Put the Device Down! Posted on February 12th
I consider myself a gadget guy. Usually I keep close my Zune (used to be my iPod), Windows Mobile phone with Internet access, digital voice recorder for making notes in the car, Nintendo DS for some quick gaming and my laptop for pretty much everything else. I love me some devices! Because of my line of work, I leverage these devices to make my life easier and more fun. If I were to be without them I would be very sad. So I’m a little dependant on them, yes.
With all that said, I do draw the line in some places. For example, I do NOT take my devices into the bathroom if it wasn’t already in my pocket. I do not check my e-mail in the bathroom. I do not talk on my phone in the bathroom. I do not listen to music or watch videos in the bathroom.
I know you’re thinking “of course not Sean, that’s gross,” but it happens. I hear device sound effects all the time in the stalls of the bathroom. But I’d like to call out an instance last Friday. I was walking into the bathroom. The man a couple steps in front of me pulls out his Black Jack, a nice Windows Mobile phone. As he walks up to the wall to do his business he is flying away on his phone, presumably checking his e-mail.
“For the love of all things holy,” I think. This man is checking his mail and going to the bathroom at the same time. Kinda reminded me of a Seinfeld episode. Was he so busy he couldn’t wait to get back to his computer to check his e-mail? Or the very least check his mail on his phone OUTSIDE of the bathroom?
Well, I was out of there before he had a chance to further flabbergast me, and that would be the end of my blog except today I saw the same man talking on the same phone in the bathroom. NAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Sean.
Trackback URL
I think there are some serious cleanliness issues with this type of behavior. For instance, did he wash his hands after he was done with his business (I hope so)? Did his unclean hands touch the Black Jack before he could wash them (I’ll bet they did)? This is how germs get spread and colds get started.
Commented mikewatters on February 14th, 2007.I agree. It’s bad enough when people talk on the phone in the bathroom… it’s creepy. Not sure why that is, but it does feel wrong to listen to a one-sided conversation in a restroom.
Commented sbush on February 16th, 2007.And if you’re that connected that you simply must check your mail in the john, you probably should seek some help.