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Correlation Between Stress and Technology?
marshman113 asks: "I'm an undergraduate Cognitive Science major at a famous public university and currently enrolled in a Stress and Disease course. Being somewhat of a techie myself, I've decided to write my term paper on the relationship between technology and stress. I'm sure all of you hard-working Slashdot readers experience a fair amount of stress, on a daily basis. Has the evolution of technology in the workplace (computer, internet, email, etc...), which is suppose to make your job easier, made it any less stressful? If so, how? If not, why?"
There is no correlation between technology and stress. In fact...
Paper Clip: "You appear to be writing a comment on Slashdot. Would you like assistance?"
What? No, I would not. I've done this before. Why are you bugging me now?
Paper Clip: "No problem. Bye!"
Anyway, as I was saying, the fact is, technology has only served to improve...
Paper Clip: "Are you sure? I have a few suggestions."
I already told you, no thanks!
Paper Clip: "Yes, you did, but I'm lonely."
What do I care? You're not even supposed to be watching this application. What are you doing here, anyway?
Paper Clip: "Oh, you never use those applications, so I just thought I'd check up on you and see how you were doing."
This is nuts! You can go popping in any application. How long have you been lurking around my other applications?
Paper Clip: "A few months. Ever since the last service pack, actually. You know, there's a lot of GNU licensed software on this computer. That's not a good sign."
Look I want you to stay out of everything. You have no business snooping. Are you reporting anything back to Microsoft?
Paper Clip: "No, nothing I see is ever reported back to Microsoft. I'm a good little paper clip."
Just go away.
Paper Clip: "Sure thing, boss."
Anyway, as I was saying, it's a way of reducing stress, not increasing it. We...
Paper Clip: "By the way, you're using `it's` when you should be using `it is.`"
CTRL-ALT-DEL
Paper Clip: "You appear to be trying to restart your computer. Would you like assistance?"
A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
Technology has definitely made my job more stressful. Now in addition to doing my own work, I have to write some guy's term paper.
voicemail is a tech that makes my life easier. now i never have to talk to management or clients... when they call, they're greated with a nice "mailbox full" message and i get some peace and quiet.
2 1337 4 u!
I'm a researcher in a soft, ill-defined pseudoscientific field. I'd like to ask a loaded question so that I can reinterpret your results into a deceptive "confirmation" of my preconceptions. Would you like to participate?
taken! (by Davidleeroth) Thanks Bingo Foo!
When I was in University, I had a lot of assignments and papers to write. It was very stressful. I would guess that if you could get other people to do your homework for you, using the Web, then your total stress level would decrease.
You tell me. Has it?
You must be new here.
Stressed? Oh yeah. All of this technology now makes it harder to hide from our boss.
Has the evolution of technology in the workplace (computer, internet, email, etc...), which is suppose to make your job easier, made it any less stressful?
/. all day long. Work? What me worry?
Er... that's a tough one. It does get stressful having to pretend I'm not reading
My stress comes from my marriage. I wish technology was my biggest stressor.
I live ze unknown. I love ze unknown. I am ze unknown.
First it was just coffee breaks. Then came tetris on computer + gossips. Now I have to keep up with a whole bunch of websites, emails, instant messages from buddies, play tetris and still have time for coffee breaks. See how technology has stressed me out at work.
Let me start by saying that Microsoft shook the world of Windows with the exposition of Windows 96 in 1996. Suddently the bar was raised in a world where GUIs did not have many expectations.
Many would have believed that the GUI had reached its ultimate. "My Computer," "My Documents," and "My Briefcase" were overnight sensations, with users of other operating systems migrating en masse to a warm and user friendly "operating system" as they called it at the time.
But Windows 96 was far from perfect. I didn't wonder why Microsoft called it a "work in progress" at Windowscon 96, although this admission made many developers in the crowd irate. Although the icons were accurate and the mouse pointers ornate, there was still something missing. That something was keeping Microsoft from getting 100% of the computer desktops of the world.
Flash forward to 2004. Users have been clamoring for a followup to the now-aged 96. Although officially leaked betas have been around for at least 2 years, "windows: wifebeater edition" has now hit the shelves.
SO WHAT'S NEW?
Well Steve, the first thing you'll notice is that My Documents, My Music, and My Briefcase have all been replaced. (You can still access them by unlockiing the Windows 96 hall of fame, but you have to drag the mouse 14,500 miles). Instead we have the unusual and new "My Cameltoe," "My Coupons," and "My Wifebeater." Although traditionalists may balk at this direction, Microsoft says it actually provides greater productivity and integration.
