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* The setup…

Everybody knows about BlackBerry addicts, those twitchy-thumbed compulsives who fascinate researchers and comedians. One recent study reported the exotic locations in which mobile device users get their kicks. Bathroom: 79 percent. During romance: 11 percent. At a funeral or memorial service: 16 percent.

Less is written about the laptop addict, an equally tragic modern figure, the kind of person who, say, during a friendly dinner conversation about voters in Pennsylvania pops up to fetch the MacBook and check the difference between the Mennonites and the Amish. […]

And just as a laptop is different from a BlackBerry, so are its addicts. BlackBerry addicts are all about the Web connection. Laptop addicts like that part too—it’s nice to pull into a Panera Bread parking lot with the laptop riding shotgun to piggyback on the free Wi-Fi—but the laptop addict isn’t all about the data.

The laptop addict is an artiste. He keeps his laptop close because at any moment the muse may descend bearing a novel idea or the mot juste, which he must inscribe pronto on the screen. And right after that, he can Google the name of a good massage therapist who can undo the kinks from all those hours hunched over his addiction.

* The Question: Does any of this apply to you? How so? Explain fully.

* Bonus Question: What’s the rudest thing you or someone you know has done with a handheld/laptop? Try to keep it clean, of course.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:12 am

Comments

No.

As clean as possible, I worked with someone who would bring her laptop into the can.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:15 am
I went with a laptop because I have a one-hour commute each way most days, and it’s good to be getting work done then so I can get back to Capitol Fax and Huff Post when I get to a good internet connection.

Comment by erstwhilesteve Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:30 am
I don’t have a true Blackberry, but I do have a Samsung Glyde with a data plan that I use to check my e-mail and Facebook CONSTANTLY - you could say I have a problem. Yes, I do use it in the can. I refuse to take my laptop in there - that’s taking things a bit too far.

I also tend to check it during the middle of conversations, which I’ve been trying to cut down on (the checking, not the conversations). So that’s pretty rude, I guess. I suck.

Comment by Tony Scott Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:35 am
I think that folks assume that if you have a Blackberry it will at your side 24/7, and a few have gotten bent out of shape with me for not immediately responding to their calls or e-mails when they know I have one.

So to answer your question, I’m not there yet, but I feel I’m on that slippery slope to someday being there.

With me reading e-mail during spare moments can be irresistible. Web surfing is a lot slower and I have less patience with the keys on the Blackberry than my laptop (MacBook) so I usually wait for the laptop or a desktop to surf the web.

But attach it to you belt and put it on vibrate and it will beckon you all day long.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:41 am
This is not a new phenomenon, merely a technological advance on an ancient form of annoying behavior. When I was growing up, my father installed a bookcase in the dining room specifically for the Encyclopedia Britannica so that it would be more convenient for for him to jump up from the table and grab a volume to prove that he was right (and we were wrong) about some trivial fact.

Comment by soccermom Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:43 am
soccermom, we apparently had the same father. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:48 am
I unfortunately have the same habit of doing that too with the Blackberry

I’m guessing it can be annoying to my friends

Comment by Brian Cross Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 11:02 am
While “addiction” may be a bit strong, I have known people who cannot interact socially because they lose all sense of common decency and manners when it comes to their handheld. To me, getting a phone call in the middle of a conversation - especially at the lunch or dinner table - and getting up to walk away and answer it with out so much as an “excuse me” is the summit of rudeness today. I’ll usually take a look and see who’s calling, but I rarely take the call until lunch is over. If you can’t take 30 to 60 minutes to have lunch with someone without talking on the phone, you don’t have time to be taking the lunch at all. JMHO, of course. To me, it’s the modern equivalent of the rude aunt or uncle that screams across the house at someone in the middle of a family meal. “Like school in the summertime…”

I think it’s fairly normal today in the world of telecommuting to have a laptop handy. Often when something peaks my interest and I have a question, I’ll go to the laptop and look it up while I’m still thinking about it. To this point, it’s not an addiction, though. I’m around the ‘puter all day. I have no problem stepping away for a few hours in the evening to enjoy my family and friends. To the best of my knowledge, my laptop has never been “flagged.”

Comment by Amuzing Myself Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 11:05 am
I’ve got the Blackberry for work, but I rarely use it when not working, and my laptop never leaves the house. It’s really just a desktop replacement, anyway.

I guess I’m old fashioned, but I just use a notepad to write things down, and since I’m never wrong, I never have to look anything up.

As far as offensive use of either, I guess it’s more generalized, but I cannot stand it when someone is on the phone in a public restroom. That just makes me feel gross.

