It starts off innocently enough. Maybe you get it from a friend, maybe it’s a ‘free trial’, or maybe you just go out and buy it yourself. However it happens, you get it. Then you try it once and think to yourself, ‘Hey, self, that’s not too bad. It’s fun, and there’s no harm in having a little fun now is there? What’s the big deal?’ That’s how it starts.

It continues, but still, it’s no big deal. You find yourself doing it a little bit more than before, needing a little more and a little more to get that same feeling. But still you think, ‘It’s OK, self. Just one more time. I can quit anytime I want.’ But you don’t want to quit, so you don’t. It feels good, and it’s still harmless fun. Besides, quitting is… well… quitting is for quitters, and you’re no quitter.

The hook is set, and though you can’t see it happening, the inevitable downward spiral has started. You find yourself putting off things, important things like work, paying bills, eating and even updating your silly little blog. You tell yourself these things; work, the bills, food, the Faithful Fifteen, can all wait – you’ll get around to them. But you don’t. It takes up more and more of your day, as it slowly takes over your mind. When the phone rings, you ignore it. Every time. You block out any and all interruptions, and the scary thing is, blocking out those interruptions is surprisingly easy. It’s in control now. Though you don’t realize it, you’re already a slave to it, even though you still manage to deny it has you in its grasp. You think to yourself, ‘This may be a bit out of control now, but it’s still OK. Just one more time. I can still stop if I really want to.’ You lie to yourself to keep your sanity.

But even your sanity is slipping away. Every though revolves around it. During the day, you find yourself sneaking off for one more quick hit. At night you have dreams about it. You’re becoming more and more antisocial, and are rapidly tuning out reality. It’s constantly on your mind. It has become your new reality. Just one more time, though it’s not even fun anymore. You continue to tell yourself you can quit at any time, but even you know that’s no longer true. You can’t stop, you just need your next fix. This demon has taken over your life.

Let this serve as a warning. Don’t let it happen to you.

Thankfully I realized what was happening to me before it was too late. And with that realization there is one horrible truth I have to face. There’s only one person I can blame for this ugly mess I’ve gotten myself in.

Steve Jobs.

For making the game Bejewled available on the iPhone.

I just hope Bejeweled isn’t a gateway to even worse things, like the Wii.

Author: frenchy