Everywhere you go today people are constantly on blackberries, I-phones and all these top gadgets. You just cannot miss them! It is this new craze that is taking on traction in society. No longer is it that holders of blackberries would be corporate employees. Please. Any and everyone today appear to be walking with one, except me of course. I guess the time will come when something else has taken off. In marketing they call us laggards.
In a bid to be constantly communicating, these gadgets fill this gap. It allows users to be always connected and always accessible. I cannot bear to see blackberry users ignore protocol and disturb the environment. To this end, users of these high gadgets think it is a right to use their phones anytime. It is not a right. There is no way you should be using your phone in a meeting for personal entertainment. I can understand that at some point along the way you will be needed urgently by someone. However, it is the constant deliberate attempt to undermine those leading and other factors. Normally you would think that if you’re going to disturb a meeting hide and do it, secretly. No, users of blackberries must be seen and heard. It is sickening. Until they are in leadership roles and need that attention and feedback in a discussion that they will understand that it is really not cool to be using the phone in certain settings.
Clearly, this distracts you from the real purpose at hand and does not allow you to be productive, contributing to the tasks at hand. I have a friend who has a blackberry and he made the comment that until I have a blackberry then I will understand why users are constantly on them, even becoming distracted. I appreciate technology and the ability to communicate. I do not welcome people disrespecting others in a professional setting with the excuse of a cell-phone. Those that are trying to reach you most times are secondary, they won’t die, the economy won’t crash, and the world will still orbit the sun. Show some respect and know when to be on that cellular technology.
Some tips.
- Ensure phone is set to Silent/Vibrate before entering a meeting.
- If your phone happens to ring, allow the person to leave a message and record the person’s name and number so you can return their call AFTER the meeting NOT during.
- If your phone happens to rings aloud, apologize and tell the person on the line you will get back to them.
- Develop a habit of placing phone on silent/vibration. You are going to enter a meeting with others who are sacrificing time, be respectful for their time.
Well fellow Laggard, I am in good company. I happen to agree that there is indeed a time and a place for the use of blackberries. If one is at work and/or in a meeting, then one should be respect enough and discreet with its use, or better yet, just put in down until the moment is right. That is called discipline.
What a surprise it must be when blackberries go to court. The courts (in NYS) confiscate your blackberries upon entry to be returned later as their uses are considered questionable and no judge will tolerate cellphone use or the use of blackberries in his/her court.
@bydesign001
Thanks for the feedback.
It is really a case of having discipline. At least they (users) respect the court because there are consequences to actions.
Good points Corve. It’s extremely rude in any setting to be answering a cell phone or sending text messages when someone is giving them their time and energy.
@Steve
I agree. The 5 minute or a meeting won’t lessen the quality of life you (user) currently have. Just make that sacrifice.
More people need to read this…. So many crazy blackberry users out there!
I agree, great tips.
Agreed! You are officially on my blogroll!
@ Josh
Thanks for the feedback Josh. Love it.
I hope this blog piece will be read more on http://www.wordpress.com
There are crazy blackberry users out there and they can be saved from their indiscipline behavior.
@Keith
Thanks for the comment bro.
I hope the tips will resonate with people who read this.
@Karenlgj
Thanks for the positive feedback.
You are on my blogroll too. 🙂 So happy you liked this piece.
Let’s not forget the dangers that may come along with the use of blackberries. Some people are so focused on their blackberries that they often walk into traffic.
Last week, I saw on the news a story about a young lady who fell into the sewer. Of course, it did not help that the sewer top had been temporarily removed. When interviewed she admitted that she was so focused on the blackberry itself that she did not notice the open sewer until she was in freefall.
I live near a six lane street in an urban area. Even though there are street lights, blackberry users too often come within an inch of their lives crossing this street. Scary huh? That’s not even the half of it. What’s even scarier are those who just missed getting knocked over and don’t realize it because their attention is misplaced. That’s not scary. That’s deadly.
@bydesign001
Thanks for the comment.
Recently there have been many reports on accidents using cell phones. Did you see the report where the driver ended up in the pool. Yes, the pool. The driver is alleged to have been using 2 cell phones. Who does that? Certainly there are disadvantages of using the cell phone. It can be deadly.
Where’s a good cellphone jammer when you need one? Really. People are SO rude. Now if I’m at say the starbucks counter I just start talking loudly to the cashier in order to deter the cellphone persons conversation! Or, I’ll just ‘holler’ at the person on the cell phone to hang up and respect the person who giving them service!!
Wouldn’t these be fun…
Note I would never use as they are illegal, darn…
http://www.phonejammer.com/home.php
@somethingstosaytoday
That is one solution that many people won’t appreciate. lol
I can’t believe that technology is around.
Going off on the phone in Starbucks is a bummer.
I was trying to board a bus one morning on the way to work along with about 30 others (rush hour, NYC). Each person in a rush to get to work upon boarding the bus would slip their metrocard into the card slot. Mid-loading is this one woman, metrocard in hand, about to push her card through and her cellphone rings. Guess what? Yeah she did. Pulled her card back, dug into her bag to answer her phone while at least 20 people stood behind her trying to board the bus.
The bus driver couldn’t believe she did that along with the 20 NYers waiting to board and the 70 passengers already on the bus.
@bydesign001
Thanks for that comment. I laughed while I was reading it lol. That woman is crazy. I cannot believe what we would do without the cellular phone. It has helped us to communicate but boy it has made us make some horrible decisions along the way. That lady must be saving the world or the economy, she has to answer that call than slide her card. I have been in similar situations where my phone is ringing and I continue doing what I was doing and then answered the phone.
I can understand people expecting important calls but allowing 20 people or even more to wait. It sometimes isn’t worth the rush we put in it.
I’ve known people who injure themselves running to pick up the cell phone. lol
Thanks again.
the jammer would have been priceless! but her consternation would have delayed you even further!!!
@somethingtosaytoday
Thanks for the thoughtful feedback.
Here’s the companion piece of gear to the cellphone jammer for TVs
have fun with this at your local sports bar
http://www.tvbgone.com/cfe_tvbg_main.php
What gets me is people staring at the things in meetings. This isn’t just the BB though. They do it with any phone. We have a team meeting every day, and several people sit there staring at their phones while other people are talking. I think it’s pretty rude. If you go into a meeting and someone else is talking, pay attention to what they’re saying. It’s disrespectful otherwise.