Since I began using computers, I have hurt my:

[jacques]

Ego

 22/5%

Grades

 9/2%

Wrists

 33/7%

Posture

 26/6%

Hearing

 0/0%

Sex appeal

 25/6%

Desk chairs

 7/2%

Keyboards

 7/2%

Relationships

 10/2%

Competitors

 9/2%

Bank account

 10/2%

Sleeping cycle

 63/14%

Perception of reality

 38/9%

Chances for a decent tan

 23/5%

All of the above

 142/32%

Other (please specify)

 18/4%

442 total votes

[McDarren]

All Most of the above :)

But having to choose just one - definitely the sleeping cycle. Oh for the days (long long ago), before I owned a computer of any description - and I could get a decent sleep most nights :)

[OfficeLinebacker]

Most of the above for me as well!

Ego--Reduced != hurt :)

Grades--not really

Wrists--not really but tendonitis in my elbow, that counts

Posture--probably

Hearing--probably not

Sex appeal--don't know, don't care!

Desk chairs--yes but not because of using computers

Keyboards--oh yeah.

Relationships--maybe, but also met my wife online so a net positive there!

Competitors--only in my imagination

Bank account--definitely

Sleeping cycle--definitely

Perception of reality--almost certainly

Chances for a decent tan--hey I won't get skin cancer!

_________________________________________________________________________________

I like computer programming because it's like Legos for the mind.

[zerogeek]

I'm sure that, like the rest, most of these apply. However, I had to vote for "posture". As I was reading the poll and got to "posture", I noticed that I was again slouching over my keyboard.

It feels like I am constantly paying attention to how I am sitting, but as I get involved in what I'm typing it apparently gets to the "how did you get in that position" side of the scale until I either physically hurt or get distracted!

Is there a 12-step for this problem? ;)

[radiantmatrix]

No, but WorkRave has certainly been helpful for me. I use the mini-breaks feature to remind me to check my posture every couple of minutes -- I seem to be making smaller and smaller corrections the more I use this software.

[spiritway]

Computers. And my head, from banging it on the computers.

[wolfger]

...that's what happens when they let football players own PCs. Don't you guys know you just can't go around headbutting everything? ;-)

[planetscape]

Sleep has a cycle?!

Who knew...

[Zaxo]

Definitely sex appeal. Thirty-five years on the meter will do that, computers or no.

[kabeldag]

Linux is sexy. Me, Im not so sure anymore.

[arkturuz]

I voted for 'Perception of reality'.
Several times had happened to me that, while I was reading some computer paper (!) magazine, I would automatically try to click on some printed URI with my finger :-)
Urghh..

[Nkuvu]

Every once in a while I stand around, totally confused. Because I can't find my keys (for example) and can't figure out why I can't grep for my keys.

[pileofrogs]

That is the coolest thing I've heard all day.

[Anonymous Monk]

That is the coolest thing I've heard all day.

Really? Then that is the saddest thing I've heard all day.

[vhold]

When I first got a mouse in 1991 or thereabouts I instinctively tried to put out a candle in my room by dragging the mouse off the screen. Took me a second or so to realize it wasn't going to work.

(That thing was cool, logitech 3 button bus mouse, came with it's own programming language and TSR you could use to give any dos program mouse support by turning movements/buttons/chords into key strokes and you could even program your own text pop up select windows for more macros. I think the thing came with a 300 page manual. Can you imagine a mouse coming with that now?)

[ikegami]

I had such a Logitech mouse too. Today, I have a (tv-style) remote control that does the same!

[cog]

Wrists, definitely. And fingers, too.

You just wouldn't believe the pain I've been going through this past few days... my right hand index finger pain meter seems to be in an always-on policy, lately.

I'm actually thinking about implementing an anti-RSI program in the company I work in. Thoughts on this are deeply appreciated.

[radiantmatrix]

Every place I've worked for a reasonable time, I've made it a condition of my employment that there be ergonomic accomodations made. Here's what I ask for (and have always got):

• LCD Monitor, 17" 1280x1024 450:1 contrast (or better); reduces eye strain (for me: it's worse for some people).
• Ergonomic mouse (currently, Logitech MX-500)
• Goldtouch adjustable split KB
• A decent task chair w/o arms (or w/ arms I can lower significantly to simulate their absence)
• WorkRave to enforce typing breaks

Orgs are usually already on with a good chair, so the expenditure is rather low. The only objection I've ever had is the monitor, and then they've always been willing to let me bring my own. Yeah, I shouldn't have to do that -- but spending $300 on a decent monitor is better than having headaches every day.

I actually get more done with the enforced breaks, because my typing speed stays higher on average than without the regular breaks (because of discomfort in the wrists and fingers). I say, if you have the ability, you should definitely institute an anti-RSI policy.