Comment by doubtful Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 11:27 am
I lived with a beeper and cell attached for years. Very rarely was there ever anything that could not be done later, decided by the well paid smart people involved in a situation, or was simply CYA. There were times when it worked well for customer relations or closing a deal. Now I watch people cut off conversations or act like without their response the world will end. It’s like listening to that all important conversation at the grocery store “Cola or Mountain Dew”. Just because you can does not mean you have to. Leave the laptop at the desk, save the Blackberry until you are alone, and check those cell numbers before answering.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 11:32 am
I have a Blackberry, but it is mostly to keep me connected to work when out and about and my laptop is too much of a hindrance to drag along.

However, when it buzzes, I let it go if I’m in the middle of doing something - having a conversation, in a meeting, driving, on a date, out with friends, etc. - or I wait for a lull in the conversation or wait until I have to go use the restroom to check it.

I rarely answer calls when I’m in one-on-one situations unless it is my boss calling and I prefer to reply to e-mails when I’m in front of a laptop or desktop computer.

Comment by Anon from BB Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 11:33 am
Rich,

You know, I guess it’s possible. I’ll ask Mom at Thanksgiving. Should keep the conversation lively.

Comment by soccermom Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 11:38 am
I don’t have a Blackberry, Lap top, camera on phone, text message knowledge or a GPS. I use the basics. A basic phone with 300 minutes that I don’t use. A desktop Apple Computer, and a foldable map. I try to keep life that sometime can be nuts real basic. My husband has all that junk and drives me nuts.

Comment by Boscobud Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 12:01 pm
Soccermom, Did you grow up in the Kankakee area?

Comment by Obamalc Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 12:02 pm
I use to have a Palm Pilot but I lost all the info so I went to a Day planner where I write every thing down and its big enough where I won’t lose it.

Comment by Boscobud Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 12:03 pm
Rich, Sorry about the typo on Obamalac, but your Mother was standing next to me waiting on my comment back to Soccermom. Dad

Comment by Obamalac Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 12:06 pm
I have a blackberry and keep it in my bag during meetings - if it goes off I don’t answer it until after the meeting is over- HOWEVER, those I meet with aren’t as courteous - they are always on their blackberry’s during meetings - they can’t concentrate on what’s going on at the meeting - they don’t interact with you anymore and it’s a waste of alot of people’s time - and my favorite is when they ask you the question again or to repeat yourself because they were on blackberry -

Comment by Annoyed all the time Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 12:10 pm
I’ve been living the web-enabled life since 1995. I just don’t allow it to interfere with my real life. Fortunately, I do not find these modern conveniences negatively impacting my daily courtesies.

The best thing about today’s communications devices is the ability to control when I receive them. So when my phones ring, I do not choose to answer them unless I wish to answer them. Alternatively, I do not wish to dive into a website unless I wish. While I do receive requests quick answers due to my abilities to uncover research using the Internet, I decide when I will do so, not that of the requestor.

I am not a jackrabbit.

I am just not that delighted with some forms of communication, such as texting, or telephones. We fall prey to misinterpretations and emotions, so I try to be cognisant of the faults with phones, so I frankly dislike them and avoid them. When I am at an event which allows me to step away from modern communications devices, I happily do so. There are plenty of devices that allows me to decide when I wish to communicate - and I utilize them.

I consider my laptop as an awesome “book”. The same rule of thumb guides it’s usage. I decide when it will be used and for how long. I refuse to live by the dictates of a computer.

My life will not be controlled in these manners.

I guess that is another reason I am a VanillaMan.

As to rudeness, I am aware that some seem to be unable to satisfy an inner need to blather endlessly, text endlessly and surf endlessly throughout the day. These people need to drink more. Preferably an Islay.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 12:32 pm
I take my MacBook everywhere. I know I need to stop, but I can’t! I lived a fine life without it, but just knowing that I could look something up, check my e-mail, go to pollster.com, or learn something important from the capfax is sometimes just too much to bear.

If there is a support group with a 12-step program, I could use the help. Maybe there’s one on-line! (And with my lap top, I could visit them anytime.)

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 12:36 pm
My name is Frank and I have a laptop problem. It goes with me everywhere - you just never know when you’re going to need. I do a lot of traveling, and you’re right, it rides shotgun. And I’ve never been ashamed or embarassed to drive through a neighborhood at barely a crawl trying to get some wireless.

Comment by Frank Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 1:04 pm
Blowing through stop signs, etc while tinkering
with their gadgets. THESE people are a threat
to public safety.

Comment by Esteban Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 1:27 pm
I’m a total Blackberry addict. I didn’t have wireless access for my laptop yesterday… but its rare that I don’t have access for my Blackberry, which is why I rely on it so much.

