Ebook Buying Addicts' Support Thread

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Arrgghhh. I was having a really bad week, and I just succumbed to Retail Therapy and bought the new Oasis. I know I don't need a new Kindle, but I _wanted it_. And no, I don't really have buyer's remorse, but I do feel like I let down the side a bit and succumbed to my (undoubted) addiction.

I regret to inform you that you are NOT an addict. Buying an Oasis does not meet one of the criteria. It is readily available without any restrictions on who can buy it.
Except maybe some geographic restrictions but those don't count. An oasis isn't illegal or restricted by age.

One also according to the criteria cannot be addicted to soft drinks, tea or coffee.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I regret to inform you that you are NOT an addict. Buying an Oasis does not meet one of the criteria.

Addiction does not require that the object of the addiction be illegal or hard to obtain.

But I will agree that "addict" not used in its medical sense in this thread.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Addiction does not require that the object of the addiction be illegal or hard to obtain.

But I will agree that "addict" not used in its medical sense in this thread.

According to the DSM-IV, yes that is one of the criteria.

That was in week 2 of the first class of ADAC or DAAC classes.Alcohol and Drug abuse counseling classes.
Those are taken in college to become a counselor.

But yes I agree that several things are addictions without fitting all the criteria.
I know I get a headache if I don't get my caffeine so coffee fits the physical but not psychological addiction.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Arrgghhh. I was having a really bad week, and I just succumbed to Retail Therapy and bought the new Oasis. I know I don't need a new Kindle, but I _wanted it_. And no, I don't really have buyer's remorse, but I do feel like I let down the side a bit and succumbed to my (undoubted) addiction.

Oh, Charlie!

Sometimes, getting what you want is what your spirit needs. I'm sure you'll enjoy it and I'll be looking forward to your reaction.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

According to the DSM-IV, yes that is one of the criteria.

I'm addicted to pedantry.

Appendix C DSM-IV Criteria for Substance Dependence

"A maladaptive pattern of substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12‐month period (emphasis ours):

1. Tolerance, as defined by either of the following:
   • A need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect
     or
   • Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance
2. Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:
   • The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance
     or
   • The same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms
3. The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended
4. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use
5. A great deal of time is spent on activities necessary to obtain the substance (e.g., visiting multiple doctors or driving long distances), use the substance (e.g., chain‐smoking), or recover from its effects
6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use
7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (e.g., current cocaine use despite recognition of cocaine‐induced depression, or continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption)

"

I don't see anything about the substance being illegal or hard to obtain.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by issybird

Oh, Charlie!

Sometimes, getting what you want is what your spirit needs. I'm sure you'll enjoy it and I'll be looking forward to your reaction.

Yes, probably. But still somewhat difficult to justify in real terms. But it's been one of those months. I'll let you know what I think, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm still on a PW1 for daily use, and I like it, but the Oasis appears to fix a couple of annoyances for me. Plus it's new and shiny.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'm addicted to pedantry.

Appendix C DSM-IV Criteria for Substance Dependence

"A maladaptive pattern of substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12‐month period (emphasis ours):

1. Tolerance, as defined by either of the following:
   • A need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect
     or
   • Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance
2. Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:
   • The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance
     or
   • The same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms
3. The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended
4. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use
5. A great deal of time is spent on activities necessary to obtain the substance (e.g., visiting multiple doctors or driving long distances), use the substance (e.g., chain‐smoking), or recover from its effects
6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use
7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (e.g., current cocaine use despite recognition of cocaine‐induced depression, or continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption)

"

I don't see anything about the substance being illegal or hard to obtain.

See #5.
Not necessarily illegal but restricted. Example by laws on cigarettes, alcohol and most prescription drugs.

[CRussel]

Note it says:

as manifested by three (or more) of the following

#5 is only one of the possible criteria. Not a required one.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Note it says:



#5 is only one of the possible criteria. Not a required one.

You would have that that was a required one the way the professor harped on it. He forgot to mention you only needed 3. He turned out to be a strange one anyway.

Ok so maybe you are an addict .

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I pretend I don't have a TBR pile of 5323 titles.

Still pretending I don't have 5647 TBR titles. None purchased in June.

[DrNefario]

A minor slip-up from me yesterday, when I purchased four of the six books on the new David Gemmell Morningstar Award shortlist. I've been sort of meaning to read everything that has ever been shortlisted, ever since I noticed I'd read most of the winners and already had a good proportion of the nominees, and I think that might have set off my collecting instinct.

Anyway, I'm still ahead on my TBR so it wasn't a big setback.

[pdurrant]

Yesterday I resisted buying lots of Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series on special offer because I decided that I didn't want another so-so fantasy series!

[pdurrant]

I've actually reduced my TBR by 20 so far this year.

Admittedly, that is mainly because I've discarded lots of (50!) old purchases that no longer interested me. That's £61.55 wasted... but better not to waste my time on them as well!

[issybird]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I've actually reduced my TBR by 20 so far this year.

Admittedly, that is mainly because I've discarded lots of (50!) old purchases that no longer interested me. That's £61.55 wasted... but better not to waste my time on them as well!

Indeed!

We're none of us going to run out of books any time soon and time is a precious commodity; using it up on unappealing books just adds to their cost. This one is harder than getting rid of freebies, though, and I admit I'm not nearly good enough at it. It's where the no-physical-clutter aspect kicks in for me.

It's ironic in a way; I've been cleaning out my closets and have been donating scads of barely worn and even entirely unworn clothing and shoes to the Salvation Army. But in addition to gaining physical space, I also have the incentive of getting the stuff out where it'll do some good. There's no such side benefit to getting rid of ebooks for which I paid good money. So there they sit. I need to profit by your example, since I'm a firm believer that electronic feng shui is good for the soul.

That kind of cleaning out is also a salutary lesson in where I've gone wrong. Generally speaking, the mistakes fall into three categories. The first, the books I bought because they were a good deal, I'm essentially over. The other two are tougher. One is where my tastes have changed; it took me a while to realize that I no longer read mysteries, for example. The lesson there is in regard to the dangers of buying ahead and of course I still do that. I've got much better, but I need to improve and apply yet more stringent standards.

My third downfall is the toughest of all; it's the buying of old favorites. There's a side advantage to that, in that it often lets me get rid of a physical book. But it's the same bugaboo; will I actually reread it? As with the mysteries, rereading is something I rarely do anymore.

It's a process and I'm still processing, clearly!

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by issybird

Indeed!

We're none of us going to run out of books any time soon and time is a precious commodity; using it up on unappealing books just adds to their cost. This one is harder than getting rid of freebies, though, and I admit I'm not nearly good enough at it. It's where the no-physical-clutter aspect kicks in for me.

It's ironic in a way; I've been cleaning out my closets and have been donating scads of barely worn and even entirely unworn clothing and shoes to the Salvation Army. But in addition to gaining physical space, I also have the incentive of getting the stuff out where it'll do some good. There's no such side benefit to getting rid of ebooks for which I paid good money. So there they sit. I need to profit by your example, since I'm a firm believer that electronic feng shui is good for the soul.


It's a process and I'm still processing, clearly!

I suppose, if the ebooks were purchased at Amazon and lending enabled, one can try to lend their copy to an interested party. That way others can enjoy them even if we didn't.

Can some kind of Amazon lending post be permitted on MR?