[SeaGypsy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReverseEngineer', 'F')or about the last year, as the iPhones and Blackberries have become more ubiquitous, I have been watching numerous of my 20-30 something coworkers become absolutely transfixed by these devices. They walk around at the workplace with their device in hand, earphones on and tapping texts as they walk around. They don;t even look up to see where they are going sometimes.

I admit to being somewhat transfixed by my laptop and spending way too much time writing posts for Peak Oil, but I DO walk away from it occassionally, particularly at work. This business with the PDA/Cell Phones though is a whole new ballgame. at the airport particularly on my last few trips, EVERYBODY is staring into a handheld device of some type, everybody has an earpiece of some type in at least one ear.

Its like you can't be detached for a moment form your electronic world. I really think we are creating Zombies this way.

Reverse Engineer

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReverseEngineer', 'F')or about the last year, as the iPhones and Blackberries have become more ubiquitous, I have been watching numerous of my 20-30 something coworkers become absolutely transfixed by these devices. They walk around at the workplace with their device in hand, earphones on and tapping texts as they walk around. They don;t even look up to see where they are going sometimes.

I admit to being somewhat transfixed by my laptop and spending way too much time writing posts for Peak Oil, but I DO walk away from it occassionally, particularly at work. This business with the PDA/Cell Phones though is a whole new ballgame. at the airport particularly on my last few trips, EVERYBODY is staring into a handheld device of some type, everybody has an earpiece of some type in at least one ear.

Its like you can't be detached for a moment form your electronic world. I really think we are creating Zombies this way.

Reverse Engineer

[JJ]

numerous times I've been nearly hit by people talking/texting...people at the grocery store are so absorbed in talking on the phone they don't even stop when checking out, it annoys the cashiers....on any given day you can see every single shopper in my department (produce) talking on the phone yelling "I can't hear you..." we're in a steel building....my other peeve is Americans can't walk upright but have to lean on their shopping carts as they graze through the store...

[MD]

What I find most disturbing is the number of people buzzing down the interstate with crackberry in hand.

[jasonraymondson]

Deleted ...

[Arsenal]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', 'W')hat I find most disturbing is the number of people buzzing down the interstate with crackberry in hand.

[WildRose]

I couldn't count the number of times I've seen people driving erratically, only to get closer to them and notice the phone attached to their head. Besides car accidents, I wonder if we'll hear of more industrial accidents involving workers on phones while attending to their machinery?

What I really don't understand, though, are the walkers/joggers who are plugged in. I can understand wanting to listen to one's favorite music while exercising, but walking down city streets without being able to hear all that's going on around you, well, seems about as dangerous as being deaf. I depend on my ears to let me know when someone's behind me, when emergency vehicles are approaching, etc.

I'm still startled every now and then whilst standing in a grocery line, and a shopper behind me says something loudly into his or her phone. I've even replied a couple of times!

[Roy]

My wife went out for coffee with a young friend/associate from the school PTO.

She said during the entire time the young woman (27 y/o) kept interuppting her, and looking at her phone or typing text messages.

My wife said it was very annoying.

I've seen it too with younger colleagues. They seem to be more tied to the electronic dog leash, when it vibrates or beeps, boy do they jump and drop whatever it was they were doing, particularly conversing with others..

My blackberry is mine only because my employer mandates it. Owning it seems to give people an excuse to call me any time, any day, any where, interrupting any activity, to ask the most trivial and insignificant questions.

I guess I must be weird, because, I actually like being 'out of touch'.

These personal communicators have assumed WAY too much importance, and waste way too much time IMO. Somehow people have taken up the idea that anyone can and should be 'available' at all times.

I have one blessing minor though it may be. My cellular device won't work at my house by sheer luck in my location: no Verizon signal, or at least not enough to hold a conversation...

Alas, my information starved colleagues just have to call my land line -- and if I happen to be outside splitting wood or planting seed potatoes as I was yesterday? I'll just call them back when I get done.



ETA: I never interrupt a face-to-face conversation to see why the device is vibrating. That is the height of rudeness IMO, and shows the person you're conversing with that whatever bit of data just landed in your phone is far more exciting than they. Not exactly the way to 'win friends and influence people' as far as I am concerned.

[TWilliam]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Roy', 'M')y wife went out for coffee with a young friend/associate from the school PTO.

She said during the entire time the young woman (27 y/o) kept interuppting her, and looking at her phone or typing text messages.

My wife said it was very annoying.

I've seen it too with younger colleagues. They seem to be more tied to the electronic dog leash, when it vibrates or beeps, boy do they jump and drop whatever it was they were doing, particularly conversing with others..

My blackberry is mine only because my employer mandates it. Owning it seems to give people an excuse to call me any time, any day, any where, interrupting any activity, to ask the most trivial and insignificant questions.

