Mark_Ockerbloom's Blog

Mark,

I am posting from my BlackBerry right now. I gotta say, I love it. It makes my work so much easier, and yes, I check it while lying in bed in the morning and before I go to bed at night. I was at a great wedding on Saturday night and it bothered me to see a few guests there pretty much glued to their hand-held during dinner. Their is a time and a place to glue ourselves to these things. I would never put my BlackBerry before a love interest. If I'm out to dinner or at a social engagement I leave it on Vibrate and checkit in the mens room, if at all.

I'm guilty of almost walking into things while checking emails. What kills me the most is seeing people driving while using a "pad".

Wait until you eventually get one Mark, you'll knaow what I mean.

I can't believe that a Blackberry would actually take priority over a spouse!!!!
Don't people even matter anymore?
It seems that "things" are more important.
I am all for technology, but there are some things that are still far more important, like family & friends.

SirB,

Funny you mention walking into things.

I was exiting dunkin donuts today and a jerk on there pda slammed into me and my coffEe suddenly became pert of her outfit. I can't believe the attitude she gave me. I told her to buy me a new one and she left me with some choice expletives. Un called for.

How can you love or prefer something that dosen't have the capability to love you back? I"m sure if you could somehow program feelings on to a Blackberry, it would prefer another Blackberry over you.

Is it bad that my family refers to my iPhone as my "girlfriend"? I do love my iPhone, but only like I love pumpkin whoopie pies, Cold Stone ice cream, Smuttynose IPA, and veal parm. It could never replace the people in my life whom I love from my heart. Big difference. These people need to get some therapy.

My answers...
*iPhone sits in its charging dock on my nightstand IN MY BEDROOM... check
*in the middle of the night I sleep... period
*before going to bed, i likely have used it for something, but not the last thing I do
*when I wake up, yes, I usually check stocks and email on the iPhone before rolling out of bed and running nowhere near as far as Maria does
*my coffee almost always comes from DD on my way to work

Kevin,

Appreciate the honesty, Maria, I'll think about it. Everyone else...some solid points and as always thanks for writing.

SirB, you reminded me of something I saw on my vacation this summer. I was at a beach I've been going to since I was a kid when I observed a father on his cell phone constantly leaving his kids so he could walk to an area that had a better signal. This dad was really distracted by it and the kids were bummed out and I thought 10-years ago fathers and everyone else for that matter enjoyed their time at the beach uninterrupted. Life was much simpler back then and there's something to be said for that. Oh, and Kevin, it's straight to the coffee for me in the morning...everything else can wait.

Years ago when cell phones started to become more mainstream I said I never wanted one because I didn't WANT people to be able to contact me EVERYWHERE... Now I couldn't see living without one. I'm sure this will happen with the PDA/Blackberry too eventually...

Chip, I refuse to go all in one myself. I don't need the data usage charges!

Ock, I've got a PDA. Yes, it charges in my room, along with all my other cool toys, but middle of the night checking? Nope. Before coffee? No way in HADES! Preferred over relationships in my life? Depends on who the person is, but for the most part, no.

And for all you folks who don't want the all-in-one of an iPhone or Blackberry, Nokia has a cell-phone sized internet tablet that's pretty amazing. (Now that I've paid for the new ink, that's my next savings fund.)

Xantun, you always make me laugh. COme on Ock you LOVE cookies :)