Comments on: BlackBerry-itis: An Illness http://www.selfmademom.net/2006/12/11/blackberry-itis-an-illness/ Off-Ramped and Unbalanced Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Lunching with BlackBerrys » Self-Made Mom http://www.selfmademom.net/2006/12/11/blackberry-itis-an-illness/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Lunching with BlackBerrys » Self-Made Mom Wed, 16 May 2007 01:37:56 +0000 http://selfmademom.net/2006/12/11/blackberry-itis-an-illness/#comment-90 [...] admit I’m not totally innocent in my BlackBerry use.  I have suffered in the past from acute reliance on my little blue electronic box. But I’ve learned to put it away in optimal social [...] [...] admit I’m not totally innocent in my BlackBerry use.  I have suffered in the past from acute reliance on my little blue electronic box. But I’ve learned to put it away in optimal social [...]

]]> By: M.A.M.D - Mother Against Multitasking (while) Driving » Self-Made Mom http://www.selfmademom.net/2006/12/11/blackberry-itis-an-illness/comment-page-1/#comment-89 M.A.M.D - Mother Against Multitasking (while) Driving » Self-Made Mom Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:24:25 +0000 http://selfmademom.net/2006/12/11/blackberry-itis-an-illness/#comment-89 [...] I’m here to tell you that multitasking while driving doesn’t mix. (I’m in no way making light of M.A.D.D. here. There’s nothing funny about drunk driving.)  See, in the five months I’ve been back at work I’ve been in two, count ‘em two, car accidents.  Luckily, neither were terribly serious, although I did have to call the pesky insurance agent about accident number two.  How did these happen you ask? Well, admittedly, in one of the incidents, I was chatting on my cell phone and trying to merge onto one of Chicago’s busiest streets while checking my BlackBerry (I may have an illness,  but don’t tell me you’ve never done this before.).  [...] [...] I’m here to tell you that multitasking while driving doesn’t mix. (I’m in no way making light of M.A.D.D. here. There’s nothing funny about drunk driving.)  See, in the five months I’ve been back at work I’ve been in two, count ‘em two, car accidents.  Luckily, neither were terribly serious, although I did have to call the pesky insurance agent about accident number two.  How did these happen you ask? Well, admittedly, in one of the incidents, I was chatting on my cell phone and trying to merge onto one of Chicago’s busiest streets while checking my BlackBerry (I may have an illness,  but don’t tell me you’ve never done this before.).  [...]

]]> By: Al http://www.selfmademom.net/2006/12/11/blackberry-itis-an-illness/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Al Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:35:12 +0000 http://selfmademom.net/2006/12/11/blackberry-itis-an-illness/#comment-88 Thanks. Fun article. I have a friend who aptly calls her husband's Blackberry his "GameBoy" as there is a striking similarity between both the posture and addiction to the device. On a more serious note, the addiction could be real. Edward Hallowell who wrote "Delivered from Distraction" described that there is dopamine squirt in the brain that accompanies the ringing or vibrating of a cellphone. Dopamine is addictive and also associated with risky behaviour, depression, drugs and alcohol. I am not an expert on this but some followup research could make a great article on your blog. Self control and even pride play a role. It is no longer cool to be tied to your digital device. In fact don't the Blackberry addicts look like indentured servants these days? -A Thanks. Fun article. I have a friend who aptly calls her husband’s Blackberry his “GameBoy” as there is a striking similarity between both the posture and addiction to the device.

On a more serious note, the addiction could be real. Edward Hallowell who wrote “Delivered from Distraction” described that there is dopamine squirt in the brain that accompanies the ringing or vibrating of a cellphone. Dopamine is addictive and also associated with risky behaviour, depression, drugs and alcohol. I am not an expert on this but some followup research could make a great article on your blog.

Self control and even pride play a role. It is no longer cool to be tied to your digital device. In fact don’t the Blackberry addicts look like indentured servants these days?

-A

]]>