FarmVille can be surprisingly addictive

Addictions are typically associated with drugs, alcohol and sex.

I have to confess mine is farming.

It is an addiction that has slowly worked its way into my everyday life. Farming begins when I get up in the morning. I need to gather eggs and milk the cows. I need to visit and fertilize my neighbors’ farms, and it all has to be done before my first class starts.

Yes, my addiction is FarmVille, a virtual farm, but it is definitely an obsession I cannot go a day without. Sure, this addiction of mine isn’t harming me physically, “I think.” However, it has changed the way my day is conducted.

Instead checking my e-mail and reading some news in the morning, I am farming.

I farm even before I go to bed. It takes me an hour to visit all my neighbors on FarmVille. It is ridiculous to spend an hour fertilizing virtual farms, but I don’t stop. I have to keep going.

I might be lying to myself if I say FarmVille hasn’t affected my classes. I haven’t missed due dates for assignments, though I have pushed the envelope so I could harvest crops.

Farming has pushed back doing homework and reading until the last minute because I lost track of time. I should be doing homework now, but just one more level and I can plant broccoli.

This addiction has affected my daily chores. Dirty laundry is piled high and dirty dishes may stink up the kitchen — but my farm looks great. Visiting family on the weekends has taken a backseat to scaring away gophers and crows.

In the past, I would have been afraid to announce publicly I am farming on Facebook. But today I can admit to my addiction on FarmVille.

I gathered some information from the Zynga game network and read an article on CNN.com on FarmVille. I was astounded with the report.

An estimated 75 million people each month play FarmVille, which is roughly equal to the numbers who have played the classic arcade and desktop game Tetris during its entire existence.

The report also said FarmVille has had, to date, up to 118 million installs. It has more monthly users than the population of France. I was shocked yet relieved at once.

Could anyone have imagined technology and social networking sites leading to millions farming?

Computers make jobs easier while information is only a click away. Cell phones make communication instantaneous, with some practically hand held computers, making it hard for a junkie like myself.

These technological improvements are supposed to make our lives easier, but may have introduced some serious consequences.

If people don’t relate to my confession and believe this is something to ignore, I must warn you that there are other enticements on Facebook waiting.

Accepting just one of those invitations from a friend could lure you into a virtual need — the need of completing just one more task.