Let me get this straight....

The Chinese government goes out of its way to try and ensure strict compliance with regards to the kind of media its' citizens have access to by blocking certain websites and even getting the global wankers on their side (google et al) to ensure this compliance so their citizens do not gain too much awareness.

Then you get disaffected Chinese blogging about the government and finding ways around this firewall.

Now, they are rapidly learning things which are going on, thanks to the internet, which so far has proved to be an interesting way to spread information (for the good guys) and disinformation (for the bad guys).

Now their government wants to classify people who spend too much time online as mentally ill. Will they get put in asylums? Or sent to 're-education' camps? How will they diagnose? Monitor all internet account holders and anyone who spends more than 2 hours a day online for a period of more than 4 days will be considered ill?

Wonder if good mate Kevin, who was a Chinese ambassador, who speaks Chinese, who wants to be on the UN, who wants to censor our internet (Chinese style), will get his health ministers or medicos on the payroll to agree with this classification and have this as a Western 'free world' classification as well? What then? Court ordered treatment for these sick people where they cannot access the internet, doing so would put them in breach of a court order and have them dragged off to hospital?

I mean, anyone in the pursuit of knowledge MUST be sick. Let's start locking up school kids, university students (oh wait, the last two are receiving indoctrination, they will be ok, they will only preach what has been preached to them) and professors, and leave the uninterested masses to roam the streets, reporting on any nerds who seem to know too much, for the good of the mental health of society.

What do you guys think about this?


Quote:

China may view web addiction as disorder 20:14 AEST Mon Nov 10 2008 China could become the first country to classify internet addiction as a clinical disorder amid growing concern over compulsive web use by millions of Chinese, state media says. The health ministry is likely to adopt a new manual on internet addiction next year drawn up by Chinese psychologists that recognises it as a condition similar to compulsive gambling or alcohol addiction, the China Daily reported. It cited psychologists involved in drafting the diagnostic manual. China has the world's largest online population at 253 million people, according to official figures, and the number is growing rapidly as computer use rises along with income levels. But that has also fed growing concerns over compulsive internet use. A top Chinese legislator said in August that about 10 per cent of China's web users under the age of 18, or four million people, were addicted to the internet, mainly to "unhealthy" online games, state media said at the time. Recent research by internet media company InterActiveCorp showed that 42 per cent of Chinese youngsters polled felt "addicted" to the web, compared to 18 per cent in the United States. China's government has tried various measures to regulate the booming online gaming market and curb web use by teens. In 2006, it ordered all Chinese internet game manufacturers to install technology in their games that demands players reveal their real name and identification number.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=663318&rss=yes

it's just another way for them to have control.

although I think internet addiction is real- since when has china cared about its people

This is the affluenza of the little princes. Japan had similar problems, with children who spent so much time playing video games that they couldn't interact socially.

I would definately be classed an internet addict, I have anxiety, but people who know me well would call me a social butterfly. I have even had people ask me if I would like to be a rockstar because 'you have the personality for it' or to go on Big Brother.

yep - puts hand up for net addiction.

So far, probably for about a decade.

I am a 'functioning' addict. I try to make sure it doesn't interfere with other parts of my life. Like exercise, work, socialising, TV etc.