Lisa at Boingboing—OK, actually, my girlfriend—wrote about our long standing debate about checking email in public. Reading it I felt indignation, and then shame, but in the end I have to yet again disagree.
I know, I’ve been rude. I’ve checked email at places like dinner, bars, at morning in bed, while we’re in the car, and when people around us start talking about boring things like politics and taxes and religion. I do it when we’re skiing on the chair lift. I do it when I’m peeing, when I’m pooing, when I’m walking the dogs and when we go shopping. And when we watch TV or movies at home. Not every minute, but I sneak in a looksie here and there.
And I think these are all great times to check email. Because my job is demanding and if I don’t check email all the time in public the only other alternative is to check email all the time from my computer. And really, the alternative reality to me being rude is a life where when shit happens while I’m away from the house, and I have to go running back to a terminal where I can write or edit posts every time something happens. Every time. It would be hell. And so I can live with rude.
Times are changing and the reality is that the social conventions that define when its appropriate to use gadgets in person are going to change, too. But for now there are nay sayers. To them, I’d say that I see these glimpses of work and fun intermingling as a gift; a chance to cheat a job where where work never really stops. So: Even if 5% of my idle clock cycles go to the internet, sapping something from real life experiences everywhere I go, I think it’s silly to take the other 95% they’ve allowed because of wireless access, for granted. I’m never going to stop. And the world will catch up.
Nathan
July 21, 2009 at 12:13 PM
It’s not just email but SMS as well, I was in a movie cinema watching a movie and a guy in the row in front of me was constantly checking his phone and the light from his device was distracting and annoying.
Also at gigs when people put there phone up to record audio and video, c’mon. Two short girls who were stuck behind me and a friend who are reasonably tall (we got there early and were not gunna move too much) they started complaining so we could here that they couldn’t see, so we relented and let them in front of us even though they were rather passive aggressive. Then halfway through the show one of them stuck their phone in front of our faces to record video and audio of a quality that would probably not be watchable (this was about 2 years ago on an old phone). So I told them in a certain way that if they kept doing it I would not be happy and they stopped.
Photos are annoying enough, gigs have the worst light and phone cameras and video were crap 2 years ago, now maybe. I can put up with the occasional photo but no video at all please.
I don’t mind in certain instances but in the cases I mentioned its unforgivable.
Report PermalinkPeter McHardy
July 21, 2009 at 2:49 PM
What a self absorbed sook you are … Work never really stops … Learn to excuse yourself and try to engage with the rest of the world when you are not ‘having a looksie’ … Oh to be able to act like a 2 year old again …
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