If You Had to Choose: Computer or Spouse?
January 22, 2007 | by Geoff Duncan
A new study finds 65 percent of Americans spend more time with their computer than their spouse - and, on average, wastes 12 hours a month fixing computer problems.
If you asked most Americans in a committed relationship which they preferred—their partner or their computer—most would probably answer truthfully (or at least politely) that, of course, their spouse, partner, or significant other is much more important to them.
But in the real world, people vote with their feet, and a new study conducted by Kelton Research on behalf of SupportSoft finds that 65 percent of Americans spend more time with their computer than with their spouse or significant other.
The Kelton Research study also finds that 84 percent of Americans say they are more dependent on their home computer now than they were three years ago. Moreover, in the same period, the average computer user experienced significant computer problems eight times—roughly once every four months. And many of those Americans felt hurt and jilted by their computers: 52 percent of Americans describe their most recent experience of a computer problem as one of anger, sadness, or alienation.
And if Americans perhaps think being dragged to a shoe sale—or made to sit through seemingly unending hours of football—is an inane waste of their time in a relationship, consider this: the average American reports wasting 12 hours a month due to problems with their computer.
"As computers become increasingly pervasive in our lives, our relationships with them can begin to seem almost as important as a relationship with a significant other. When problems then occur with the computer, it often leaves people feeling frustrated or helpless," says Dr. Robi Ludwig, renowned psychotherapist and host of the reality series One Week to Save a Marriage on cable channel TLC.
You can see where this is going: SupportSoft wants Americans to know that if their computers aren't there for them, then the brand new support.com is there for their computer.
[Coming up next: Dr. Phil helps a man and his Dell get back onto solid footing. And this week on Springer: Computers who say they're still sexy—even in an old beige box!]
Post Your Comment...Comments
Carrie on Jan 23rd, 2007 at 5:55 PM:
You men are pathetic....
Daniel Miller on Jan 23rd, 2007 at 5:55 PM:
Great story, this was a lot of fun to read!
I showed my wife and she agreed with it BTW. Now if I could only convince her to play WoW with me!
OutThisLife on Jan 23rd, 2007 at 6:13 PM:
I'm sorry, but another person > my hand.
David on Jan 23rd, 2007 at 8:05 PM:
quote:
"Carrie on Jan 23rd, 2007 at 7:55 PM
You men are pathetic...."
And THAT pretty much sums up why my computer is my first love. It doesn't emotionally abuse me, it doesn't nag, and it doesn't expect me to change who I am.
My computer...
- is stable and reliable.
- is always willing to try new things.
- gives back exponentially more than what I put into it.
- always has something new and interesting to share.
- doesn't mind if I want to work or play.
- doesn't mind if I'm watching porn.
- never complains if I ignore it for a week.
- doesn't have parents.
- doesn't play mind games.
- doesn't gossip and spread all my personal information around.
- can't take half my money when I get rid of it.
- doesn't eat all the chocolate in the house.
- has never driven me to the bottle.
12 hours a month on computer problems? Maybe if you are a clueless middle manager who can't tell his PC from his VCR! The only maintenance I've done on my computer in the past six months is installing an extra HDD, which took about an hour.
agloco on Jan 23rd, 2007 at 10:05 PM:
girlfriend want to break up because i spend more time with my other baby (my rig, my computer) than with her..
http://myagloconetwork.blogspot.com
smallerdemon on Jan 23rd, 2007 at 10:39 PM:
12 hours! *looks at G5 uptime of 17 days* *engages arrogant Mac user mode* Ohhhhh kay.
joeJoeMa on Jan 24th, 2007 at 3:05 AM:
Even if you spent 12 hours a month trying to fix problems on your computer. Which is laughable. It still beats the three day every month crazy feature on every woman.
Loren on Jan 24th, 2007 at 1:45 PM:
This story is based on a false premise that the time spent is related to how much one values the thing. I value my spouse very much but that doesn't mean I need to be with her every minute.
Will on Jan 24th, 2007 at 8:37 PM:
[quote]Daniel Miller on Jan 23rd, 2007 at 7:55 PM
Great story, this was a lot of fun to read!
I showed my wife and she agreed with it BTW. Now if I could only convince her to play WoW with me! [/quote]
Lucky for me mine does.
Jade on Jan 25th, 2007 at 12:21 AM:
I am a woman, and personally i would choose my comp. over my man any day of the week.
Krista on Jan 25th, 2007 at 2:39 AM:
yeah, but what about people who spend a lot of time watching tv, or playing video games, or another form of wasting time? where's the statistics on that? just how many more people watch tv/play video games than spending time with spouses?
and it doesn't say just how much more time is spent on the computer than with the spouse?.does this include work time? people spend time at work on the computer, and that time at work can't be spent with the spouse.
I personally do spend more time on the computer than i do with my spouse but that's just because we work different shifts and barely see each other. when i get off work, i have nothing to do. isn't that the equivalent to time spent watching tv or anything else i choose to do during that time?
and even if 12 hours a month are spent fixing the computer, how man hours on average are spent trying to fix a relationship? arguments aren't too unfamiliar to a serious relationship.
