No. I am not a Pinterest addict. I thank God, Buddha and any other supreme entity, that I am able to suppress my urges to not become a Pinterest freak. Don’t get me wrong. I am an occasional social pinner when I need an awesome, trendy gift idea or Saturday night’s usual carry-out pizza meal is getting boring. And, I periodically browse the pin boards of my friends to make sure I don’t end up being a clone of someone else. The notion of being a suburban clone frightens me which you can read more about here where I discuss my resistance of labels.

Okay, so are you a Pinterest addict? It’s okay if you are. Sometimes I get a little cynical, it’s that whole label thing again. So feel free to ignore my rants and continue to pin away. Especially feel free to pin and follow my board because while I may reject labeling, I love to be loved. And, of course, you have to follow The General Gazette’s boards because we are just full of crazy awesomeness.

Not sure you are a Pinterest addict? Here are five signs that you have crossed the line from casual user to full-blown junkie.

1. Have you downloaded the Pinterest app to all of your mobile devices? Let’s see . . . tablet, check! iPhone, check! Laptop, check! Yep, if you have to be connected to Pinterest 24/7 you may have a problem.
2. Do you get drunk off Pinterest? Have you caught yourself handing over your smartphone to that amazing hot bartender, not to swap numbers, but to show him the exact recipe for the Sex in the Caribbean drink you just pinned? Yes, you may have a problem and you will probably be going home alone.
3. Have you spent hours researching (excuse me, stalking) the boards of your child’s classmates’ parents to be sure that you will not show up at the school Christmas party with the same teacher gift as everyone else? You might want to evaluate if there is problem.
4. Do you spend more money on supplies making a Pinterest craft than you would if you would buy yourself a gorgeous diamond necklace from Tiffany’s. Wow! If this is you, I don’t think you need me to suggest there might be a slight problem.
5. Is your home a life-sized pin board? Have you bought every post-it note in the store and find that you have “pinned” suggestions in every corner of your house so you won’t forget the decorating idea you had. My friend, if you done this then you have lost control and I believe a thirty day, in-patient Pinterest rehabilitation facility is the right choice for you.

No judging if you admit to one of those five or, let’s be honest, all five of the Pinterest addiction predictors. It’s okay. Everyone has their addictions. Just remember to pin responsibility, follow me and The General Gazette and, most importantly, don’t pin and drive!