Do you use Twitter? I have tweet texts pinging my BlackBerry all day long.
One day, I turned Twitter updates off on my phone, just to take break. I found myself periodically checking to see if my phone was actually working because it was so quiet. Some people like to have a television on in the background of their daily lives. Me, I prefer the running commentary of my micro-blogging friends.
I’m practically addicted to my BlackBerry. Between reading daily email digests (for Healthy Moms, Cozi, Mom Spark, etc…), to commenting on Facebook and scheduling tasks and appointments, I do everything on my BlackBerry. I tweet and text while I’m driving (eesh, did I just say that?) No I don’t. I take notes at concerts, at the playground, at the elementary school, at the restaurant, at the bar, at the party (I do put it away at the movies).
Addicted to it, I don’t go anywhere without it. I was at Restaurant Picco in Larkspur the other night with five lovely women celebrating a friend’s birthday. White table clothes, candles glowing, and wine glasses clinking as we toasted another year, being out without kids for the night, girlfriend time. Then tink — a text message comes in, I had to check it. I had my BlackBerry discretely placed in my lap, just in case.
Just in case of what? In case the kids call to wish they were with me so they could stay up later than when they’re with their dad? In case a long lost friend finds me on Facebook and I have to tell them right now how excited I am to hear from them after all these years? In case I win the latest blogging contest on Twittermoms and they text to award me a Target gift certificate? OK, I’m a busy mom, but really…
The other moms had their phones buried in the bottom of their purses, under the piles of coats off to the side, five feet away from the table. How could they?
But I knew I was addicted to my BlackBerry when my daughter pleaded with me one day, “You don’t even love me, you’re always on your phone, pay attention to me.” And I caught myself slipping the BlackBerry into my pocket knowing that in a few minutes I would go quietly into the bathroom to check it again, this time where she couldn’t see me.
Some people chew gum constantly others chain smoke cigarettes or drink like a fish. This can’t be healthy. Me, I’m trying to control what sometimes seems out of control, my life. Taking charge, putting a sense of order to it by making notes and prioritizing tasks, enjoying a little entertainment and interesting reading throughout the day, how did moms ever live without this little tool that does it all? How can I?
Just received a tweet from @Life360 about 100 top wines. Going there next. We’ll tip a glass later! Ciao for now.
Photo by alexyangphotography.
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I would take my iPhone over a BlackBerry any idea.
But anyway, I know what you mean. I’m constantly checking my phone. God forbid that I don’t see an email AS SOON AS I GET IT.
Yes! I feel that way about my iPhone. It has become my constant companion. It is never out of reach from my first look in the morning to one last check before bed. What is it about the instancy that is so hard to resist?
Reminds me of an article I saw a while ago:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/aug/28/email.addiction
Apparently email is just as addictive as a slot machine, and the compulsion comes from its unpredictability. I wonder what the equivalent of an email jackpot is…
I can so relate to this one. It is both addictive and contagious. Reminds me of a good friend I joined for dinner once who gave me so much crap for periodically checking on the world via my little pacifier. Fast forward more than a year later… she’s hooked beyond belief.
I saw that article Kevin but I hate to think of it that way. I’m not a gambler. But yes I do agree about the compulsion coming from the unpredictability, the expectation of a possible surprise reward. Gotta check it, might be something good. I do not agree with one of the articles suggestions to switch from email to twitter instead cause it’s shorter and therefore faster. LOL, I’m tinging all day long from Twitter.
A friend posted this on FB where I found it in his status. Incredibly, I don’t suffer from the instant gratification via phone syndrome, but love watching the millions of you who suffer from the disease. It’s quite entertaining to watch the whiplash reaction time to respond to, not a live person, phone call even, but a post to someones’ status update on FB. Keep on keeping on, you techno addicts, it’s fun to watch.
Well as someone who does not have constant access to facebook, twitter and the like on their phone, I can’t say I have this problem. Although I would say texts keep me on my phone at all times as it is. Today we really are running out of excuses to communicate constantly via tech.
Yes Crackberry addiction is tough for those addicted, and for others affected by the addiction. I’m waiting for an AlAnon-type support group for the extended circle of us who have Crackberry addicts in our lives, it’s tough always being #2 to an electronic device.