On the other hand – knowing when you are in too deep.

While there are several great reasons to join e-communities, chat rooms and use IMs - one can take it too far. Here are some situations that can clue you in to when you or a loved one is abusing these forms of communication:

• You spend more than a few hours a day chatting. If you are spending two hours a day or more logged into chat rooms and e-communities, it is likely that you are losing grasp of the real world. While it is great to meet new friends online, don’t forget the ones you have in the here and now.

• You are chatting online during work hours. Many of us may check out our e-community page or turn on our IM during lunch, and that is fine as long as your company allows it; but if you are instant messaging or keeping your e-community page up all day during work hours, you are definitely going too far. This sort of behavior not only makes you less productive at work – the chime of the IM or new message sound is often disruptive – but it is a sign that you are relying on these sorts of communication to get you through the day.

• You are chatting all night, every night. If your spouse says goodnight and you are still online, this may be another sign that you are stuck in a virtual reality. Allowing your computer communication to take precedence over your family and friends who like to spend “real” time with you is not only a shame, but it’s also a form of abuse.

• You have dual personalities – real life and online. Since nobody can actually see you on a computer (unless you are hooked up to a webcam), you may be enticed to make yourself sound better than what you think you are. Little white lies grow and grow, and before you know it, your online life is a fantasy world. This is completely unhealthy for a few reasons – first, it allows you to pretend you are someone you wish to be without you taking initiative to become that person for real; and second, it makes you a liar. If you find yourself falling in this pattern, it’s time to get help.