The addiction of the modern era Part 1 and 2

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Man and machine (Part 1)

The addiction [1] of the modern era

If you cannot live without the Internet and spend hours and hours in front of the computer and sometimes even forget to eat, then you had better[21] take care. You could be a “cyberaddict”[3]

   When we hear the word “addiction,” we soon think about cigarettes, alcohol or gambling [4]. These are addictions that humanity has been living with for centuries. In the XXI Century a new compulsion has arisen: “web-dependence”. The Internet is used at work, in communications between people, in surveys, entertainment, information and so on and so forth [5]. However, there are many people who spend much more time surfing the Internet than they spend with their relatives [6] or friends. According to an article published by the American Journal of Psychiatry, the virtual dependent spends hours in a row [7] on the Internet. They spend way too long [8] visiting sites, playing games, chatting in chat rooms and they check their e-mails compulsively and are always download something. Often, they even forget to eat and sleep properly [9].

Virtual dependency affects children in Korea

In recent years cases of Internet compulsion have been on the rise [10] in many countries, includingBrazil. In the USA, the number of Internet addicts could reach 10% of all Internet users, according to estimates made by American studies. In the US there are about 190 million Internet users. In South Korea the government estimates there are over 200,000 children who are addicted to the Internet. Authorities in Korea consider virtual addiction to be a public health problem in the country. Many of these children have had to have [11] treatment using psychotropic drugs. 

Vocabulary

1 addiction – vício / dependência

2 then you had better – então é melhor você…3 cyberaddict – viciado em internet 4 gambling – jogo5 and so on and so forth – exp. idiom = e assim por diante (etc e tal)

6 relatives - parentes

7 in a row – em seguida

8 to spend way too long – gastar muito tempo

9 properly – adequadamente10 on the rise – crescendo / crescimento / em alta

11 have had to have – tiveram que ter (ou se submeter)

The consequences of virtual addiction (Part 2)

Dependency on the Internet can affect our emotional, personal and professional lives. Many specialists say this kind of addiction should be treated as if it were a psychological illness [1]

   The American Journal of Psychiatry says excessive use of the Internet can be thought of [2] as[3] a mental disturbance that should be treated like a psychological illness. In many cases virtual addiction can interfere with a person’s private, emotional and professional life. It may also even cause physical harm [4]. An article on the site brasilescola says there are cases of cyberaddicts having died because they have spent too long in front of the computer. There are certain diseases caused by spending too long in the same position. Deep Vein Thrombosis [5] (which can develop [6] into a Pulmonary Embolism) is one such example.

The Internet offers a lot of temptations

In recent years the Internet has offered us many new options. The main attractions are MSN (instant messaging), Orkut (relationship site), YouTube (with hundreds of thousands of videos for you to watch) and MySpace, where surfers can listen to thousands of songs. And there are also millions of sites to visit and keep up to date [7] on a range [8] of subjects. The Internet can help you solve[9] a lot of problems, but if you get carried [10] away, the Internet stops being a solution and turns into a problem.

Vocabulary

1 illness – doença

2 can be thought of  – pode ser considerado 3 as – como

4 physical harm – dano físico

5 Deep Vein Thrombosis – Trombose Venal Profunda

6 which can develop into – que pode evoluir para

7 to keep up to date – manter-se atualizado8 on a range – nos mais diversos9 to solve – resolver

10 if you get carried away – exp. idiom - se você exagerar

Matéria publicada na edição de número 42 da Revista Maganews

Ilustração - Calberto