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Living the Computer Geek Lifestyle w/ a Significant Other?

Posted by Cliff on from the if-they-put-their-foot-down-on-the-server-in-the-living-room dept.

Edward Almos asks: "I live with my girlfriend in a small apartment (about 65 sq yards) and over the last six months I've installed a significant amount of computer and network gear. The count at the moment stands at two servers, a firewall, two workstations, an ADSL line and an apartment-wide network with at least two CAT5 points in every room. There's also two laptops and a load of HiFi gear. Last night she finally cracked when I installed a network point in the bathroom and told me that either the connection went or she did. After a romantic evening for two everything is patched up and all is OK but this got me wondering. I can't be the only Slashdotter living with a significant other so how do the rest of you pursuade them that all the cables, cupboards full of servers and sky-high comms costs are really essential to the geek lifestyle. This also ties in nicely with the latest poll, ain't love grand!!"

7 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. My advice by dasunt · · Score: 4, Funny

    Addict her to muds. It worked for me.

  2. Seriously by TheOnlyCoolTim · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is no fuckin' way you need internet access in the shitter.

    I mean, I love my connection as much as the next geek but I can do without for 5 minutes while i drop a deuce.

    Tim

    --
    Omnia vestra castrorum habetur nobis.
    1. Re:Seriously by stienman · · Score: 5, Funny

      You certainly know you won't be bothered by kids barging in.

      You must not have kids.

      -Adam

    2. Re:Seriously by FattMattP · · Score: 5, Funny

      You must not know how to lock the door.

      --
      Prevent email address forgery. Publish SPF records for y
  3. Ahh, there is a point to this... by CtrlPhreak · · Score: 5, Funny

    And it is to brag about all your geeky stuff and that you have a girl.

    Damn, cynicism apparently not only comes with age but with lonelyness as well.

    --
    WikiAfterDark.com It's a sex wiki, go now!
  4. Patch IT. by Ratso+Baggins · · Score: 5, Funny
    You're a geek, do what you normally do if something is not working quite right... Patch it.

    Being a human system rather than a computer system, you will need a different patch. I recommend Nicorette Patches. The stronger the better.

    Apply a fresh patch nightly (to the SO) _after_ they have gone to sleep. Wake before they do and remove the patch. Repeat nightly.

    Then when they get upset about the _required_ box in the bathroom, agree to consider it for a few days. DONT use the patches on theese nights and mope during the days. Your SO will perceive the nicoteen withdrawal as internal conflict over their "unreasonable" expectations. When they give in (and help install the bathroom console) resume patches and they will feel good about caving in....

    --

    --
    "we live in a post-ideological world..." - Billy Bragg.

  5. Re:When is it too much. by stu_coates · · Score: 4, Funny

    I tend to work on the principle that if my SO owns more pairs of shoes than I have servers/switches/routers etc. then I'm in safe territory... at the moment I'm falling far behind and need some more hardware. ;-)