Has is it normal had a positive or negative impact on your life?

Negative.

It has wasted easily over 300 hours of my life, but I'm too addicted to leave.

Both. I'm sure many people know I'm here because of a bad relationship break-up and it was kind of cathartic to talk about her so often here. I feel like she almost became an IIN user in her own right, even though she never posted. I'm also going to take the odd step of apologising to her. She's not as bad as I made her out to be. Actually, what am I saying? She really is. :D Okay, maybe she isn't.

We used to go out in the evenings four, sometimes five times a week, and when I wasn't with her I was with friends. I was never alone. Ever. And when we broke up, it was only a matter of weeks before I found IIN. Sad, I know, but being part of a community made a difference.

It's had negative impacts too, but I don't feel like talking about them. When I sum up my time here, I'll say positive. Not for the advice really or the questions, but the usual community stuff. The people, definitely the people, but the laughs equally. You don't know how much you've made me laugh at times. And that can be no bad thing.

Well, I don't know what I'd be like if I didn't find IIN, so I really don't know. I definitely feel like it's had a positive impact:)

I get to talk about things on here that I don't get the opportunity to talk about in real life, so I think it's good that I have that. I'm sure that a lot of my opinions have developed over my time here, partly because I get to see other people's perspective and because some questions make me have a serious think about what I believe, also a positive:).

However, due to a couple of comments I've recieved since I came back from several different users, I seem to have changed more when I was away from this place. It wasn't an obvious change to me, but I'm under the impression that it was more obvious to people who knew me before and after. I really do wonder if that is the case. Therefore, maybe IIN is preventing me from growing, it sure doesn't feel like it:S.

Also, although I'm a complete coward, being here has made me less of one. I feel stupid for feeling like this, but I'm actually still really proud that I posted my voice. I didn't think I would be able to share something about myself which is actually me, not bananaface. That sounds terrible and like bananaface is some sort of act, it isn't, it's me. It's hard to explain. But quite a few posts have made me share things which made me feel vulnerable, but meant that I wasn't being a coward, like how I recently posted exactly what I was thinking on the "Free Thinking" post.

Wow, sorry for how long this is. I think I've decided that positive is the answer. Although I haven't mentioned it, the main reason would probably be because of the people here, who just make IIN a really great community to be a part of (the community part is another positive:D!). I love, love, love some of the people here...even the evil ones>;D!

Before IIN, I didn't have much to do on the internet.
Now I do.
So let's say positive.

Mixed. I've had heated discussions, laughed until I cried, and had passionate arguments. I regret none of it.

I've learned so much more about keeping shit in jars and letting dogs lick your vagina than I ever thought I would when I first came here, so definitely positive. It also gave me the confidence to tell my sister that I wanted to have sex with her, which was something that really needed to be said because the sexual tension between us was really pissing the rest of our family off

Hasn't really impacted me. It's kind of just another website I go on when I'm bored.

In some respect I find the site negative.
I feel people come here to ask their questions because they cannot do so either with their own friends or family, or even acquaintances in their own real life.
It bothers me that many are still embarrassed to tell others of certain feelings or if something is normal or not. And the only way they can do this is anonymously online.

I'd hope that IIN type forums will not be needed one day. Where people can just openly ask things (anything) to others without being judged or persecuted for it.
There are many people within relationships who would rather ask questions here, than to their own trusted partner, in my view this is sad.

Yes this forum is presently required, and therefore 'I' will say positive. Here's hoping that it will become the norm everywhere one day.
If anyone (in real life) came and asked me any question, even the most seemingly embarrassing questions you find here, I would be only too willingly to give advice to them.

its nice to be anonymous, relaxing

No impact. Well, maybe positive. This site is a joke, and I find myself quite amused by some of the stories. So, I guess it's positive since I frequently find myself laughing at people with these silly problems.

Negatively. I dont even know who I am anymore.

I voted positive because most of my memories of IIN are very fond and funny ones (I took a nearly two year hiatus).
Honestly though, my feelings are mixed. I can see that we are all seeking a community, but I'm disheartened that it isn't a physical face-to-face community that we've all ended up gravitating to. That could be one of the reasons I left--to find a 'real' community. Also, this is just my life. I'm sure the majority of you ALSO have a 'real' community. Of course, as Dad said, there is a reason we're here and it has a lot to do with not being able to open up to our face-to-face peers.
Thing is, that never happened for me. I never really replaced this IIN network of support with any people around me and I sort of regard that as a weakness on my part. And now I somehow found myself back here.
But who knows? Maybe we are redefining the definition of community and that not knowing each others real names and faces does not make inferior what we've created here.

Both.

No impact really , although at times well , maybe a bit.
I work from home and often hit the net for awhile when I'm feeling too slack to actually work - these are the dilemmas of being your own boss you see , f;n discipline- ooh I hate that word .
But anyway , I often end up looking around on here too or throwing my two cents worth in here and there, get abused , it's fun.
I do like though that it being a place for a lot of us to just drop into or ask that question , maybe even try to answer one.

it definetly raises peoples self esteeme

Positive for sure. I've learned so many different things in here and met so many interesting people, you'd be very surprised. I truly love some of the people here as if they were my brother or sister. Every time I ask myself something or need someone's opinion, I come here. I love it here.

Although there is someone who doesn't like me and couldn't even act like an adult about it trying to bully me out of here. I find it very ironic when people are against you for no reason. But not even a badger was able to get me out of here.

I can honestly say IIN is like a second home to me.