Computer Polyamory?

[fluffymark]

How much do you love your computer?

Apparently, most people are computer monogamous. This is not what I expected. True, I know more that a few of you that are so infatuated with your electronic friend that you take your computer to bed with you at night (you know who you are...), but most people, at least from what I've seen, are sluts when it comes to using computers. I'll love them and leave them, and use several at once. I'm actually typing this on snow_leopard's Elvira. Many people pay to enjoy the prostitutes at computer brothels (Internet Cafes) on a frequent basis. On the other hand, most people name their computers, and some even have pet names for their favourite machines. It's all wonderfully sweet. :)

Am curious to find out how loyal people are to their computers, and how jealous they get if other people use them. Also interested to know what names people call their machines - so what do your call your computer(s), and why? :)

Despite living in London, my flat is a nice short 10 minutes walk from the edge of Epping Forest. Today I wandered into the forest for the first time this year, and delighted in all the signs of nature around me. It was overwhelmingly pretty, especially as one wanders deeper and deeper into the darker bits of the forest. The trees all have fresh new spring leaves growing, and underfoot was still the fallen leaves of last autumn. Birdsong cheered from above, and squirrels danced from tree to tree, while ducks and fishies splashed in the lake. Brambles spiked my way several times, but I know these will have juicy berries and blackcurrents for me to nibble on later in the summer, so I don't mind the thorns. It was all exceedingly pleasant, and I want to find people to go picnic there with in the coming months.

Comments

[smhwpf.livejournal.com]

I'm a total cad I'm afraid. I have my regular computer, which I dearly love, but when out and about (in places such as Barcelona a couple of weeks ago), I will gladly frequent the byte-pots of the Internet Cafes. But I'm very open-minded, don't mind if others use 'my' machine. And I think Buffy (my computer) is happy with the arrangement.

[fluffymark]

Your computer is called Buffy! Hooray! Splendid name ;)

[mostlyacat.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely a polygamist or perhaps just a whore. I'm not happy unless I've got at least *three* computers near me (there are three and a half near me now). At work it also takes *three* to keep me satisfied, and sometimes I use other people's for more indulgence. Also, whenever I use a computer I put stamp my mark on it by changing the settings such as the arrangement of toolbars in internet explorer, the keyboard repeat rate or the command prompt fonts, colours and auto complete keys. [Papa Lazarou voice] You're my wife now! ;-)

[mostlyacat.livejournal.com]

At home they all have names but at work they only have numbers.

[fluffymark]

Not only a slut but a territorial slut, too. Rar! :)

[fluffymark]

Names! Tell me the names! :)

And why only numbers? Waaaaah. Poor nameless computers :(

odd

[(Anonymous)]

Joe and give everything a name - kitchen appliances, the hoover (Jeremy in homage to its maker), drinking utensils (Horatio and Alphonse) even a microchip that fell out of Joe's old cashcard (Miranda). But we haven't named our computers. I think this is to do with my relationship with computer, appliances can be owned and named as if they are babies. My computer is undoubtedly my intellectual superior and I therefore don't feel up to the task of naming it (or even ascribing it a gender). Also we frequently fall out and I have to shout at it, and I'm not sure I want to get too attached to something so evil and conniving.

Yay, for the joys of spring. Boo to having to revise at the same time. I'm going to be out of circulation until late June. But Joe is always up for a good picnic and it might be healthy for him to get away from the mad screaming despairing woman he once loved. Finals eh? Who'd have 'em?

Lots of love

Penny

PS We are scuntling off to Nottingham complete with funding and research proposal sometime this summer (assuming I calm down enough to pass all the relevant exams) . Joe is currently looking for work. Scuntle scuntle.

[bluesbell.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I call my computer names all the time. :P

Ooh, spring prettiness!

[erming.livejournal.com]

I tend to be teritorial and not like anyone using my computer.

If I go to a new location, then I'll always try and use the same computer. For example on my course I picked a spot and stuck to it. Also the odd times I've used an internet cafe or a test centre I've always tried to get the same machine.

Names? Well my normal machine is Cloud9, and my machine for helping me learn about OSs is called Storm.