I guess I must be weird, because, I actually like being 'out of touch'.

These personal communicators have assumed WAY too much importance, and waste way too much time IMO. Somehow people have taken up the idea that anyone can and should be 'available' at all times.

I have one blessing minor though it may be. My cellular device won't work at my house by sheer luck in my location: no Verizon signal, or at least not enough to hold a conversation...

Alas, my information starved colleagues just have to call my land line -- and if I happen to be outside splitting wood or planting seed potatoes as I was yesterday? I'll just call them back when I get done.



ETA: I never interrupt a face-to-face conversation to see why the device is vibrating. That is the height of rudeness IMO, and shows the person you're conversing with that whatever bit of data just landed in your phone is far more exciting than they. Not exactly the way to 'win friends and influence people' as far as I am concerned.

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReverseEngineer', 'F')or about the last year, as the iPhones and Blackberries have become more ubiquitous, I have been watching numerous of my 20-30 something coworkers become absolutely transfixed by these devices. They walk around at the workplace with their device in hand, earphones on and tapping texts as they walk around. They don;t even look up to see where they are going sometimes.

I admit to being somewhat transfixed by my laptop and spending way too much time writing posts for Peak Oil, but I DO walk away from it occassionally, particularly at work. This business with the PDA/Cell Phones though is a whole new ballgame. at the airport particularly on my last few trips, EVERYBODY is staring into a handheld device of some type, everybody has an earpiece of some type in at least one ear.

Its like you can't be detached for a moment form your electronic world. I really think we are creating Zombies this way.

Reverse Engineer

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TWilliam', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Roy', '
')
ETA: I never interrupt a face-to-face conversation to see why the device is vibrating. That is the height of rudeness IMO, and shows the person you're conversing with that whatever bit of data just landed in your phone is far more exciting than they. Not exactly the way to 'win friends and influence people' as far as I am concerned.

[Rabbit]

I love my CrackBerry!

Running my own business I now find the BlackBerry to be very helpful. With it I am not tied down at home. I don't receive many calls or emails each day but those that I do get are critical to my business. Just today I was walking in an outside mall listening to music when a call came in. I found a bench and sat down with the BlackBerry on my lap. While talking on the phone with the headphones, I pulled up my calendar and set up and appointment to meet with a new client.

When I am walking I like listening to music. I don't listen loud. I find that I can still hear others talking and normal noises around me.

If I am in the car I always pull over and park or take the call later. Yes, sometimes You will see me driving with my Berry on the steering wheel as it has a great GPS mapping system that works better than printed maps or instructions. I don't text while driving. I often use the GPS when driving to new client locations.

[TWilliam]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Rabbit', 'I') love my CrackBerry!

Running my own business I now find the BlackBerry to be very helpful. With it I am not tied down at home. I don't receive many calls or emails each day but those that I do get are critical to my business. Just today I was walking in an outside mall listening to music when a call came in. I found a bench and sat down with the BlackBerry on my lap. While talking on the phone with the headphones, I pulled up my calendar and set up and appointment to meet with a new client.

When I am walking I like listening to music. I don't listen loud. I find that I can still hear others talking and normal noises around me.

If I am in the car I always pull over and park or take the call later. Yes, sometimes You will see me driving with my Berry on the steering wheel as it has a great GPS mapping system that works better than printed maps or instructions. I don't text while driving. I often use the GPS when driving to new client locations.

[Rabbit]

I am going to miss my Berry when it is all over.

[Tanada]

The wierd thing is, when you are with one of the zombies and they are paying attention to an absent friend via electronics you would think they would rather be with their friend than yourself, which seems obvious. However if you see the same person at the mall with their significant other or a couple friends they do the same thing to those people with OTHER friends via electronics. It is like the ultimate expression of the grass is always greener on the other side, whomever they are NOT with is more interesting at that moment than whomever they ARE with.

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')he said during the entire time the young woman (27 y/o) kept interuppting her, and looking at her phone or typing text messages.

[MarkJ]

We stopped inviting some friends and relatives over to our home since they were constantly talking, texting, browsing or snapping pics with their handhelds.

When I talk with family, friends, customers and business associates, they always have my full attention without electronic distractions.

Recently we were headed to a nightclub, when my wife's friend realized she forgot her phone. She wanted me to turn around and drive 40 miles out of my way to get her phone. We only had our emergency-only phones in the console.

Many people can't go anywhere without an electronic pacifier.

[vision-master]

I used to vist this coffee shop and gab with the seniors. This one wordly gentelman was against the use of cell phones while at the bar. I agree, go outside when talking on these contraptions, pleaze.....

[bodigami]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Roy', 'M')y wife went out for coffee with a young friend/associate from the school PTO.
(...)