you'd share your thoughts with the person next to you, and I'm guessing that if I were at The Brits on a table with Jude Rogers, David Hepworth, Caitlin Moran and Archie V we'd all be merrily be quipping away about how much weight Robbie's put on - it just so happens that we do it via the medium of Twitter. Or they do, I mostly sit at home and watch from a distance.

and has a genetic predisposition to be unable to operate any electronic equipment offering anything more complex than an 'on' and 'off' switch, has somehow recently developed a textaholic tendency.

Withdrawal of mobile telephony privileges has been threatened if any more messages arrive during Monday night's University Challenge episode.

Look at it like this. If you're watching TV in a group it can be a social occasion, especially if it's an event like a footie final, an awards show, or music festival coverage (these are examples that Word readers would watch).

If you're sitting at home alone or with the other half, it can make it more fun to indulge in some online observations while it's taking place. I don't make a habit of it, but logged in here during the pre-election debates, and have been interested to read comments written during the Brits, Glastonbury, etc.

That being said, I usually turn off my laptop as I turn on the TV. It's probably those young whippersnappers under 40 who are most prone to this kind of behaviour.

I rarely give the telly my full attention but I'm not into all this new fangled social networking stuff. I'll usually be sitting at a sewing machine, some other creative stuff or reading. My mum always knits when watching TV. I can't just sit and watch something - it feels unproductive. I get a bit exasperated with subtitles - I have to stop doing other stuff or miss bits.

...someone invented a sideways telly for watching when you're prone on the sofa?

...to the 'The Sky At Night'

in the background whilst the laptop rules, these days. Not sure I'm alone in this.