I found this quote in Trevor Scholz’s blog (and may I say that post is a lovely example of how you can blog a classroom discussion using links and narration – students, please try to emulate that!):
A recent survey conducted by Kelton Research discovered that a majority of Americans (52-percent) said their “most recent experience with a computer problem provoked emotions such as anger, sadness or alienation,” yet a whopping 65-percent of these same folks spend more time with their beloved computer than their own spouse (Engadget)
The logic of the comparison isn’t quite compelling. I mean, I could say that wow, for 99% of women, their bras touch their breasts for more time than their boyfriends do, without that proving anything very useful about women, bras, breasts or boyfriends other than that bras and boyfriends are good for entirely different things. But there’s a certain frisson to it that made me blog it anyway.
Lesley
Hee hee. Love the comparison.
Mark Federman
65% of those surveyed spent more time with their computers than their spouses. And for the other 35% it was with the television! LOL
Trebor Scholz
Hi Jill,
The isolated fact of spending more time with one’s computer than one’s spouse is not so telling. In LA, where I currently am, most probably people spend more time in their cars than with their partner’s as well. But, if you link this study to others that we know already, it reaffirms a picture of addiction: people hide computer use from their loved ones, and are glued to screens most of the day.
best,
Trebor (with B as in bra)
Jason
I think Trebor’s mom just liked tv better than him. pish.