers addicts should receive the death penalty.

[Phil Conners]

Nah, we're not here all the time, just looks like it.

Sure, we're all sane. Really.

[Johnniey]

Addictive?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

Unhealthy?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

I strongly disagree. I'm sure many use this forum and indeed the internet to 'escape' from reality.

I have an addictive personality so take a break for a few weeks. I bet some here couldn't stay away for 1 day without feeling uneasy.

I'd compare it to being addicted to something like eating or gambling.

[brit1984]

Addictive?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

Unhealthy?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

I think all cucumbers addicts should receive the death penalty.

...as a punishment? or a reward?

[brit1984]

Addictive?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

Unhealthy?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

I strongly disagree. I'm sure many use this forum and indeed the internet to 'escape' from reality.

I have an addictive personality so take a break for a few weeks. I bet some here couldn't stay away for 1 day without feeling uneasy.

I'd compare it to being addicted to something like eating or gambling.

Are you saying the Thai Visa forum is more addictive than heroin?

I could easily go a day without posting...

[brit1984]

I tried but couldn't resist

[ThailandMysteries]

Forum addiction is a growing problem.

It's not yet recognized or acknowledged in the same way as Facebook addiction, but it's obvious to me that forum addiction and Facebook addiction fall under the same umbrella.

Particularly insidious on this forum is the "like" button feature. It seems to have become something of a snare for the insecure, the inadequate and the marginalized. Hence it is that here on Thaivisa we see adult men "gloating" about their number of "likes".

I've not encountered this feature on other forums.

I posted a set of links to a very obviously addicted member of this forum a few days ago. The general advice is simple: take a break; take a holiday; give it a rest.

Your question is interesting:

My point is, especially as we grow older and the social outlets of interaction seem to become more limited to us, is virtual reality where we are all contained in our own little worlds, good for the mind, soul and body? Somehow I don`t think so, but this now seems to be a sign of the times.

An obsessive (or near obsessive) level of online interaction with anonymous strangers is not the solution. It's very easy to become isolated here in Thailand. The trick is to find find new hobbies, or to resurrect and rediscover old ones.

[Johnniey]

Addictive?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

Unhealthy?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

I strongly disagree. I'm sure many use this forum and indeed the internet to 'escape' from reality.

I have an addictive personality so take a break for a few weeks. I bet some here couldn't stay away for 1 day without feeling uneasy.

I'd compare it to being addicted to something like eating or gambling.

Are you saying the Thai Visa forum is more addictive than heroin?

I could easily go a day without posting...

I don't think you understand the nature of addiction.

In my opinion, smoking is harder to quit than heroin. Methadone, the drug commonly given by doctors to heroin addicts is much harder to quit, and in fact the worst of all.

Could you go 1 week without viewing? I bet you can't log out for 3 days

The above post is excellent.

[Jingthing]

No! It is not addictive!

[brit1984]

Addictive?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

Unhealthy?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

I strongly disagree. I'm sure many use this forum and indeed the internet to 'escape' from reality.

I have an addictive personality so take a break for a few weeks. I bet some here couldn't stay away for 1 day without feeling uneasy.

I'd compare it to being addicted to something like eating or gambling.

Are you saying the Thai Visa forum is more addictive than heroin?

I could easily go a day without posting...

Could you go 1 week without viewing? I bet you can't log out for 3 days

Are you trying to get rid of me?!... anyway, could be an interesting experiment.

I will give it a go and come back to this thread next week to report on the results

[Beetlejuice]

Forum addiction is a growing problem.

It's not yet recognized or acknowledged in the same way as Facebook addiction, but it's obvious to me that forum addiction and Facebook addiction fall under the same umbrella.

Particularly insidious on this forum is the "like" button feature. It seems to have become something of a snare for the insecure, the inadequate and the marginalized. Hence it is that here on Thaivisa we see adult men "gloating" about their number of "likes".

I've not encountered this feature on other forums.

I posted a set of links to a very obviously addicted member of this forum a few days ago. The general advice is simple: take a break; take a holiday; give it a rest.

Your question is interesting:

My point is, especially as we grow older and the social outlets of interaction seem to become more limited to us, is virtual reality where we are all contained in our own little worlds, good for the mind, soul and body? Somehow I don`t think so, but this now seems to be a sign of the times.

An obsessive (or near obsessive) level of online interaction with anonymous strangers is not the solution. It's very easy to become isolated here in Thailand. The trick is to find find new hobbies, or to resurrect and rediscover old ones.

I agree with some of your excellent and spot on comments, but not all of them.

