How far is too far?

[Erin]

 "Saitaina"  wrote: 
> How far is too far when talking about Harry
> Potter?  How much should one be involved in
> this fandom, before it's bad for them?

Erin responds:
I don't know... myself I spend about three hours a day on the 
computer and it seems like a lot to me.  My eyes sometimes hurt after 
I finish.  I check all my HP groups (though I post pretty rarely), 
email friends, and download stuff for the Sims 2 (coming out in 
September, yay!).  Right after I became a big HP fan and discovered 
the online community about a year and a half ago, I was on the 
computer sometimes six hours a day.

Ten hours a day seems like maaaaybe just a bit too much, if it truly 
is *ALL* HP, and not mingled with your at-home job, other fandoms, or 
whatnot.  But everyone is different.  It may not be too much for you.

I would make sure that you're not hurting yourself physically.  Are 
you still eating correctly, bathing, sleeping through the night (not 
getting up at three in the morning to check for new posts as I did in 
the beginning?)  Do you get any sort of exercise?  

Do you feel anxiety if you are not able to read all of your lists one 
day?  Do you talk to at least one non-internet person per day, on the 
phone or in person?

If you can answer all of these to your satisfaction, I'd say you're 
doing all right.

"Saitaina"  wrote: 
> So could it be bad, that I have something that
> brings me such joy, and connects me to others?
> Could something that has lifted me out of
> depression, helped me to express myself, given
> my friends and co-workers, giving me a job
> that means something to me...truly be hurting
> me?

Erin responds:
I think some people need something to obsess over in order to feel 
happy.  I'm one of these, I should know.  Right now for me it is HP.  
In the past it was other things, and in the future  I have no doubt 
it will change.  I also feel my little obsessions keep me from 
depression.  It's not the fact that you have one that is the problem 
(if there is a problem), it's how you express it.

If you find yourself frequently thinking that it's too much, maybe 
try unplugging your computer for just one day and seeing how that 
makes you feel.

I hope this has been helpful.  Let us know what you decide.

Erin