RIM’s Evil Invention

I had the displeasure of sitting in a meeting earlier this week to discuss some tasks for a very important project. Around the table sat a bunch of mid to high level executives. Out of approximately the 15 people in the room, 8 of them had BlackBerries . Out of those 8 people, 7 of them actively scrolled through mail or their calendars on their BlackBerry…for nearly the entire meeting! While one of the meeting organizers talked, I watched, in annoyance, as the offenders toyed with their indiscreet, devices. They were either unaware or uncaring that their body language suggested that they had way more important things on their BlackBerry than providing 100% of their focus on the topic at hand.

Like many, I’m aware that executives and managers often carry the [offending] device to keep in touch with the office and emails. I’m sure RIM designed the BlackBerry - and the ability to be constantly in contact with the office - to be a good thing; unfortunately, that is not the case. For the past several months, I have developed a growing disdain for BlackBerries and the people who use them, mainly because many abuse their use. There are incidents like the one I mentioned previously for meetings, something I have observed on more than one occasion. I have also seen people nearly run into walls trying to check emails after being away from their office no more than a few minutes. It can’t be that serious that it can’t wait for you to return from the restroom.

I also have other reasons for hating the BlackBerry. It’s a chain. It’s a chain that shackles the slave (the owners of the device) to the plantation (the office) at all times. Many don’t even notice that they are slaves because they’re addicted and loyal to what the master (the BlackBerry/RIM) provides them. The idea of being in constant contact with the office is not a good thing.

People have to have proper work-life balance in their lives. You already work for “the man” at least 40 hours a day. Do you want to bring “the man” into your household and allow him to live there? That’s exactly what these people do when they don’t put their BlackBerry aside after the work day is over. While I understand that the BlackBerry is useful, it becomes a problem when you’re up typing emails at 2:00 a.m. instead of sleeping or firing off a response that really can wait while you’re enjoying a vacation on some exotic island. The sad thing is, I know people who do this. They think that the BlackBerry is akin to the second coming of Jesus…until the iPhone arrived. They don’t remember that there was life before a BlackBerry and that the office stayed at the office once you left for the day. All I do is shake my head because they truly don’t know that they have an addiction and are a slave to the grind.

That being said, here’s a little message to addicted and even not so addicted BlackBerry users. Break the chain and free yourself from the shackles of the plantation. Hop on board the freedom express by dumping your BlackBerry. I promise, you can survive.