Slow Computers, Spam, Pop-Ups And Viruses All Raise Stress Levels
from the time-for-some-computer-zen dept
Crashing computers, spam, pop-ups and viruses all increase the amount of stress in our lives, according to a new study (commissioned by Symantec, who of course is trying to use the results to sell more of their software). Many people are so frustrated with these annoyances, that they say these downsides outweigh the benefits of getting a computer. A very small percentage (14%) say that computer problems never bother them (I'm guessing these people don't actually use computers, but just think they do). Of course, it's interesting to look at the breakdown of annoyances. It makes you wonder why marketers would be so enthusiastic about pushing techniques (spam and popups) that most people say adds stress to their lives. Meanwhile, the number one method of dealing with computer problems appears to be to try to fix the problem ourselves - though, that often involves "swearing, shouting and even violence" along with pressing random keys to see if that does anything (other than induce more swearing, shouting and even violence).
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a few more forms of advertising that i find stress
I use the google toolbar to block popup/under ads.
I use TiVo to avoid TV ads.
I listen to NPR to avoid radio ads.
Almost all forms of advertising are stressful to many people. Why are marketers "so enthusiastic about pushing techniques"? Because they obviously work! TV commercials make money, just like spam and popups do! Same system, different medium.
Crappy and irritating popup/under ads and spam are here to stay - it's up to the consumer to avoid them, just like with television. I can't imagine living without my TiVo. The ability to watch a half hour show in 21 minutes or skim through newscasts littered with anecdotal trash and commercials is simply invaluable.
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No problem here
I am a Computer Scientist, with years in government and civil computer use, an administrator of many machines, and I believe I am an "avid" computer user. Or atleast I suffer withdrawls whenever I am away from a computer for more than 30 minutes, in which I am not asleep.
But I fall squarely into the 14%, as SPAM for the most part doesn't bother me (the spammers, on the other hand, bother me greatly as they are an example at what is wrong with the current, non-Darwinian system, as most of these folks wouldn't last the winter if nature was allowed to handle them.) And viruses don't bother me at all since I don't use Microsoft operating systems. Pop-ups aren't a problem either, for exactly the same reason (Mozilla), and slow computers...I used to have a problem with them when the difference between a 4 mHz machine and an 8 mHz machine was the difference between getting a cup of coffee, and getting a cup of coffee and returning for seconds. There isn't a computer on the planet being sold today that has this problem, as they all boot up within 15 seconds, even when running a Microsoft operating system.
So apparently I am not a computer user. But then again, Joe Sixpack who uses his computer to browse pr0n is the only real computer user anyway.
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Re: No problem here
I've got Pentium I systems in my lab running NT 4 that take a lot longer than 15 seconds to boot up. When you're installing security updates you really notice how long it takes to reboot a machine. You must be one of those people who gets a new PC every year regardless of whether you have any compelling reason to get a new one.
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Re: No problem here
Geesh, you make it sound like that's a bad thing...
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