65% of Americans Spend More Time With Their PC Than SO

Ant writes "PR Newswire reports that 65 percent of consumers are spending more time with a computer than with their significant other (SO). The "Cyber Stress" study confirmed consumers' growing relationship with technology in their everyday lives. In fact, more than 8 out of 10 Americans (84%) say they are more dependent on their home computer now than they were just three years ago."

Comments

Does that include work-related computer use?

[mrchaotica]

And does it include time spent by all the stereotypical geeks who don't have significant others?

Re:Techno-Dystopia

[CRCulver]

But since Europeans and European-Americans aren't breeding anymore, it doesn't matter: you'll all be dead within a generation.

Several European countries have birthrates acceptably above the replacement rate (hello from Finland). The real problem with Europe's birthrate is not that they may lead to extinction of ethnic majorities (a possibility in some countries, not all), but that government services cannot be adequately maintained without enough of a growth in population.

It's all about prioritization

[XxtraLarGe]

My wife was getting pretty upset about my gaming time (especially on WoW), so now we came to an agreement. I only spend 1 hour a day on gaming (2 on Sat & Sun), and we've created a date night once a week that I don't even use the computer at all. It's made for a lot smoother relationship, and in reality I've found it much more satisfying than simply just playing games.

Only 65%!!!?

[revlayle]

Either way, I believe it. Personally, I have no idea why I live with other people anymore, less have any actual serious relationships. However, while I use a computer a LOT (over 65% easily... part of the job), even at times when I am not on the PC much, I still have the same attitude, so it may be that I'm just an asshole. :)

Re:Techno-Dystopia

[inviolet]

Several European countries have birthrates acceptably above the replacement rate (hello from Finland). The real problem with Europe's birthrate is not that they may lead to extinction of ethnic majorities (a possibility in some countries, not all), but that government services cannot be adequately maintained without enough of a growth in population.

Interesting... because in an earlier slashdot article we read this:

Roughly speaking, a Ponzi scheme is one in which the perpetrators make false claims in order to lure investors. Once they have some investors coming in, they begin to pay back the earliest investors in order to create hype and garner more investors. People make money in ponzi schemes, but only by being at the top of the pyramid. What separates a Ponzi scheme from an actual market is that in an actual market, the items being traded have value outside of the system itself, and that access to liquidity is therefore available at levels other than the top. The article claims that because cash exchanges and the corresponding exchange rates are controlled by the people at the 'top', they are the only people with the ability to achieve substantial liquidity, and therefore, to make any money. This is why they say it resembles a Ponzi scheme more than an actual market.

How very amusing.

Re:I used to-

[kabocox]

spend nearly all my time outside of work on my PC. Then I got a job in the PC world, and then I quit being on it outside of my normal job.
Then I met a girl, and got married. Since she turned out to be a complete psycho bitch (I should have known...should have known) and now spend all my free time *back* on the PC, and away from her as much as possible.

Hey, I spend most of my after work time either playing video games or sitting infront of the computer. My wife and parents complain that I'm anti-social because I don't get out to go to church, or take the kids to boy scouts and/or girl scouts or attend all the PTA meetings. What's freaking ironic is that I'd be considered "social" by just freaking showing up standing around and not saying anything for 30 min - 1 hour half. How is that social? That I meet five strangers and might have picked up their names? Am I odd that the only humans that I care about or my existing family and friends? I don't want to run out and form a vast social network. Being social is being in a setting with a few others and discussing a few topics. I can do that through many mediums why is it socially accepted to be social to be physical lurker but when you are a non lurker on the on-line world you are seen as anti-social?