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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010
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7

China Sends 'Internet Addicts' to Boot Camp

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(Newser) – Chinese families are unplugging Internet-addicted loved ones and shipping them off to boot camps, Radio Free Netherlands reports. The Internet Rehabilitation Centre of the People’s Liberation Army, which houses some 50 patients, is one of thousands of online addiction clinics around the country. "They don't only have psychological problems, but also a bad lifestyle," says founder Tao Ran.

Ran blames China's one-child policy for the nation's estimated 4 to 10 million Internet addicts, saying only children face too much pressure. "Many parents criticize their child," he says. "But this affects the self-esteem, which can lead to addiction." At $1,200, his camp costs four times the average Beijing income per month—but people keep coming. “Traditionally, parents believe that the army will help their children become helpful and social."

This Chinese school's computer lab is provided for teachers to guide the minors to surf the internet for free during the weekend in a bid to prevent them from addiction to the internet.
This Chinese school's computer lab is provided for teachers to guide the minors to surf the internet for free during the weekend in a bid to prevent them from addiction to the internet.   (AP Photo/Xinhua, Sun Zhongzhe)
A young Chinese internet addict receives an electroencephalogram check at the Beijing Military Region Central Hospital July 6, 2005 in Beijing, China.
A young Chinese internet addict receives an electroencephalogram check at the Beijing Military Region Central Hospital July 6, 2005 in Beijing, China.   (Getty Images)
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They don’t only have psychological problems, but also a bad lifestyle. Often they don’t wash themselves; they just sit at their computer.
- Professor Tao Ran

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7 comments
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armywife
Jul 5, 09 8:08 PM CDT
hmm, too bad i cant send my husband over there for internet rehabilitation. at least he doesnt play World of warcraft anymore. almost any computer game is better than that one! Reply
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2-bits
Jul 5, 09 9:15 PM CDT
Oh man. I won't even touch that games after seeing what it has done to some of my friends.
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emptycalm
Jul 5, 09 8:38 PM CDT
That's too bad. Maybe something is wrong with their society if that many of them are addicted to the internet. Sending people to boot camp for that hardy seems like a positive solution. If one at all. Reply
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TerrifiedCitizen
Jul 5, 09 10:03 PM CDT
Of course, China has used "civilian camps" since becoming communist to reprogram any good little comrades that seem to be veering off the peoples authorized line. Civilian Camps seem to be gaining popularity inside democratic regimes these days as well; a cursory Google search will help illuminate one on that feverish building activity under the DHS. Anyway, China is just a beginning of a number of powerful nations around the globe to resist the real-time news and information superhighway which if not stopped soon, could completely invalidate national propaganda traditionally distributed via established media networks. Reply
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custum
Jul 6, 09 1:15 AM CDT
I can see how a one-child policy puts a lot of pressure on the only-children... Reply
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