Okay, I am just wondering what the real problem is here.
I don't get confirmations from my standbys, except from the deck crew . . . (because they need to physically move from one place to another), otherwise I expect the board operator to be ready. I tend to do some very busy shows, and counting 8 or 9 standbys would be kind of tedious and in the end, probably obtrusive to my calling the show. Often, the sound operator, who is either right in front of an open window or mixing in the house, can’t give standbys. My LX operator sits within eyesight, I can see his hand move to the button.
The original question seemed to be about board operators being on computers, reading, etc . . . which, quite frankly, I think for 2 ½ hours a night you should pay attention to the show, but I know how hard it is to watch the show over and over and over and over again. I find in my experience it’s better if the board operator is not watching the show all the time. They should go into stand by, take a cue, watch the cue execute and then what they do after that until the entire process starts over again is really none of my business. So, I don’t care if they are reading a book, reading online, etc, etc. What is important is that the cues are taken on my “go” and they are.
I think if the situation warrants a response to the standby, then the SM should request it. If the SM just kind of is demanding a response for the heck of it, it may seem a little like a power trip, and that should probably be avoided.