[huggyrei.livejournal.com]

I don't use internet cafe's because they cost money. I don't really mind which computer I'm using as long as I can do what I want on it; similarly, I don't mind other using my machine unless I want to use a computer and there's no other avilable. If given a choice, I would rather use my own. I like to have mine on and downloading most of the time, regardles of whether it's being used at all.

My 'puter is called Akane and my printer Ranma, beause they frequently argue and then refuse to talk to one another.

[smhwpf.livejournal.com]

Just you! And me! and you! And you! Sime-ultaneous!

[mostlyacat.livejournal.com]

Home: Fishtank (mine), Daphne (Elly's), The Moog (old computer under my desk), Elrond the First (half a computer on the floor by the wall). Both Elrond the First and Elrond the Second have died - either spectacularly by blowing up violently and being declared unsafe, or by contracting a terminal illness involving premature rigor mortis - i.e. freezing up lots before being pronounced dead. I think Elrond the First still has some working bits in him somewhere so I'll perform a post mortem and disection operation soon.

At work my Unix workstation has a name, probably that of a small town in England, but I can't remember it - I've had too many computers and that one wasn't very memorable. ;-) My other two are called GX260-101 and SW2K001 or something.

[borusa.livejournal.com]

take your computer to bed at night

I have never ever done that. No. Not once. It was never a regular occurrence for me to fall asleep online. No.

Anyway, my computers are called Stark, Baratheon and Lannister. There was a Tyrell, but that left.

[the-alchemist.livejournal.com]

I'm the stereotyped Victorian husband. I love to play the field as far as computers are concerned, but can't stand anyone else using mine.

[fluffymark]

Poor Elrond(s). :( :( I thought elves were immortal. Waaah!

In any case, The Moog is an excellent name for a computer. Good taste! :)

The computers at my work are named after Tube stations, the ones I usually use being Morden and Pimlico. We just got a whopping huge new server and the only name that was suitable was Elephant (hostnames cannot contain spaces, so we have to just use the first name of some stations). I've now foudn I frequently get confused while travelling around london, as I mistakenly think the station names are named after out computers - thoughts like "why does that train have the name of our internal webserver on the front of it??" are all too common. Eeeeep.

Re: odd

[fluffymark]

I know all about Horatio and Alphonse :) :)

Joe is welcome to come picnicing assuming I get organized enough to go. :) And I have to visit you both before you disappear off to the wilde wastelands of the north, but maybe not until after your exams?

I'm off on my travels on Friday - is there anything you want me to take to Val in Russia? She's been making demands of a German drinking songs CD.

Much Love,
Mark :)

[fluffymark]

*giggles* Be kinder to your computer - the poor thing needs a rest too! ;)

[fluffymark]

I tend to let anyone use jellyfish (my computer), but not while my usual account is logged in. One of the advantages of having Linux is that I can keep all my private stuff private, but still let anyone use the rest of her as they like.

If you continue with that naming scheme you'll end up with computer names like "drizzle" or "overcast". Hmmmm. I'm curious about your computer-for-learning-about-OSs....what exactly is this creature?

[fluffymark]

If your have your poor computer turned on the whole time without being used it'll get horribly frustrated! Waaaaaah! Hit them with big sticks until they behave. Thats the only way. Discipline. :)

[erming.livejournal.com]

It is a rather delapadated machine without a case. It contains a K6 processor, 256Mb ram and a 2gb hard disk. It is good enough to play about with Windows 2000 to see how it works for my course.

[erming.livejournal.com]

Well you have Cirrus, Altus, Stratus, Cumulonimbus, Thunder, Storm, etc...

So quite a bit to go on the naming convention.

[gnimmel.livejournal.com]

I tried to two-time when firefly felt unwell for a few days, but all of the other machines were so steadfastly faithful that they wouldn't let me in; I ended up having to cheat in a very virtual manner.
Little does firefly know about dragonfly, however....

[fluffymark]

*giggle* You know, I wasn't thinking of you when I mentioned the bed thing. Maybe it's much more common that I thought. Curious.

Fantastic naming scheme you have there. *applud* :)

[andrewwyld.livejournal.com]

My computer is Mighty Thor, but I don't think of the relationship as sexual.  As such, I could conceive of having other computers which I networked to Mighty Thor.

[fluffymark]

*giggle* How does that differ to how you love people? :)