12 Blackberry Commandments

I think you will get a few chuckles out of reading this list. I sure did because I was SO GUILTY of a few of them. In my previous life (working in the corporate world) I would check my blackberry before I went to bed and check it in the morning before getting out of bed. I will never forget finding myself in a car with someone who thinks driving and working the blackberry at the same time is cool. Thank god there is now a law in place to protect us from ourselves.

And, of course, I looked so cool on my crackberry while I waited for coffee or in airport lines instead of actually acknowledging the beautiful people or world around me. This is what we miss - in-person connections that give us the warm fuzzies, a chance to meet our next client or friend. And that rare down-time for some good ole' creative thinking.

1. Thou shalt not take the blackberry to any table with food on it or family around it. A Blackberry is not a fruit, nor does it come from a tree.
2. Thou shalt not use the Blackberry as reading material in the event of insomnia. It will only worsen your situation.
3. Thou shalt not Blackberry in lieu of responding to a child's request (e.g.,"wait a second, I'm reading something")
4. Thou shalt not place the Blackberry within distance of hearing its incessant beeps while at home. It's not a bird.
5. Thou shalt not check the Blackberry as if it were your baby. It will not cry or stop breathing.
6. Thou shalt not confuse number of emails with self-worth.
7. Thou shalt drop everything possible to misplace your Blackberry on weekends. "There's No Place Like Home" will never be the tagline for the BlackBerry company.
8. Thou shalt remember that a Blackberry is not a body appendage. It is a device that belongs in your briefcase or on your desk, not in social settings.
9. Thou shalt refrain from bringing the Blackberry to events involving family interaction. Extraneous dialogue with this contraption in lieu of real conversation suggests addiction.
10. Thou shalt never, ever, ever bring the Blackberry to bed. Do this and you are BlackBuried!
11. Thou shalt never drive AND be on the Blackberry at the same time. This is dangerous. Duh.
12. Thou shalt never check the Blackberry when in the middle of a meaningful conversation with someone. Not a good way to keep friends.

The last two I added. Do you have a Blackberry Commandment you live by to keep your sanity that should be added?

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The first 10 were reprinted with permission by Joey Reiman, BrightHouse CEO and Founder. It was originally printed in the November 2008 issue of Pink magazine.

Comments

[Ann Levine]

Great post! Love this. Must put a copy in my car and on my nightstand!