The Curse of the Blackberry

[Mermaid]

I came vey close to throwing a Blackberry in Western Lake last summer. We shared a house with good friends from Atlanta, and their 1 yr. old little boy. We were all looking forward to a week of relaxation and spending time together...but our friend had turned into a total work freako.

I can understand checking into the office once (maybe even twice) a day if that gives you peace of mind, but this guy went over the edge. He didn't get a good signal on his 'berry, and had to walk over to the lake bank to do his 'berry thing, which made him nuts and grumpy. Every time I turned around, he was "at the lake", and when he wasn't, he was pacing the house in frustration. I think he walked down to the beach 3 times the whole week. His wife decided that maybe a 3 day vacation was all he could handle!!

jdarg, that's awful! Workaholics are so hard to be around. I think technology has put a strain on many a marriage and friendship, even as much as it is an equal boon to the same.

Remember when cell phones came out and only a few people had them, but everyone had "pretend" phones so they could look important? Now we've upped the ante to Blueberries and what next?

 

[audie]

we only use our cell phones for calling my parents and sis long distance, and for calling home when in sowal. our second year of visiting there, we were in a restaraunt and a phone kept ringing, i was getting so po'd thinking why doesn't the dumba** answer their phone ? then i discovered it was my own phone ringing - it was the first time it had rang since i got it and i was too dumb to know it. wrong number too. :roll:

 

[newyorker]

I have a cell phone and a PDA, but my college has given some administrators Blackberries (I never asked for one--I read enough email as it is). But the interesting thing about these is what they do to meetings--like face to face meetings sitting in a room. I've noticed that the face-to-face contact and interaction goes down--people are more distracted by the Blackberries and more interested in them than with the people at the meeting. Our now retired Dean of Engineering used to be really bad with his--we'd be talking about college policies or some other issue, and he would be caught pecking away at his blackberry. This trend to privilege the gadget rather than the people in the room bothers me.

And--waltonudercurrent--you are wonderful writer!!! Look for other publishing venues--you should be read by lots of people!!

 

[WaltonUndercurrent]

And--waltonudercurrent--you are wonderful writer!!! Look for other publishing venues--you should be read by lots of people!!

Thanks Big Appleberry. I actually had a column that was supposed to start in the groundbreaking Walton Sun last Saturday, but they yanked it at the last minute - this was one of the planned columns, the others or on waltonundercurrent.com.

I guess my asperations were too high.

 

[Jdarg]

I guess my asperations were too high. [/QUOTE]




No, the percentage of the general public who appreciates satire and humor in writing is too low.

But we already knew that. So until we can somehow raise the bar in that department, we love your articles- keep 'em coming!

 

[Camp Creek Kid]

Thanks Big Appleberry. I actually had a column that was supposed to start in the groundbreaking Walton Sun last Saturday, but they yanked it at the last minute - this was one of the planned columns, the others or on waltonundercurrent.com.

I guess my asperations were too high.

I'm sorry to hear that they yanked your column WU. The Walton Sun needs your talent and we readers need to have something interesting and entertaining to read. Frankly, the current columns in the Walton Sun are a bit dry and uninteresting. Oh well. Just keep posting here. Sooner or later they'll get a clue.

 

[Miss Kitty]

I guess my asperations were too high.

No, the percentage of the general public who appreciates satire and humor in writing is too low.

But we already knew that. So until we can somehow raise the bar in that department, we love your articles- keep 'em coming![/QUOTE]

I have a question. Do you think this is because many people cannot laugh at themselves? The funniest people I know (people who appreciate all humor) can laugh at themselves all day!