# How do Dopers post while watching TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470 "2005-03-01T18:32:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/1 "2005-03-01T18:32:42Z")
I want to know more about the phenomenon of PWW: Posting While Watching. I’m an old-fashioned guy. I have a computer but no laptop. No need. I have a television in the living room, and that’s it. I don’t want or need one anywhere else. For me watching television and watching the SDMB are two completely separate activities. Yet this is obviously not the case for lots of you. The Oscars thread is just one example. [Here’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=304750) a thread by **Garfield226** alerting Dopers to a movie that’s _already started_. I assume he didn’t jump up from the middle of the movie and run upstairs. So how do you manage both? Balance a laptop while on the couch? Have a TV set next to the computer? Watch streaming video? Do you do this only for special occasions? Is it a regular practice? Tell all. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/2 "2005-03-01T18:37:32Z")
I have a computer mounted on the wall opposite of my desk in my home office. But generally, I watch much of my television in the bedroom with my wife. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/3 "2005-03-01T18:42:16Z")
I have a small black and white TV in my “office”. Some people have music on in the background, I generally have TV. I’ll surf or game or code or whatever while the TV is on. Often this is for a show I’m not really interested in, or a show I’m only looking for a short bit of (example: I know there is going to be a story dealing with LOTR on Entertainment Tonight). If it is a show I’m really interested in (ex: Lost), I watch in my living room. Sometimes I get up and do computer stuff during commercials, the TV in the computer room is there to tell me when show is back on. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/4 "2005-03-01T19:04:44Z")
I have a 15" color tv on the filing cabinet next to my computer desk. I’ve always had a TV or radio on while I’m at my computer, even if just for background noise. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/5 "2005-03-01T19:06:39Z")
My TV sits less than a foot from my desk, so that my cable modem doesn’t need a long cable. This is good, because it allows me to multitask my entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/6 "2005-03-01T19:16:09Z")
Dorms. One room. Television two feet away from the computer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/7 "2005-03-01T19:20:37Z")
I’m not sure I’ve ever posted about a TV show while watching it, but it’s easy enough – laptop with WiFi, ass on couch in front of TV. Spend just a bit too much of my time that way lately. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/8 "2005-03-01T19:25:34Z")
TV and computer are both in the same room. Damn handy, too, especially when watching old movies with my wife: WIFE: “Hey, isn’t that wossname?” ME: “Who?” WIFE: “You know, the guy wearing the hat. He was in that \*other \*movie. The one about the guy on the boat. What’s his name?” ME:“The guy on the boat?” WIFE: “No, he’s wearing a _hat_. Goddamn it, where did you get \*boat \*from? Do you see a \*boat \*in that movie?” So, I just log into IMDB, get a cast list. Peace returneth to the Uvula residence. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/9 "2005-03-01T19:29:57Z")
My TV is in the living room, and my computer is in the dining room – set up so that I can see the TV from the computer desk (there’s an open archway between the two rooms). Stuff I’m “watching-watching” I sit in the living room for, but stuff I just “have on,” I’ll be on the computer at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/10 "2005-03-01T19:47:34Z")
It’s called “commercials.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/11 "2005-03-01T19:48:56Z")
My computer is in the living room. It sits at a funny angle for TV viewing, so I generally run back and forth if I must. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/12 "2005-03-01T19:59:29Z")
25" TV in the living room with the DVD player, far away from the computers… However, my little 13" TV is in the bedroom with the VCR, and I can sit at my computer desk and watch and type. Is this difficult or something? An acquired skill? ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/13 "2005-03-01T20:08:17Z")
In my little apartment, my computer desk sits next to my TV stand. It’s a bit of an odd angle, but I’m basically looking at both screens at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/14 "2005-03-01T20:10:10Z")
Thanks for all the responses, except for **Anaamika’s**. :rolleyes: It’s a question of mindset. I can’t imagine a TV next to my computer as anything other than a total distraction that would cause me to procrastinate even more than I do now. And I can’t imagine wanting to watch TV on a crappy little set instead of my nice system that runs the sound through my stereo speakers. YMMV. If you haven’t already noticed, it’s a big world out there and no two of us are alike. ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/15 "2005-03-01T20:10:53Z")
The TV is right behind me to my right and at an angle. It’s really no effort to turn about 45 degrees andwatch and then post, but generally I prefer to keep TV and computer separate and devote full attention to each medium individually. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/16 "2005-03-01T20:12:19Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > Thanks for all the responses, except for **Anaamika’s**. :rolleyes: I was teasing you. No need to be so touchy. I neglected to put the appropriate smiley in. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/17 "2005-03-01T20:15:13Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > TV and computer are both in the same room. > > Damn handy, too, especially when watching old movies with my wife: > > WIFE: “Hey, isn’t that wossname?” > ME: “Who?” > WIFE: “You know, the guy wearing the hat. He was in that \*other \*movie. The one about the guy on the boat. What’s his name?” > ME:“The guy on the boat?” > WIFE: “No, he’s wearing a _hat_. Goddamn it, where did you get \*boat \*from? Do you see a \*boat \*in that movie?” > > So, I just log into IMDB, get a cast list. Peace returneth to the Uvula residence. Wireless connection to the DSL modem and my trusty laptop. And I too have gone to IMDB many a time to get “whozat” results. I can barely watch network television without a laptop. Its just not interesting enough to keep my attention. ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/18 "2005-03-01T20:40:06Z")
I just have an old PC from work standing in the living room, a full desktop really. I chat, webcam, surf and SDMB more than I watch TV, and even then many of these activities can be combined quite well. Right now I’m watching the pilot of Desperate Housewives. Ouch. Anyone noticed how many SDMB themes came by in just the first 10 minutes? I bet there was already a thread on that. I’ll do a search later. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/19 "2005-03-01T20:43:40Z")
One more vote for the wireless laptop with ass plopped securely on the couch. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470/20 "2005-03-01T20:51:14Z")
My computer’s in the living room, with the TV. The computer’s against one wall, the TV’s against the other. My computer chair swivels, as does my neck. I usually have the TV on as background noise - I mainly use it for watching DVDs. Most of the shows I watch are actually on my computer. Fascinating, I know. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dopers-post-while-watching-tv/292470.md?page=2)