Do Any Of You People Actually Work?

One thing we all do at TechCrunch: spend a lot of time on various social networks and other websites. But it’s our job, people. We get paid to screw around on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, FriendFeed and about 6,000 other sites all day (quick tip, if you want to try out a service but don’t have a user account, try TechCrunch/Password, there’s a solid chance it will work). But when I’m spending time on these sites I notice that a lot of you are awfully active, too.

Most of you have actual jobs that require you to complete tasks that don’t include uploading pictures to Facebook, updating your Twitter status, or listening to music on iMeem. But from where I sit some of you seem to be little more than social network processing machines. More than a few of you may need a little intervention of your own (if you can’t look away from the CrunchCam, for example, we’re talking about you). So be truthful in our anonymous poll. How many of the symptoms below are you willing to admit to? How much time do you waste every day on the Internet?

* Have mixed feelings of well-being and guilt while at the computer.
* Lose control of time while on the computer; want to quit or cut down, but are unable to.
* Neglect friends, family and/or responsibilities in order to be online.
* Lie to your boss and family about the amount of time spent on the computer and what you do while on it.
* Feel anxious, depressed, or irritable when your computer time is shortened or interrupted.
* Use the computer repeatedly as an outlet when sad, upset, or for sexual gratification.
* Develop problems in school or on the job as a result of the time spent and the type of activities accessed on the computer.
* Have financial problems due to on-line purchases or gambling.
* Become tempted to get involved in relationships with strangers, which may put you at risk for victimization or jeopardize your safety.

How Much Time Do You Really Waste On The Internet Every Day(online poll)