A study released last Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association found that nearly six percent of Internet users suffer from symptoms of addiction. The six-percent figure closely parallels the percentage of alcohol or illicit drug users who find themselves hooked. David Greenfield, the researcher who conducted the study, had no qualms about analogizing "Internet addiction" with drug addiction.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Greenfield noted that the problem was likely to worsen as modems and access gets faster. Greenfield likened faster access to a drug being shot directly into the bloodstream as the most problematic modality of ingestion. The report, which asked Web users a series of ten questions, modeled on those asked by Gamblers Anonymous to determine whether a respondent has a gambling problem, raised serious issues common to many addictions. "Marriages are being disrupted, kids are getting into trouble, people are committing illegal acts, people are spending too much money," Greenfield said.

Which brings us to a question. If Internet addiction so closely mirrors addictions to drugs, alcohol and gambling, should we not consider banning the Net? Though its use is growing quickly, surely the Internet has not become so embedded in our culture that it cannot be rooted out? And if even one child can be saved from the horrors of Internet addiction, would it not be worth it?

In the dark depths of November 1998 when the pessimists were in their element, masochistically contemplating the ruins of the Asian economy and its terrible consequences for the rest of the global economy, the United Kingdom Treasury forecast growth for 1999 of 1%. This was instantly swallowed in the vortex of gloom; the idea of an economic 'soft landing' was so out of tune with the prevailing sentiment - note that word - that it received no serious comment.

Five months later when the Chancellor presented his Annual Budget he repeated the forecast. this time, a combination of wearisome media schadenfreude, partisanship and cynicism damned the forecast as hopelessly optimistic.

Three months later the Treasury announced second quarter growth of 0.5% after a standstill in the first quarter and on that basis adjusted its growth forecast for the year to 1.4%.

Last week, the Confederation of British Industry adjusted its growth forecast from a modest depression up to the Government's forecast. Strangely, the only major league forecaster that was correct was ... the Government.