Blackberry Dip

I admit it, Being There for someone sitting across the table fondling their Blackberry is my personal acid test for living The FISH! Philosophy.

“I know work’s been tough for you lately Sue, so I wanted to share …”

DIP

“I found this book of …”

DIP

“It’s filled with great ideas about …”

DIP

“I just though it might help you …”

DIP

“Ahhh, forget it. Take the damn book and call me later.”

DIP

Ever experience the Blackberry Dip with someone – you know, the insincere smile, the inauthentic nod of acknowledgment, the hollow look in their eyes as someone pretends to be engaged with you while constantly dipping their chin to check email, voicemail or schedules on their Blackberry?

Sure you can ask them to put it away. But it’s almost worse. Symptoms I’ve witnessed when someone’s denied temporary access to their Blackberry are sporadic twitching, wild neck craning, uncontrollable eye-blinking and unconscious attempts to receive telepathic messages from a Blackberry buried in one’s purse, pocket or briefcase.

So how do you get present with a crackberry addict?

Deb Dinnocenzo nailed it in her book Dot Calm: “technology doesn’t make people work more hours; people make people work more hours.” 

Also check out the Aug/Sept ‘05 issue of Pink Magazine. “Blackberry in the Bedroom” is a hilarious, humiliating article that offers many ways to survive the Blackberry Dip including 10 Blackberry Commandments such as this one:

“Thou shalt remember that a Blackberry is not a body appendage. It is a device that belongs in your briefcase, on your desk and not in social settings.”

If FISH! can’t help, I’m afraid for the intimacy of rich, loving conversations between real human beings. Very afraid.

Comments

[Diane Danielson]

Hi - As the author of the Pink Magazine Blackberry in the Bedroom article, I confess that my research for it put off my purchase of a Blackberry for a good six months. However, I recently broke down and got one because my travel schedule increased, and I'm ashamed to say that I've quickly become a Crackberry addict who has completely rationalized my behavior. Perhaps I should re-read my article!

[Kris Mauricio]

As one who has not joined the "Crackberry Club, " I am surrounded by those who have such tight relations with their blackberry that they dress them up, give them personalities and often reserve better seating in meetings for their tiny machines than for those of the human variety. Conversation becomes frustrating but more importantly leaves me feeling empty and second fiddle to of all things, a written interruption...not a warm voice or a smiling face but words on a screen.
Being realistic, I figure it is only a matter of time for me... I remember thinking I didn't need a cell phone and now I sleep with mine and anyone in my life knows that I am reachable 24/7. So, when I show up with an all pink version of the blackberry, fully decked out in an outfit and a case engraved with its name on it...I can only hope that I take my own advice and never let the not so subtle chirping distract me from the most crucial, valuable component of meaningful communication with another, the gift of being present.