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! :)

[smhwpf.livejournal.com]

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

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.

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 :)

[bluesbell.livejournal.com]

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

Ooh, spring prettiness!

[fluffymark]

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

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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. :)

[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.

[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* :)

[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]

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

[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]

A firefly and a dragonfly, both trapped in the web. The spider will come along and eat them both. :(

[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]

I know how much you are obsessed with computers. I know you chase older ones. I'm sensing a latent sexuality in there somewhere. I mean, calling a computer Mighty Thor is just too phallic, isn't it? Freud would certainly have something to say about you. ;)

[nipple-salad.livejournal.com]

I'm hopelessly monogamous and jealous. I have a new roommate whom I taught how to send e-mails today (I kid you not - he sent his 1st email ever from my computer). While he was typing his message I hung over his shoulder like a vulture and shuffled anxiously around... SOMEONE was using MY computer... arrrgh!
It's not even mine, I'm keeping it for my mother. But I've tweaked it to my needs to the degree that she didn't recognise it when she visited the other day. But the knowledge that I may have to give it up one day makes me sad. :( That's why it has no name.
Anyway, when people ask if they can use my computer, I keep thinking "get your hands off my baby, you sonofa..." and pester them so much they never finish what they were doing because they get nervous.

[fluffymark]

A tale of true love there, sweetie. :) Give her a name and make her yours forever. :)

[taimatsu]

My computer is currently Resting. It is BWOKEN and my parents are getting it fixed. It is a green iMac called grubling (short for GReen bUBbLe thING). I use Robert's laptop baratheon instead.

[fluffymark]

*hugs* to your poor bwoken computer grubling. Waaaaah! :(

[arkady.livejournal.com]

I have two computers: Gan, a 200MHz PII currently running FreeBSD but mostly acting as a glorified PSU for the monitor, and Servalan who is a 1.13GHz PIII A30 ThinkPad - my principle computer. You may have noticed a certain Blake 7 theme to the names; once I've moved home, I'm intending to build a new PC from scratch which will be in a clear perspex case with flashing blue LEDs, to be called Orac.

I'm pretty mych PC-monogamous; I pretty much stick to just Servalan. I very rarely touch Gan, because everything I need to do, I can do so much easier and quicker with Servalan. And yes, I have taken her to bed with me before now; when I was living in Winchmore Hill, there were a couple of times when I was very ill and unable to get out of bed, so Servalan kept me occupied.

I do borrow David's PC when I'm in Walthamstow, but to be honest I do actually prefer to bring Servalan with me and just hook her up to his household network. However, I'm not a jealous owner and I do allow guests to use her. This is another reason for wanting to build Orac however - I want to have at least one spare machine so that when guests come over they can have internet access regardless of whether I am online or not.

I've never used an internet café in my life however; I have no idea how they work! I'd far rather take Servalan and go warchalking...!

[fluffymark]

Clear perspex case and flashing blue LEDs! Yay! I can't wait to meet Orac!! Plus I think your naming scheme is impeccable. :)

I'll be building a new computer for myself soon (yes, I know i've sid this for ages, but this time it'll actually happen). Jellyfish is showing her age a bit, sadly, but my plan is not to retire her but turn her into a general server and spare machine for guests. I'll then build a shiny new machine (yet to be named) and use that as my everyday computer. :)

[vierasesine.livejournal.com]

"People given the option of a range of PCs tended to have favourites"

Yes, I confess. Back when I still used to be in school, I had a favorite computer. The problem was that one of my friends' preferred it too. We'd always have these semi-playful sort of competitions over who would get on it first, and if somebody else had got on it before us, we would scowl at them every now and then. I never actually waited to get to use it though if there were other computers available (I'm not exactly a patient person), neither did I give it a name.

[fluffymark]

Why was it your favorite computer?

[panzerpenguin.livejournal.com]

My current one is called Trypticon. I'm attached to the contents of the drive, rather than the machine itself - I'm only worried by anyone else using it if they seem nosy and/or dangerously incompetent.

[fluffymark]

I thought the naming of a hard drive would be unusual but maybe it isn't? It kind of makes more sense that a computers identity is associated with the hard drive, doesn't it? It may not be the "brain" but it's certinly the "long term memory" of the machine. Mmmmmm. Interesting. :)

[cassielalone.livejournal.com]

Mine's called Beast. (And a horrid, disobedient Beast at that. It never, ever, ever works properly and I frequently get so frustrated that I shout at it and call it all sorts of nasty names... But we always kiss and make up in the end. ^_^) And, yes I have taken it to bed... more than once.

I hate it when others use my Beast. I, however, have no shame whatsoever. ^_^ Internet cafe's, the library, other peoples'... no problems at all.