Addiction.

n. 1. compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance: a drug used in the treatment of a heroin addiction.
2. the condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something: had an addiction for fast cars.

According to yourdictionary.com, the word 'addiction' has a relatively straight-forward definition (although the examples they give suck and don't give you any indication of what the word actually means. maybe because it's a word that most everyone understands the meaning of?). The best part about looking up this word on yourdictionary.com is the Google ads that show up above it:

Adult Treatment Program.
End the Addiction Cycle: End cravings, depression, anxiety. A natural approach to rehab.
Non 12 Step Addiction.

(click on any of the above and pay 2 months salary to see results!)

Does the fact that I am looking up the definition to this word that seemingly everyone is trying to find a solution to mean that I should click the links get some help? Obviously not, because it's not like I actually have an addiction problem. Especially when it comes to Gmail.

I am not addicted (habitually or compulsively occupied) to Gmail because:

I don't get nervous tension when I don't check it for more than 2 hours.
I don't compulsively organize, delete, star, and respond to every single email I receive.
I don't open the Gmail window/hit refresh every 3 seconds to see if someone has sent me anything.
I don't look forward to Gchatting more than I look forward to seeing my family.
I don't fall into the trap of getting all the extra gadgets associated with Gmail and Google (Picasa, iGoogle, blogger, etc.).

Hmm... right.

So what's the difference between an 'addiction' and an 'obsession'? Shall we consult the loyal and handy yourdictionary.com? (am I the only one who uses this site?)

n. 1. compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.
2. a compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion.

Above the definition is the Google ad for 'OCD Symptoms: Signs of Obsessive Compulsives Compare All the Signs of OCD obsessive-compulsive-symptoms.org'

Great. We need people to go on this web site and analyze their behavior, unprofessionally dubbing themselves as a victim of OCD, and actually becoming obsessively compulsed to believe that they have OCD. I really love when people comment about their 'OCD behaviors' or the fact that they really really think they do have perhaps a 'mild' form of OCD. Look, just because you wash your hands a lot or have to check the lock three times before you leave the house does not mean that you have OCD.

I started writing this post a long time ago. It's still true. I go into stores and pick out 20 things and try them on in the dressing room. I want all of them. I leave most of them with the girl in the dressing room with all the plastic numbers and start carrying the chosen ones to the register. 'You don't need these. You have no money. You are fat. You could be spending this money on traveling/eating/drinking.' Nothing works; I keep walking toward the register and take out my credit card while I'm in line so I don't change my mind. Compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance? New clothes? What?

I'm sick of this font.