[cog]

if you have the ability, you should definitely institute an anti-RSI policy.

Well, as a matter of fact, I was promoted last week to team leader.

So... since I'm leading the department... yes, I think I do have the ability to institute that policy :-)

[NateTut]

I got it in the right thumb, right wrist too until I started mousing with my left hand.

[g0n]

I started getting wrist and elbow pain about 2 months into my current project, in spite of using a palm rest. I quickly came to the conclusion that it was because I was accustomed to laptop style keyboards with short travel, soft action etc. I tried an ultra flat keyboard and a track ball, and that made things a little better.

Then I found this.

It's identical to the keyboard/pointing device combo I'm used to, but is a usb device for a desktop. Since I changed over my wrist pain has stopped entirely.

IMHO, if you're going to be spending long periods of time typing and mousing, it's worth finding the exact input device combination that suits you, and sticking with it.

[shenme]

Voted all of the above, but two comments:
• Not being in the sun for more than three decades means I look (skin) years younger. (Who goes home before dark?) People just don't believe my age. When they ask "how?" I just tell them "mushrooms"
• But slumping over the keyboard for the same amount of time has really messed up my neck/back. Who cares about carpal tunnel when your hand goes numb? Take breaks! Stretch! Attend meetings. (See... they are good for something ;-))

Hey, I forgot my "programming accident". While eating lunch at the workplace cafeteria the answer to a difficult gnawing problem finally came to me in a flash. Unfortunately "Ahh!" was immediately followed by "Ow!" as I finished closing my mouth on the latest bite, only having forgotten to remove fork first. Cow-orkers were not as interested in the discovered solution as much as how many more pieces of the front tooth I was going to discover.

Fortunately dentistry has this marvelous 'patch' procedure they call 'crowns'. And it only took three tries before the biting program stopped throwing faults!

[jhourcle]

Chances for a decent tan

What, you don't like my pasty blue glow?

Besides, the only reason I don't have a tan anymore is because of the switch to LCDs -- they used to refer to my office as 'the tanning booth', because I kept appropriating all of the spare monitors (my office was a former machine room that had been partially repurposed as a storage closet)

... and I've never hurt my grades from using computers. Or a desk chair. The rest of them, however, probably.

[pileofrogs]

Wow, a quiz I can answer with literal truth..

Sometimes, when I get really frustrated, I pick up my keyboard and smash it keys-first into my monitor. (.. I won't be able to do that anymore if I ever get an LCD...) half the keys fly off, and then I get to pick them up and put them back in, usually in somewhat wrong position. For instance, at this time I have F9 where the right arrow button should be.

I find that the smashing is a great release and replacing the letters is a nice soothing activity to follow the smashing. I heartly recommend this to anyone.

[poqui]

Unfortunately, at my company we just had a "Violence in the Workplace" film and discussion; and "abusing equipment/ furniture" is listed as one of the warning signs of possible pending workplace violence. Responsible employees are to report such incidents.

Also reportable are ANY incidents that make you feel uncomfortable, even if you don't know why.

So if I even *type* too loud, I could get reported!

[jhourcle]

Typing too loud? That's a problem for those fans of buckling spring keyboards (eg, the old 'IBM Model M')

[McDarren]

heh.. this reminds me of one of my former bosses, who was not quite up with these new-fangled computer thingy's... (this was in the mid-eighties, so I guess he can be somewhat excused).

In those days, anything being "backed-up" would be backed up to 1.44" floppies. And floppies being floppies - they would regularly fail. And so whenever one would fail, he would take it from the FDD and slap it on the desk a few times, then insert it back into the FDD and try again. The fact that it never made any difference didn't stop him from trying.... over and over again...

[radiantmatrix]

Don't take your agression out on equipment -- eventually, you'll do something really costly, and the guilt that results is so not worth it.

Instead, keep something you can strangle, smash, punch, whatever near your workspace. I have a "problem penguin" at my work desk. I explain problems to the penguin before asking questions, but I also throw him at my whiteboard or wring his neck when I get truly frustrated. It helps.

Then again, so does playing a few rounds of Stair Dismount. ;-)

[jhourcle]

I've done simiar things in the past. Sometimes resulting in injury to myself and/or objects around me.

However, there have been a few reports recently on something called Intermittent Explosive Disorder, which is an abnormally violent reaction to something. (I view it as the 'straw that broke the camel's back' type situation, but I find that getting some exercise and other stress reducing techniques (besides breaking things), have helped me reduce the incidence of these events.)

Oh -- and I know some folks who get together on the day before father's day, and go shooting at a farm, so I can bring my own targets -- shooting at computer keyboards is particularly fun (but make sure to put it back far enough so that someone doesn't strip 1/2 the keys off w/ a shotgun)

ps. who gets to define 'abnormally'. If enough people are doing it, isn't it normal?

