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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!!"

3 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. if your gay by ealar+dlanvuli · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Just find another gay techno geek. (100% serious)

    Unfortunatly it's a bit more complicated once you involve the other sex (everything always is).

    --
    I live in a giant bucket.
  2. Justification by sofo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Can you justify all the equipment in what sounds like a rather small shared space? I mean, if you have a need for all this gear that's one thing, but if you are just littering the house with "geek toys" because you can, you may want to stop trusting your technolust.

    I'd like an SGI, PRS Custom 24 and Marshall 1/2 stack in every room of my apartment too, however even though my wife is also a geek (programmer)and into music (bassist) I don't think I'd even try to do that kind of thing.

    Especially in the bathroom. WTF are you thinking?

  3. It isn't about being a geek by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    How many people have problems with a partner who is into gardening? Not many.
    It isn't about your being a geek, but about what in your personality caused you to be a geek in the first place. People who are neurologically/psychologically normal generally aren't going to get into a deep interest of computing because it doesn't interest them - it doesn't provide the stimuli they want.
    On the other hand, geeks often have neurological abnormalities which limit their ability to comprehend other forms of stimuli - thus enabling them to find computing interesting instead of dead boring.
    Many people who are into computers have Asperger's Syndrome (http://www.aspergers.org/what_is_aspergers_syndro me.htm) - a type of autism.
    Perhaps your relationship difficulties are not because of your interest in computers, but your ability to comprehend how to devide attention.