Other programmers, addicts or not, have also found financial success. It may, however, become a problem when the addict decides that his social life is more important than money, but that is ultimately up to the individual. All of these types of Internet addiction can be very damaging both socially and in the work environment. People have watched their entire lives crumble, while they are in the hypnotic trance of the web. But I don't.
Internet addiction is especially risky in the work environment.
Today's businesses rely heavily on the Internet to do business. Many require that their employees do work that relies on the Internet. Addicts who succumb to the Cyberworld begin to drift away from their tasks and end up on web sites that have nothing to do with their initial task. The office rejected the secretary's request on the grounds she didn't suffer from a legitimate disorder. Some addicts even frequent porn sites on the web, while at work.