RC Pilots Anonymous, Are You Addicted to RC?

If you're reading this, chances are you're an addict like me.

We smile, and wink, and joke about it, but many of us are actually addicted to being RC Pilots.  Who out there hasn't paid for a bit of RC gear while thinking "I shouldn't be buying this, but..."  Or snuck out of work early to take advantage of a beutiful day for flying?  

Now, if you're taking a hammer to the piggy bank, or raiding your kids college fund, maybe your addiction has reached a point where you need more help than we can give you here.  But with any addiction, the first step is knowing you have a problem, so let's start by figuring out, am I addicted to RC flying?

A google search for "signs of addiction" brought me to a Huffington Post article that listed seven signs.  How many apply to you?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barb-rogers/seven-signs-of-addiction_b_519194.html

The seven signs were as follows...

1) Questioning.  The author of the article, Barb Rogers says that if you have to ask yourself if you're addicted, then chances are you are addicted.  I know I've asked myself am I addicted to RC flying before.

2) Defensiveness.  Has anyone who doesn't understand RC ever asked you "how much do you spend on your airplanes?" and you found yourself struggling to try to justify the costs to them? I'll just make another check mark here...

3) Blaming.  "I wouldn't have bought that new airplane if those darn Flite Test guys didn't make it look so nice in the review.  

4) Secrets and Lies.  Who hasn't told a little white lie here or there, such as "No honey, that's not a new plane."

5) Time and effort was listed as a sign.  Do you devote a portion of your time or effort towards going out to fly?  Does it ever take away from other things you "should" be doing, like homework, or mowing the yard?

6) Guilt and shame.  This for me sort of is connected to defensiveness.  I've tried to explain building foam airplanes to friends.  Only to be ridiculed for trying to make disposable dinnerware fly.  I've also felt the sting of guilt after spending more money than I probably should have on RC gear.

7) Isolation.  Maybe it's better for you where you are, but finding fellow RC pilots to fly with here can be a little difficult.  So I end up spending more and more time alone, flying in isolated fields.  I've traveled hundreds of miles, spent hours of driving to get to a place where I can join in with others who share my addiction.  If that's not a sign, I'm not sure what would be.

The good news is that you're not alone.  Over on the Flite Test forums you can find many people just like yourself struggling with their addiction.  Or enjoying, it all depends on how you look at it I suppose.  With their assistance you can find ways to manage your addiction.  

Join in on the conversation.  Are you exhibiting signs that didn't make the list?  Like refreshing the Flite Test "New Posts" page to see if there's been any updates, when you're supposed to be working?

Tell us about it here... 

http://forum.flitetest.com/showthread.php?4182-What-signs-might-indicated-you-re-addicted-to-flying-RC&p=48387#post48387