I have been a member of rasfc for about a decade, I think, now, and my emotional reactions upon coming back after a fairly long hiatus seem pretty substantial proof to me that my participation in the community fills an actual need, and is not simply another form of cat-vacuuming.
But it also reminds me that there are time management issues involved. 🙁
So. Rule for self:
Absolutely NO usenet until *after* the kids' scheduled school time. NONE.
(For all of you who think that sounds backwards, I should explain that my kids are enrolled in an “distance/electronic learning academy” and do their school work at home, under my supervision, staying in contact with their actual teachers via internet teleconferencing and email. Just another example of how we are already living in the future.)