Married to My Computer?

So I logged onto my computer this morning, and this headline popped up on my Yahoo homepage: Married to Your Computer.

I was curious, so I clicked on the article. Maybe I shouldn't have. The article goes on to describe folks whose "most significant other is a computer." It's somewhat humorous, and somewhat sad, but I fell dangerously right in the middle of that group. I'm going to bill that cause to the fact that I am American; the statistics stated say that 64% of Americans say they spend more time with their computer than with their significant other, while 84% say they are more dependent on their computer than they were 3 years ago.

I couldn't find statistics for Japan, but I am willing to bet they are similar. I asked my first year classes last week how many kids use email, and - on average - only about 3 per class rose their hand. These kids aren't home very much, no, but this also has a lot to do with the fact that we have email on our cell phone here (with they all have), so they spend more facetime with the mobile than with a PC (which I consider about the same thing).

Personally, my laptop is a source for information about my home country and a valuable communication tool, but maybe this is a wake-up call that it's time to get out (or offline...) more often! I would definately do my next relationship article on this topic, but that might also be taking it over the line... and I am willing to bet there are a lot more people like me very close by.

I'm going to get outside for a bit (taking this as a hint I should). Mata ne!