Plerger on Jan 25th, 2007 at 7:23 AM:
Your all a bunch of tards ... especially that mac user who thinks hes elite. Ohhh my mac doesn't get viruses like your windows machine .... it would if enough people had them for anyone to care. Go buy some overpriced hardware and cry yourself to sleep. I'm done on macs now. as for the rest of you..... PC's are far superior to spouses in as much as you can custom build one to your exact specifications .... know what I'm saying?
Kristin on Jan 25th, 2007 at 8:39 AM:
Well, while this article does have some hard facts about time spent on computer use, it fails to recognize that time spent does not equal importance. I spend most of my time at work or sleeping. Does that mean I value my job or a good nights rest more than my spouse? Ummm no. Sure, I play Wow but pretty much thats while he's off in the other room watching wrestling, and lets just face it, as much as I love him, I don't enjoy wrestling. Just like he doesn't enjoy Wow. Just because we are in a relationship doesn't mean that if we are not glued to the hip at home, that we have our priorities out of whack. To disregard the human element of "feelings" and admitting it to a survey as being false according to a "time-spent" survey is irrational. Oh, and people get upset when thier computers malfunction because.....They aren't supposed to.
margie may whitehurst on Jan 25th, 2007 at 9:32 AM:
my computer is worth more to me because it's dependable and gives me no lip! No dirty laundry to wash, no beer cans, smoke filled rooms, nagging to remember this and that. Never tells me my butt is getting bigger, never never says " could you get me a beer".Never stays out late! I love my computer, and I would give up my spouse in a heartbeat!
sam on Jan 25th, 2007 at 4:22 PM:
I choose the computer as well..far more interesting..doesn't sleep all the time and works!
Mary on Jan 25th, 2007 at 5:28 PM:
I would choose the computer...ANYBODY'S...over the thing that messes up my house and ignores me unless he wants me to pay for something. Durr. It goes with me when I want it to, it doesn't ignore me when I pay attention to it, it doesn't wig out if I'm grumpy, and doesn't piss all over the floor.
Justin on Jan 25th, 2007 at 8:11 PM:
Even if you spent 12 hours a month trying to fix problems on your computer. Which is laughable. It still beats the three day every month crazy feature on every woman.
^^^^
Lol, I agree, I'd rather have a massive HDD crash then deal with that :P
Dustin on Jan 25th, 2007 at 9:22 PM:
if my computer had boobs i'd totally agree, then it would be a enertainment machine
Justin on Jan 25th, 2007 at 10:08 PM:
Girls are fun.. but not as fun as computers, what is also great when you compare the two is that computers do not whine, complain and so forth. - And it's always willing to help you relax lol, your PC will never claim to be "tired" or have a headache now will it? :P
Now is this beneficial to the development of the human race, we can only wait and see... But I for one spend way more time with it then her.. to the point where I don't even mind if shes getting busy on the side, as long as she's not bugging me lol hahah :P
Laura on Jan 26th, 2007 at 7:00 AM:
You men make me sick, it's not only wives who are being neglected because men are so obsessed with their computers. My two year old daughter is neglected everyday by her father, who since being unemployed has started to spend every spare with his "lover". It really disgusts me to think that most men believe that being with a machine is better then human contact. I'd really hate to see the effects of this on the procreation of the human race.
Ciaran Gallagher on Jan 26th, 2007 at 11:00 AM:
Deciding on whether to get rid of spouse or computer would be a difficult one!
Nerezza on Jan 28th, 2007 at 5:23 PM:
"I'd really hate to see the effects of this on the procreation of the human race."
The human race shouldn't procreate. The human race is obsolete.
Brian on Jan 30th, 2007 at 9:29 AM:
I heard a part of this story on the Jay Leno show a couple days ago! It was hilarious he quoted the line " The Digital Trends website reports that 52 percent of Americans describe their most recent experience of a computer problem as one of anger, sadness, or alienation." "The other 48% had already left AOL!"
carling on Feb 1st, 2007 at 1:35 PM:
i love my woman but i also love my comp,computer are addictive.
carling on Feb 1st, 2007 at 1:38 PM:
but if your woman is behaving bad you can't delete her
Greg on Feb 28th, 2007 at 7:39 AM:
All of you are right. None of you are wrong. But if you're reading this, go bang your wife or spend some time with your kids.
My props on the AOL comment though(LOL).
Amanda on Sep 8th, 2007 at 9:45 AM:
My husband loves to sit on the computer and play games for hours and then when I talk to him he usually doesn't hear me and I have to repeat myself a couple of times. When the kids are in bed he's on the computer or the phone. I've had 3 babies in the past 6 years and others say I look good and I think so to. I just had my hair done and tring to get off the last of the little baby weight I have left from my third baby. But you wouldn't think I was attractive the way my husband would rather sit on the computer playing games with his buddies instead of spending that time with me. Is there somehting wrong when a guy enjoys his computer more than his own wife.
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Benji on Jan 23rd, 2007 at 5:53 PM:
I would choose my PC over my ole lady anytime of the week. My PC shows me love and usually doesn't fight back