Firstly, I dispute what you say that Thai visa members are insecure, are inadequate and the marginalized. That’s a whole lot of irrational statement and displays a general lack of understanding.

My opinion is, that for many Thailand ex-pats, Thai visa can be a main outlet where they can interact with their peers, it can take away some of the feeling of seclusion in a foreign land. I bet that most member participants actually live in Thailand, rather than abroad. And unlike in the real world, we all don`t have to be compatible or actually like each other in order to mingle in with the crowd, which is a good thing.

But I do agree that online socialising, if we can describe it as that, can be addictive and we shoiuld take a break rather than let it take over as a mainstream into our lifestyles, and this is what concerns me.

[Rsquared]

If your the only farang in the village then TV forum is a great lifeline to other like minded expats.

The info on here is invaluable.

Even if you fancy beer and a laugh/crack come on here in general topics- it's full of comedians.

As for it being addictive only an OCD person could answer that, could answer that, could nswer tat ;-)

I am in that boat, as I can go months without having a face to face conversation with another english speaker other than my wife.

[WebBangkok]

Well I like trolling every now and then.

[harrry]

Naa, nothing to worry. All my real live friends are either mod or admin on this board and can certainly testify that I'm totally sane.

sent from my Android phone

And you got a certificate from the men in the white coats when they let you all out.

[raro]

Naa, nothing to worry. All my real live friends are either mod or admin on this board and can certainly testify that I'm totally sane.

sent from my Android phone

And you got a certificate from the men in the white coats when they let you all out.

[raro]

[Beetlejuice]

That`s me, That`s me, exactly.

[marioc]

Addicted......naaa

I am getting forum updates through FB....very good and handy way to be informed about many topics.....

By the way....many thanks to everybody for all informations that you provide....

It was really a good thing to become part of Thaivisa.com

[tinfoilhat]

addictive? i cant really say.

I will however tell you it is way cheaper than my coke habit.

[Johnniey]

Rather funny really - asking on the forum if it's addictive.

Kinda like walking into a bar and asking everyone if they think alcohol is addictive.

[4evermaat]

there are those who use thaivisa only occassionally to ask questions about visa or get tipa on sourcing some not-so-obvious product or service.

but those who can spend hours everyday on the forum...especially on the news forum....how do you make the time for it?

"The second best time to plant a tree is today" sent from TV android app (Galaxy Cooper).

[Payboy]

I guess it's better than having a crack habit.

[geriatrickid]

When I read TVF, I sometimes wonder about the others and picture them naked. Would they like me, want to bear my children, bare their bountiful breasts, be bashful or be prone to boxing my ears when I stared longingly into their seductive eyes? Oh how I wonder if a gentle caress of the arm would create a cialis moment, or if we would walk through a sweet smelling meadow of wild flowers. I read, I yearn and hope.

And then the witch dismounts from her broomstick to start nagging me again, why after almost 4+ years together I have not bought a house, nor a vehicle for her and why am I so cheap, why I dress like "beggar"and why do I still maintain my own residence blah blah blah. And then I go bacjk to TVF looking for the answers to my dilemma, and perhaps to meet the one. To date I have ruled out several TVFers, but I hope to find the one, a wealthy kind hearted soul that hopefully has no one, not long to live and that will gladly leave her estate to me, and of course does not have false teeth. I don't think I could handle someone that took out the dentures and put them in a glass on the bed table.

[Payboy]

When I read TVF, I sometimes wonder about the others and picture them naked. Would they like me, want to bear my children, bare their bountiful breasts, be bashful or be prone to boxing my ears when I stared longingly into their seductive eyes? Oh how I wonder if a gentle caress of the arm would create a cialis moment, or if we would walk through a sweet smelling meadow of wild flowers. I read, I yearn and hope.

And then the witch dismounts from her broomstick to start nagging me again, why after almost 4+ years together I have not bought a house, nor a vehicle for her and why am I so cheap, why I dress like "beggar"and why do I still maintain my own residence blah blah blah. And then I go bacjk to TVF looking for the answers to my dilemma, and perhaps to meet the one. To date I have ruled out several TVFers, but I hope to find the one, a wealthy kind hearted soul that hopefully has no one, not long to live and that will gladly leave her estate to me, and of course does not have false teeth. I don't think I could handle someone that took out the dentures and put them in a glass on the bed table.

If you're looking for hi-so Chinese, they're all taken.

[BookMan]

Addictive?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

Unhealthy?... not compared to injecting heroin but maybe compared to eating cucumbers

I love cucumbers