Blackberrys

I look around and they're everywhere.

Riding the Long Island Railroad into Manhattan every day, more people seem to have Blackberrys than not. People are fondling that little ball for the entire fifty minute ride, sometimes not even looking up to make eye contact with the conductor checking tickets. It's as if these little guys are life support; severe the connection and you will flat line.

Of course, there's nothing new about this; Blackberrys have been common place for years now. But that doesn't mean that it's right, damn it! Look, I'm a realist, I know Blackberrys are here to stay and there's nothing I can do to change that - nor would I want to. I want one myself because these things are useful, damn useful. You can check the internet whenever, wherever, which means you can email, tweet, watch porn and jerk off, check the weather, follow the game even though there's no TV around...Basically, you can do it all, anywhere.

But, just like everything else, let's not forget about MODERATION. Just because this wonderful technology is available does not mean you should abuse it. And the thing is, it's so easy to abuse the use of a Blackberry.

1) You've got alerts coming from every which way. With a phone you had your calls and your texts. With a Blackberry you get alerts from everything, from emails to tweets to BBMs (more on that later). With an older cell phone you got your calls, you checked your voicemails, you communicated via text. But with a Blackberry, there are so many possible alerts, which means that just when you've finally put it down - oh wait - Jeanie just tagged a photo of you, Bobby, Mitch, and Steve on Facebook dressed up as dildos for Halloween and you've just gotta check that out while you're shopping for tampons in Duane Reade. Just like that, you're back on the BB.

2) Blackberry Messaging. Oh man oh man. Remember when you thought texting was convenient? Well fuck that shit now, you've got BBM, baby! It's free and it's easy and everybody else has a Blackberry too so you can talk to almost anybody NONSTOP. With texts there was an ebb and a flow but with BBMing it's an all out assault. You can just chat and chat and chat. Instead of maybe just sending a few texts to get some details and then it's over, with BBM it can last all day long because you can just talk and talk and talk, and it's free. No charge. Simple questions and greetings now seem to always turn into a full length discussion. Now people are talking about anything. MORE TIME ON THE BLACKBERRY.

3) The QWERTY key pad makes it easy to text and BBM. It's inviting and easy to use. You may miss T9 but this shit really makes it easier.

4) I can go on and on about how having access to the internet is an obvious time consumer. You know why, I won't go into it. But when you got the internet, fuck, why not use it? Remember when you had to remember the location of a restaurant? Long gone. THE INTERNET IS ALWAYS RIGHT THERE FOR YOU.

5) It's cool. Using a Blackberry has become - more or less - a cool thing. It's cool being on ur BB! Yo, yo, yo, BB in the house. It's a status symbol. You're hip, you're cool, you're with it. If it's not a smart phone then it ain't a phone, my friend.

You get the point. There's a reason they're nicknamed CRACKberrys. All I'm trying to say is that it is easy to be consumed with these guys but people need to look up and smell the roses every now and then. I'm not saying don't enjoy the conveniences that the Blackberry affords you, I'm just saying that there comes a point where one needs to realize that there is a window on the train; that is a tree passing by that window; and maybe once in a while you should take a look at that tree passing by that window instead of dicking around on your Blackberry just because you can.

And don't forget about people. There are people all around you -- sometimes people you know. Why not give them the care and the attention they deserve. Don't have your nose in the Blackberry throughout a conversation. A lot of people I know don't even realize they're doing it either. It's become natural. It's a shame.

JUDGEMENT. CONSIDERATION. MODERATION. USE BLACKBERRY WITH CARE AND CAUTION.

Here's an image of a friend of mine with their Blackberry. Don't let this be you:


Put down the Blackberry and enjoy that beer, damn it!!!