# How many of you do not work in front of a computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818 "2003-06-27T19:28:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/21 "2003-06-29T02:42:22Z")
I’m a college student, so instant messaging is a critical part of my day. Also, I work behind a computer (at a modeling agency), but also behind a bar in a nightclub a couple nights a month. * * * Vir brevi statura erat atque obesus. He was a short fat man. (thanks chaoticdonkey :)) ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/22 "2003-06-29T03:01:34Z")
My work most frequently involves one of [these](http://www.stanleybostitch.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=BOS%5FFRAM%5FNAILER&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=N88WWB), and quite often one of [these](http://www.woodtrusssystems.com/used/contact.php?equipment_id=74#074) (well, not quite like that, but I can’t find a picture of what we actually have at work), but only very rarely does it involve a computer. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/23 "2003-06-29T04:47:17Z")
I’m a newspaper photographer, so in today’s world of super-fancy digital cameras, I’m in front of a computer a good bit, but all the real work gets done outside (and in the car – some weeks my mileage compensation is more than my hourly paycheck). I do most of my SDMBing at nights and on my days off. I don’t read the boards much at work, except when it’s a slow news day and I’m just sitting by the police scanner waiting for something to happen. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/24 "2003-06-29T14:01:57Z")
Wow, this kind of surprises me. Not as much computer time as I thought. Myself. Work - computer, 100%. ---
**Author:** ![benson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@benson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benson)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/25 "2003-06-30T05:31:15Z")
Home care nursing - no time in front of a computer. I do all my computer stuff at home. I usually use it when I first get up, when I get home from school or work, and into the wee hours of the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/26 "2003-06-30T13:01:10Z")
I work retail- standing up, no computer, and our cash register is so old it _certainly_ doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![leroy\_the\_mule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6a8cbe/32.png) [@leroy\_the\_mule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leroy_the_mule)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/27 "2003-06-30T14:20:48Z")
I have five jobs: farmer, newsletter editor, musician, apple-picker, and Daddy. The editor’s job involves lots of computer work, but only requires about fifty hours a month; that’s when I look at the SDMB. Otherwise I’d rather be outside. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/28 "2003-06-30T15:07:57Z")
Well, I’m in front of a computer to add things to someone’s bill, or to enter new patients, or to check people out. For half of my shift, though, we’ve got a receptionist who does all that. The rest of the time I’m scooping poop, wrestling animals who want to eat me so we can treat them, or doing lab stuff with the things we’ve pulled out of said animals. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/29 "2003-06-30T15:09:13Z")
Oh, and I work nights and can’t go to sleep right after I get home. So I tend to spend a few hours piddling around, nattering on the net, playing with dogs, and such after work. ---
**Author:** ![jessondair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@jessondair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jessondair)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/30 "2003-06-30T15:16:12Z")
Well, my job didn’t use to involve working in front of a computer… now many of my peers have been _replaced_ by computers, and those of us left sit in front of more than 1. I work in radio. Sigh. The studios I work in have 2 computer monitors for the on air stuff, one for internet access (so we can take instant requests, get up-to-the-minute temperature checks, do show prep… oh yeah, and post on message boards :D), and some of them also have another monitor for the weather satellite. I’d be happy going back to CDs. Or records, even! Jess ---
**Author:** ![macabresoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@macabresoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/macabresoul)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/31 "2003-06-30T15:16:39Z")
I work 100% doing data entry behind a computer all day. A good 2+ hours are spent on the SDMB, and the SD is always open in a window on my computer all day. 🙂 But they are giving me less and less work because i’m quitting in 2 days. Going to start college and teach yoga as a side job. Tons of time for the SDMB! ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/32 "2003-06-30T15:42:02Z")
Depends on the day. I’m one of two full-time staff people at a small museum. On an average day, I might be teaching a program, mounting an exhibit, writing a grant, giving tours, sending out press releases, or cleaning the gutters. I probably spend about 1 day in 10 at the computer. It can get hectic, but I don’t get bored! ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/33 "2003-07-01T03:12:26Z")
The last few weeks I’ve been behind a concrete saw and jackhammer, usually I’m behind a pipe wrench. Never in front of a computer…at work, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/34 "2003-07-01T03:39:03Z")
Well, until they can come up with heat-proof, grease-proof, lightweight and hands-free computer that I can use while working in the kitchen (I’m a chef), then my internet time will always be during the evenings and days off. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/35 "2003-07-01T03:57:22Z")
Maybe 5-10% of my work is at a computer. I work in a biomedical engineering lab helping grad students and a professor do research in cellular imaging and other whatnot. Of course, that’s just for the summer. During the school year I don’t have a job per se other than having to take classes, and some of that does involve being behinds a computer. Although no other job I’ve had ever involved a computer, other than POS devices. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818/36 "2003-07-01T04:14:28Z")
When I worked in Labor and Delivery, all our charting was on computers, printed out to transfer parts of the charts to other areas in the hospital. Now I only send/ modify Drs orders to Pharmacy, Lab, Food services, etc. In L&D I charted every 1/2 hour on my patient, on the computer at their bedside. Now, in Postpartum, I chart every 2-3 hours on a paper chart at the nurse’s station. I Dope at home. No messaging, no email from work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-do-not-work-in-front-of-a-computer/184818.md?page=1)