Shocker: Americans spend more time with PC than spouse
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 23rd 2007 11:03AM
posted Jan 23rd 2007 11:03AM
While one may argue that a computer doesn't talk back, disagree, or rub one the wrong way as we're sure just about everyone's spouse / SO definitely can, you must have somehow avoided the BSOD, kernel error, 404, clicking HDD, invalid drivers, and the host of other "cyber stresses" that can elicit all sorts of rage and frustration. A recent survey conducted by Kelton Research discovered that a majority of Americans (52-percent) said their "most recent experience with a computer problem provoked emotions such as anger, sadness or alienation," yet a whopping 65-percent of these same folks spend more time with their beloved computer than their own spouse. Adding even more fuel to the computer addict fire, 84-percent of responders stated that they were "more dependent on their home computer now than they were just three years ago." Interestingly enough, rather than founding some sort of rehab facility to coax folks away from the keyboard and back into reality, SupportSoft is looking to provide loving, caring advice to help folks suffering from "cyber stress" solve their PC troubles without tearing down the house. Essentially, the service actually encourages folks glued to their computer to stay that way, as the new startup looks to provide answers to the issues that could eventually run even the most loyal computer user back to their oft forgotten spouse, but the company does insinuate that by solving PC quandaries, folks will have more time to spend when the ones they love. Nevertheless, we can't say these figures are entirely shocking, especially when you consider that folks would take an iPod over booze and nearly anything trendy for an SO.[Via TGDaily]
Guilty. Why should I be subjected to shitty soaps just for "quality time"?
I'm not sure I would go as far as to say "watching shitty soaps" counts as "quality time." That could be the problem...
well being in the IT field it is a given that I spend more time with PCs than my wife. but my wife gladly accepts cash should it be required that she be ignored.
Ill second that.
I meant that to be more along the lines of me having to sacrifice my enjoyment to join her in hers. It's rarely a 2 way street.
This is not new to the computer. (Let us not even go into the number of spouses that spend time with each other and the computer simultaneously.)
There was a study on this I read back in the 90s.. no, I can not remember exact numbers, details, or the name of the study.. yes, I tried to find it online, yes I failed to find it..
The summary of the study was something like this:
Average married couple spends less than 10 hours per week together (not counting sleeping time). (Range was from like 30min to 2 hours per day.)
Average unmarried couple spends less than 15 hours per week together (again, no sleeping time counted).
It then went on to show amount of the "together" time spent watching TV and eating .. and broke it down to the fact that most married couples only spend about 2 hours a week together actually doing something. The rest of the time they are trying to work, eat, clean, function.
With the amount of people replacing their Television Time with Computer(Internet) Time, it is not at all surprising that the statistics have shifted to the computer being given more time than the spouse.
does this survey exclude time on the computer at work?? i dont even know if there are enough hours in the week outside of work/sleep to spend with my wife to make it even....
its because the computer doesn't talk back.
We used to spend time together a lot but then came the kids. Boy those little devils take up a lot of time :) We have 3 of them aged 1, 2, and 3. So, as much of a computer geek as I am, I guess this study doesn't work for me if you know what I mean. Now we're like every other American couple out there, she's on the tube watching stupid shit while I'm on the PC searching and reading stupid shit (except for Engadget off-course).
what? my computer talks back to me all the time
It says
"This program has committed an error and will be shut down"
=(
Well if she did what that girl does on the screen then maybe we wouldn't have to write long run on sentences.
I was playing WoW the other night and grouped w/ two others that said they were married and playing on seperate PCs at their house. =-\
You know, some couples actually work together! No problem with the quality time then. Anything that keeps the home fires burning, right?
I came across a website specifically FOR couples wanting to work together. It looks pretty good. http://www.workingcouples.com
And it's free, which doesn't hurt.
Just my take.