Strangest places / times…
Making appointments for two weeks later while waiting in the emergency room.
On the gurney awaiting surgery.
Numerous trips on the gondola going up ski slopes, and at resting points down those same slopes.
Driving in city traffic.
In the bathtub (can’t take the laptop there!)
Myriad of sporting & musical events.
On a boat traveling between different Virgin Islands.
On an airplane (with wireless off).
Finding food/drink specials while out & about.
First thing in the morning, last thing at night.

It’s great for “settling questions” during healthy debates (was it the Fannie Mae or Brach Candy building that was blown up in The Dark Knight / Batman movie?)

I also suffer from I-Phone envy, and will likely be one of the first to get the new Blackberry Storm, even if I have to change cellular carriers.

Comment by 312 Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 1:44 pm
My husband fits into all these bad categories. He reads and sends emails while driving and he constantly responds to the kids questions with “wait, I’ll look it up.” When I got my Blackberry, the kids joked that now Mom and Dad don’t have to talk to one another anymore.

Comment by Oh my Bama Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 2:13 pm
My blackberry, Bob, is almost always in my hand, rarely in my bag. Sometimes Bob is in the bathroom with me, but only for emails and texts, never the phone. Bob also enjoys the finer things in life and is always placed upon the table during meals, drinks, meetings, etc. Bob is frequently used to settle arguments. (What’s the correct spelling of “onomatopoeia”? What year was “Bonnie and Clyde” made?) Bob is also my alarm clock, my calendar, and my map.

I think I can safely say that I’m addicted to Bob. And while I may be an addict, I’m no crazy person - I have not actually named my blackberry. C’mon people.

Comment by Bill S. Preston, Esq. Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 2:14 pm
It turns out that there are quite a few campgrounds (state and private) around the country with WiFi. So now we can sit around the campfire and blog.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 2:14 pm
Hi, My name is Roy, I’m married to a laptopaholic.
It is in front of her in her home office, the den, the kitchen, her car and now (sob..) the bedroom.

Comment by RobRoy Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 2:21 pm
No.
No Blackberry.
Can’t figure out how to make my Timex Sinclair portable!

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 2:52 pm
I’m addicted, it’s true. Though I try to tamp it down when with other people. Unless they’re thumbing around with their device. Then, the door is open. Seriously though, I rarely lug around my laptop so having my BB is such a huge efficiency if I’m waiting in line or have 10 minutes between meetings when I can catch up on news, scores, email, CapFax , etc.

Comment by ITP Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 3:04 pm
Don’t have a Blackberry and have texting blocked on my cell. Had the option of adding Blue Tooth to my hearing aids and felt that was WAY TOO connected (also cost another 1400.00!)

Comment by wizard Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 3:08 pm
I once used the laptop to send an urgent political communique via an email alert system to members of my non-profit organization.

But I was in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at the time, as a patient, and I found an open wifi access point in the hospital to that was marked “free to use” as the SSID.

Comment by Balboa Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 3:27 pm
Recovering addict - one day at a time

The delivery room for my daughter’s birth - it started buzzing while my wife was pushing. The doctors, nurses and my wife were not amused…

Comment by 12 Step Program Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 3:30 pm
I’ve never done much other than to take a call during a meal (or meeting). Sometimes urgent calls come in and you do have to take them.

Unfortunately, my own wife will forever take the cake for use of laptop/cellphone. On a vacation at Four Seasons Maui, she could not get good reception in our room. So she went outside on the lanai with her laptop and phone. As a result, people on vacation were forced to listen to her business calls and that annoying sound of the keyboard. That wasn’t very nice. Somehow, her keyboard “was caused to break” a day later and we were able to enjoy our vacation.

Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 3:59 pm
I have neither CrackBerry nor laptop. No decision I make is of such time-sensitive import that I need either one. I could easily live my life without computers and related devices, although I do like checking in on Capitol Fax on the web and the convenience of electronic music media. I can do most required math in my head, use a slide rule and even an abacus. I relish the days when I could drive ten minutes outside of town and be effectively incommunicado indefinitely. Our agency used to limit the distribution of the CrackBerries to executive staff, but the coming of the Blago carpetbaggers rendered the cursed things required equipment for those in the loop and those who pretend to be. The rudest thing I have ever seen involving CrackBerries is that there are two people particularly pretentious people at IDOT who often go to the same meetings. When they get bored or one of them gets some incredibly important message, they sit - ten feet away from each other - and e-mail back and forth. And they make no attempt to hide what they are doing or do it discreetly. Incredible.

Comment by IDOT Engineer Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 6:46 pm
It is so sad that you addicts fail to realize how truly unimportant and small those Blackberrys make you look. If you were really important you wouldn’t be sitting around like a pathetic puppy waiting for a master to toss you a bone to fetch and respond to. You sit there glued to you Blackberry like seagulls on a beach fixated by a crumb someone might drop them.
FYI - we are all laughing at you.

Comment by Lakeview conservative Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 11:20 pm