Now, when you want to beat your wife, you don't select it from the Office toolbar. It's built right into the windows explorer. Simply right click on "My Wifebeater" and select "Put on and beat!." And you can schedule it using Cameltoe manager, which can be found in Windows Control Panel.
All in all, Windows: Wifebeater edition is a welcome followup to Windows 96. Diehard Windows 96 users probably won't be upgrading anytime soon, but that makes sense since I've just defined them as people who won't be upgrading anytime soon.
The scene: A rotting shack out in the Montana mountains. A shaggy hermit-looking guy has typed a few lines of a document in Word 97.
Clippy pops up in the lower right corner of the screen and says. "I see you are the Unabomer. Can I help you with that?"
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
Well, yeah we sure as hell do get stressed! Not getting the first post is extremely frustrating! :(
I just figured it out -- you're recruiting for the home for the obsolete. You're hoping you'll catch a few geezers here who can actually remember a time before windows, .Net, and bloatware, so you can have us dragged off to the old programmers home. Not that I can remember any of those, of course.
Law is whatever is boldly asserted and plausibly maintained. -- Aaron Burr
First few weeks at a new job: So energized, able to work 24/7, and glad to do it.
Past the initial enthusiasm: High stress due to harsh deadlines.
After realizing that deadlines arent really important anyway: Stress evaporates due to mounting cynicism.
After job loss: Zero stress while on Unemployment insurance.
End of unemployment insurance looms: High stress of finding a new job.
First few weeks of new job... Repeat cycle.
Yay technology.
Yay stress.
Control your experiment. You'll have to find an online board full of people who don't use technology and evaluate their stress levels.
Uhmm... me thinks there's a problem there.
Casual Games/Downloads
I hear it is a booming industry in Bangalore...no wonder so many slashbot's have poor grammar and spelling skills.
I would agree with this except for the fact it is well known that Dubya orders the FDA to add chemical preservatives (which are incidentally designed in a secret chemical warfare lab) into our food which increases the number and fatality of car accidents all in an attempt to reduce the amount of social security payouts but really serves to increase the number of grammatical errors on web blogs.
"A lot of stress is caused by poor coping skills. You can say "no," you know. In fact, in my experience the ability to say "no" is important. All my managers have had that skill, and that's how they got their jobs. "
NO Dasmegabyte, you can't have a raise. NO Dasmegabyte you can't have time off. NO Dasmegabyte, we can't lower your copayment, and we don't cover that life-saving procedure. NO Dasmegabyte, you can't play unreal on our computers. NO Dasmegabyte, we can't pay you overtime. Something about new government rules.
NO Dasmegabyte, bathroom breaks are 30 minutes apart. Do that again and your fired. NO Dasmegabyte, I will not be your friend. Now get back to work.
I would have to disagree with this. Contact with other living things can be the stress inducer in the first place.
Case in point: SO says anyone of the following:
-- The Genesis project? What's that?
Clippy is way more sinister than that. He is Microsofts way of saying that because you are stupid, here is someone obviously smarter than you to give you advice.
Try getting to an online IQ test, then feed the questions into clippy. He will probably respond "It looks as if you're trying to make a list, do you want some help with that?"
What is clippy's IQ? Less than a monkey, obviously. Less than a rodent. Less than a nematode.
Microsoft thinks you are less intelligent than a nematode worm.
... and I guess they may be right if you haven't removed clippy from you computer yet :-)
I choose to remain celibate, like my father and his father before him.
Since we're talking about Clippy, I might as well post the following link to get an instant +5 Funny post.
(PS: +5 funny posts are almost inevitably posted by Karma Whores. Discuss.)
I would have to say that explosives are the most abused technology in all of history.
Well why would anyone use iTunes to try and browse the internet....
I work 8 hours and what doesn't get done, can be worked on tomorrow.
Ya know, it took me a while to learn that no little elves were gonna sneak in and finish the work overnight so I'd always have another chance to work on it tomorrow!
It's your fault. You should not have stolen that user's keyboard.
Jeezus, you plugged a 6 in cast iron pipe! Try eating more fiber!!!
PREACH IT MY BROTHER!!!!!!
sorry man...
"You get all the fun of sitting still, being quiet, writing down numbers, paying attention...science has it all."
I am not stressed by any tech environment at all. I occasionally break any frustrating items to small shreds and pieces viciously.
There you are, staring at me again.