I don't want to say anything, but... you do seem to be one of the big names here.

I reckon you do actually. But then, so do I. Today's my day off, and I literally got out of bed about 4 minutes ago, the first thing I do is log on here! I'm eating breakfast as I type this answer!

Why no. I did not see you here yesterday. There is all the proof you need.

Yes. I have often wonder how you find the time. I can only use answerbag when I'm at work and on my lunch break. Today I am very happy because I have an "A" rating for the very first time, but also sad because I'm not yet on the leaderboard. If everyone rates my answers today then maybe I'll get on there.

That's like asking the choir if you sing too much.

(Part II) Ok, seriously: I think you can only answer that by looking at your life and seeing what (if anything) is being "starved for attention" by your Answerbag activities. Then you have to consider that Answerbag time isn't a complete waste: you do actually help some people sometimes, and everyone learns useful things by interacting in this forum. That's part of what makes it compelling. I also think there's value in the simple social connection -- you meet some people very different from yourself on this site. There's a downside, too, of course: we get preoccupied with our ratings, get into futile arguments over religion and politics, start snipefests based on misunderstandings, etc. Its all part of the big dance.

You mention that you feel like you are wasting your life. Do you feel that important parts of your life are suffering because of your time on Answerbag? What do you feel like you should be doing and why? Try to be reasonable and honest with yourself. If you lost your job or your friends because you spent too much time here, you have a serious problem and need to get some help. I doubt if it's that bad but I felt the need to cover that base. If you feel like you aren't giving enough back to your community, try volunteering some of the time you would have spent on Answerbag to a cause you like. If you feel like your virtual social life is livelier than your real world social life, pick up the phone right now and invite someone out for a night on the town. If you feel you're missing out on other things you love doing (i.e., reading, watching cheesy movies, tatting doilies for unfortunate old ladies that can't make their own, or whatever), set aside some of your Answerbag time to work on something else. I don't know how you are, but I find Answerbag so absorbing that if I want to get anything done, I have to do it first. If you normally hop on the Internet as soon as you get home, pick up a book instead and read for an hour. The Internet will still be there when you're done. Heck, if you still want to read after your hour is up, go right ahead! If you're really feeling drastic, go cold turkey for a week. Turn off all the email notifications and block the site on your browser if you have to. See what your life would be like without Answerbag. If, at the end of the week, you like what you've found, enjoy! We'll miss you but your happiness and wellbeing are what's important. If you decide that Answerbag really does enrich your life, some of us are a load of fun (some are a load of crap but you get that when you walk out your front door anyway), and the one life you change for the better because of an answer YOU gave makes it worthwhile, stay. We'll welcome you back. You will have to go through the initiation again, though <smacking paddle on the flat of my hand>.

Well, I've been on for about an hour today, and answered a couple questions, and I've seen your name disproportionately more than anyone else's. So, I suppose that maybe you are.

You write, don't you? Try www.writewords.org.uk It's almost as addictive, but provokes you into doing more writing. (Not, of course, that I'm trying to suggest you need a change of scenery.)