35% of Professionals Would Choose BlackBerry Over Spouse; Take Our Poll

DR
Sep 19, 2008 8:21 AM CST

“On the other hand, 84 percent said PDAs give them more quality time and flexibility with family and friends.”

I would have to agree with the above quote.  I’d like to add too that it has made me a more efficient lawyer.  There are times when I am stuck on commuter trains or waiting around for conferences, and my blackberry allows me to respond to messages or make better use of of my time.  I don’t really check it after a certain time in the evening…as there is nothing (at least in my line of work) that can’t wait until the morning.  I feel the need to stay connected to work…but not at 2 am in the morning.  Technology has improved our lives in so many ways.  What a shame, though, that the very thing that is supposed to make our lives easier is turning us into drones/robots.  Better than science fiction. :)

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Matt
Sep 19, 2008 8:36 AM CST

Thanks for that inspiring story, Rob.  It was right on point.  Do you have any particular sherry you’d recommend for that time before dinner when we go home, change into our smoking jackets, and wait for our non-liberated wives to get some inspired gourmet food on the damn table for us?  Also, do you have any tips about how to avoid going to Hell?  Say hello to your children (barf!) for me.

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chris, student
Sep 19, 2008 9:17 AM CST

I have not had power in Columbus, Ohio for the last six days. I cannot check e-mail other than at work. It has been the happiest six days of my law school career.

Shoot your BlackBerry. Reintroduce yourself to your spouse.

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Chris
Sep 19, 2008 12:05 PM CST

I enjoy my PDA, especially when I get an email or two from the Senior Partner I work under at 6 am, or better yet, my personal favorite, wondering why we were not in the office on July 4th because it was raining, and the picnics and fireworks “should” have been cancelled.

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Mark Kaufman
Sep 19, 2008 1:02 PM CST

I am old enough to remember when they first came out with FAXs.  Opposing counsel would sit on something for months and then expect an answer moments after the FAX.  I refused to use them.  Letters gave one time to think. 

I now work almost entirely through computers, but they go to their bedroom and I and my wife go to ours.

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Diana
Sep 19, 2008 2:30 PM CST

A few years out of law school I worked for a small firm directly with the senior partner.  He insisted that I be available 24/7 via cell phone, which meant sleeping with the phone under my pillow.  He would routinely call after midnight to ask some ignorant question about a file that was at work or complain that my home fax was not working.  One Sunday at 5 am he calls me from Japan screaming at me for not being at the office.  That did it for my tolerance of being available to anyone 24/7

I now have my own firm, with no blackberry.  My cell phone number is NOT given to the staff or to clients.  If anyone wants to contact me they use the old fashioned voice mail.  My policy is return all calls asap, which I do I run the business, it does not run me.

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y
Sep 19, 2008 6:22 PM CST

#3 - Rob.  Wow you are really pathetic and need counseling.  Here’s the best quote of all “After 25 years of lousy, boring, uninspired chicken platters.”  It took you 25 years to divorce her?  You are one angry a.s.s.h.o.l.e. and seriously “God help” any woman who crosses your playboy path.  What a disgusting outlook you have on life.  Something really bad must have happened in your childhood.

On to the topic.  The headline is sad in and of itself.  Here’s my question.  If someone chooses a electronic device over a human being should seriously question why they get married in the first place.  To have kids, to have companionship, to have the tax break?  If it’s the first and the last, then well, why don’t you get married, procreate, then live in seperate homes, with your gagets.  Not sure where the kids would stay?  Maybe in a 3rd house, which would eat into any tax break you get from being married.  So bottom line?  I never understood why so many people get married and live miserably ever after.  Food for thought.  I don’t care what the circumstance, being alone (gadgets or no gadgets) is better then being miserable.

And, Rob, seriously, get counseling.

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y
Sep 20, 2008 8:46 PM CST

As you sit here on a Saturday night to check blog responses.  I seriously doubt your life is as great or grotesque as you make it sound.  And, calling your kids “barf” deserves a lot more name calling than what I called you.  So take it as a compliment.  God speed.

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nicole
Sep 22, 2008 10:37 AM CST

It’s a sad commentary when people feel “addicted” to an electronic device.  I have a blackberry and often I forget to plug it in during the week so that by the weekend, the battery has died.  It’s a great tool if you’re stuck in a boring meeting and want some distraction - be it work or reading the ABA Journal - but it’s definitely not the first thing I look at or the last thing I look at.  It has come in handy when I was bed-ridden with a foot injury.  Instead of firing up the laptop, I could do a quick bb scan and then back to watching videos!

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wendy
Sep 22, 2008 5:59 PM CST

I used my Blackberry to find a spouse.  Iinternet dating works!  I am currently with a wonderful man who is my best friend and biggest cheerleader!  Thank you, Blackberry!

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nicole
Sep 23, 2008 7:36 AM CST

I have a blackberry and I use if for my professional and personal calendar and *gasp* personal email only.  That way I avoid a lot of what you all are talking about on here.

Rob—frankly, your very transparent and your comments are juvenile and offensive and most likely belong in a support group not a professional website.  Perhaps you could volunteer at an AIDS clinic in Africa and you would have a greater appreciation for those chicken dinners.

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