Laptop in WC

[davidfcooper]

One of my wife's pet peeves is when I use the laptop while sitting on the toilet. I maintain that it's no different than reading a newspaper, magazine or book in the same setting. What do you think? Is reading email or LJ on the can acceptable or beyond the pale?

Comments

[anamacha.livejournal.com]

not having a laptop in the house, I amuse myself with Wired and Electronic Gaming Monthly.

So, I punt.

[spasmsproject.livejournal.com]

Accidentally dropping it in the toilet might be a tad more expensive than dropping a paperback.

Is reading email or LJ on the can acceptable

[ragecarnuu.livejournal.com]

it is ok, but she might not want the potential germs in the area of the computer,

Re: Is reading email or LJ on the can acceptable

[(Anonymous)]

In view of the fact that she keeps her toothbrush in the bathroom I don't think she has a valid argument on that score.

Re: Is reading email or LJ on the can acceptable

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

That was me; I forgot to log in.

[luckycee.livejournal.com]

If I had a laptop, I would seriously consider it. I'm with you on this one.

[bethr.livejournal.com]

Strongly discouraged here. I myself would never dream of it, but as you can imagine my husband thinks differently...

I wouldn't say it's "beyond the pale", exactly. But look at it this way: is it a habit you'd want your kids to develop? Is lingering in the bathroom a habit you'd want your kids to develop?

In the case of whether you write to me while thus seated, ignorance is bliss.

[(Anonymous)]

The kids issue is hypothetical in this all adult household, but kids should be supervised when using the net, and their computer should be in a public not private area. When the bathroom is the only private place in the home adolescent kids will indeed linger there.

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

That was me; I forgot to log in.

[bethr.livejournal.com]

Why is this anonymous?

It's true that if you have no kids in your house you lack the motivation to uphold certain kinds of behavioral rules. Also, objectively speaking, other than issues of cleanliness --- which are not irrelevant issues --- there's nothing wrong with bringing the laptop into the bathroom. The implication is, however, is that you're so obsessed with what's on that screen that you can't put it down. Which, if you're your wife, might be an understandable qualm.

[avoids long discussion of McLuhan-esque concepts of "hot" vs. "cool" media]

[laffinman.livejournal.com]

I know someone who talks on the phone while seated......they never bother to hide any sound effects......
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the point was brought up about germs......if concerned about germs migrating when the laptop is moved from room to room, then by a spare laptop that stays in the b-room.--[riiight everybody's got an extra 900 buck for a 'spare']
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If this practice causes you to spend extra time in the b-room, look at how much extra time you're sitting there........too much??
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every time you open the laptop while 'seated' start your instant messenger and message all your online contacts........."hey everybody, guess what I'm doin right now".......

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

If people are worried about germs they should not keep their toothbrushes in the bathroom either.

We all spend too much time on-line; which room we spend that time in is beside the point.

And yes, one should be discreet when communicating on the commode.

[laffinman.livejournal.com]

..there it is again......the toothbrush in the b-room thing.......wonder how many illnesses have been atributed to those toothbrushes???.........eh? what's that?.....none you say??

[darlingdualist.livejournal.com]

HA. If my laptop was lighter and more portable I'd totally do that. I have no problem talking on the phone while in the can, so I certainly have no issues with bringing my laptop to occupy my time if I know I'm going to be in there for awhile.

If the laptop is shared I can understand that other owners might feel squeamish about the notion...but if it's all yours, in my opinion, it's yours to take wherever you'd like. And of all places, the bathroom is a person's sanctuary as long as he/she's in there. For your wife to dictate what you do when you're in there is kinda BS. (And I genuinely mean no disrespect to her, it's just my humble opinion.)

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

My wife & I do in fact share the laptop. Her concern is that it might accidentally fall in the sink or in some other way become damaged.