(no subject)

[chess]

Ick. Now I'm really miserable.

My mum just yelled at me for using the computer too much. Well, she didn't really yell, she just had those wide angry eyes and that hurt tone of voice, and I feel really bad 'cos she's had a rubbish day and a rubbish week and a rubbish month and now I'm making her day worse. She's also right; it isn't good for me, and my general health is rubbish anyway. Problem is, there isn't really anything else to do - read, watch TV, write stuff on paper, similar stuff is available and so much better on the computer.

I've been looking around for evening-class type things to do and stuff like that which will get me out of the house and away from the computer, but I can't start any of them right away. The thing is, what I really need to do next with my life is to work out whether I really can't code or if I just haven't applied enough brainpower to it; which requires *more* computer time not less! And I don't want to have less time to talk to all the ppl online, 'cos I don't have many good, close IRL friends.

So I don't know what to do; I desperately don't want to upset my mum, I don't want to ruin my health so I can't use computers later in life, but I don't want to give up all the friends I've made online or make the friendships shallower by not having the time to spend on them... and I must stop writing this before I cry. (I must write another cheerful entry in here when I feel better, there's far too much doom and gloom in these livejournals.)

Comments

Okay, let's try this logically

[(Anonymous)]

I'm going to take this slowly because my brain seems to have died.
Right: if you need to spend time off the computer then you need something to do that doesn't involve the computer.
Therefore you need some activity which you enjoy which doesn't involve using the computer (or merely a suffiencent number of things which must be done which don't involve using the computer). Assuming the second one doesn't apply you ned to develop a hobby which is best carried out away from the computer. Reading is possible, if not best helpful. I would suggest Warhammer, and M:TG as things that can be done. Solving intresting looking Maths is also best done on paper and can be good fun.
What else ... you could get a saturday job I suppose but I doubt that would be much fun. Code can be planned on paper, after all much of the work of coding is not in the typing, so that could be done on that arrangement althogh it's not ideal. Try finding some role playing and becoming a Dm, that will absorb all the time you give it and I certainly work on paper rather than on a computer for role playing.
Hmmm, what else? Walking and thinking is always good.
Learn how to cook, that would impress your mother, allwo you to produce the food you wanted to eat and would be very, very useful in later life. In fact I think that's my best suggestion so far mainly on the grounds that it really would please your mother greatly (I assume, at least my Mum's really happy when Fiona or I do any cooking). You could always shock her by washing up at random intervals ... but don't do it too often or she'll come to expect it.

Hmmm, not sure that helps but it's the best I can think of atm,
Neil

[jarel.livejournal.com]

I think parents just feel they have to stress about this sort of thing. I can remember my Mam taking me aside for a lecture on video game addiction (the general belief at the time was that it was one step away from beating up grannies for money to spend in the arcade) back when I was playing Crystal Castles ;)

That said, having a couple of alternative interests doesn't hurt ... you might've noticed I spend rather too long online, but sometimes I find I just need a break from it all or I get fed up and ratty at everyone ;)

Neil made some good suggestions, but I'd just throw in a couple more that have worked for me - karate and music. For different reasons. Karate's good for your health (and confidence) but unlike most other sorts of exercise I've tried it stays interesting. Music's satisfying, and can be great stress relief if you've got something on your mind.

[pling.livejournal.com]

Have you tried talking to your mum about why you use the computer? All the stuff you've just said here I mean. Your reasons aren't just typical teenager 'I can't be arsed' type stuff, they're pretty valid. Maybe between you, you can think of some compromise. And at the very least it lets her know why.