[Tomte]

Most of the answers fit, but I had to choose sleeping cycle - although I'm glad the days in which my live gave nothing to me to make avoiding a three-whole-days shift worthwhile are gone. And I'm sure I couldn't do it anymore if I wanted to...
Programming in sleep-deprivation induced trance is an interesting experience, though.

Now my children hurt my sleeping cycle, but that's a different story...

[polettix]

My first hurt keyboard wasn't actually broken by me- my mother was fond of Pinball ;)

[blue_cowdawg]

All the above, except ego, wrists and sex appeal. I'm still pretty darn sexy... at least SWMBO thinks so. :-)

Add to that list physical conditioning. I spend way too much time sitting in a chair and typing away on the keyboard when I should be out doing all them kinds of outdoorsey things that I used to do, like hiking, canoeing, riding my bike, a horse, etc. etc. etc.

Some of that though is work related and in spite of my company's big talk about work/life balance we still put in a lot of hours. :-/

Amazing to me is the idea that corporations don't see 40 hours as being a normal work week any more...

---

[wolfger]

I'm still pretty darn sexy... at least SWMBO thinks so. :-)

SWMBO? That's.... uh... Let's see... common acronyms:
SWM stands for Single White Male.
BO stands for Body Odor.
So a single white male with body odor thinks you're sexy? ;-)
I think you meant something else, though. I mean no offense to your SWMBO, of course. Just trying to figure out what it is.

[blue_cowdawg]

I mean no offense to your SWMBO, of course. Just trying to figure out what it is.

See my home node I have my more commonly used acronyms listed there.
SWMBO == She Who Must Be Obeyed! Otherwise known as my wife.

[swampyankee]

I can answer "some of above."

Occasionally, I take out my anger on inanimate objects, but I've avoided destruction of most equipment. I'm too lazy to try to throw a monitor and too cheap to try to throw my laptop.

Fifty is in my metaphorical rear view mirror, and getting farther away. So my sex appeal is vanishing (until I buy my mid-life crisis sports car. Or start chumming with $20's) and my hearing is not getting any better. Nor is my eyesight.

Grades? I've not had to deal with my grades since I finished my Master's (although I did teach a physics class at a local college after that).

What's a bank account? I've got 2 teenaged daughters.

[Moriarty]

Most of the above, but mainly my eyesight. I didn't need glasses before I started using computers.

[chas]

I can't pick a particular one of the above over the others, but I often say (in a half serious way) the computers have ruined my life. Once, a long time ago, life was good...but now I have to worry about machines crashing, electrical storms, data loss, viruses, checking email, spam, updating spam filters, figuring out why something that worked fine on my system yesterday doesn't today, spam, eyestrain, what happens when my internet connection dies in the middle of ordering something online, did I say spam?
Computers are wonderful for many things, but seem to increase the stress level of my life by several orders of magnitude.
I guess if it weren't for computers, something else would have ruined my life anyway...and I do enjoy Perl...

[tweetiepooh]

Probably most of these at some time or another.

Yes they can be expensive, but cheaper than all those nights out drinking and certainly cheaper than a girl friend.

For pain I guess it's back ache from lifting Sun 1405's into racks by myself.

[lorn]

[marto]

... luddite parents feelings. I think my back has suffered tho.

Martin

[INSYDE]

same like me! =)

[wolfger]

Hearing??? How about eyesight! Many more of us strain our eyes looking at the screen for hours than batter our eardrums with oggs and mp3s. (Or maybe I'm just sensitive about this because I'm getting my first pair of glasses now, after too many years of geekery).
I voted chair, since I'm heavy and tend to demolish the poor things. Sleep pattern was a close second, though.

[mikeock]

All of the above is all that I can use here!

[sub_chick]

Wrists++. I had to get surgery on the left wrist last October because of all the lovely typing I've been doing.

[tbone1]

Lately, my knees. My wife bought one of Apple's G5 towers, and while I love that machine, it is built with a solid case and the top aluminum handle is just about knee high.

[johngg]

Like Moriarty, my eyesight is the thing that has suffered most. It was not the computer displays causing problems but designing output forms on printer layout charts that did the damage.

Cheers,

JohnGG

[ikegami]

My arm. Broke both bones in my lower left arm. Of course, it wasn't caused by computer usage, but it happened since I began using computers...

[sarani]

Changed my perception of reality.
Hurt my sleeping cycle. Who sleeps, anymore? (not me, not much)

Would squabbling over which song to listen to with sibling resulting in hearing damage (volume) and keyboard damage (started banging stuff) count too? Since we never fought over playlists until we Began Using the Computer. :D

[TedPride]

Sleeping cycle is the definite winner here.