"Omg... I just got a BBM, wait let me respond it!" Does it sound familiar? this is the new text message, but free! that is what makes it so appealing for many people, not to mention free Internet access and being able to update facebook and twitter, and all this can be done at any time of the day. morning, night, while doing homework, at work, etc.
I am not criticizing the blackberry by saying they are bad, I own one myself and don't see how I would survive without it. However, is it getting out of control? the blackberry's primary function was to help business people respond important emails and BBM another co worker. but now everyone has one and the free messaging and facebook updates is just irresistible for teens. How many times have you answerd an unnecessary BBM just because? or a facebook comment? I am a teen so I know I have. This is where the problem starts, some people can control that action but others can't or wont... I remember a dinner I had with my cousins, they are all boys and get along very well with each other. So we were sitting, talking having and OK time, (I live far away from them and there is 1, 3 and 5 years in difference between me and the three of them) they were all BBMing and suddenly they just stand at the same time and leave, I found it pretty rude because I can only see them once a year for two weeks and I actually like them, I mean I look up to them. Anyways, that just showed they were talking to each other at the table, when they were there in person, even before I got to the dinner they were talking to each other in the BBM, and the table was quiet, compared to how loud it normally is when 3 good friends are together. But this problem is not only between teens but also adults, there isn't an event or a gathering where I don't see people BBMing, Facebooking, answering or just doing something with their Blackberries. Note that if a businessman/woman does this then it is clearly reasonable, but if a person does it because he/she is bored in a gathering then why go to the gather. Couples at dinner would rather BBM or do something with their phones, instead of actually talking to each other! and not to judge in that relationship but if you go to a dinner with someone and that is how it goes... then why bother showing up? why not ask for delivery? it sure is easier...
what I am trying to show is how we now are just miss our life. the dinner was the 1 out of 2 times I saw my cousins that year and the second time... I wouldn't really count it. not that I did not have fun at the dinner we did talk and share stories and I had fun but... The couple at the table, it is just sad, why would you go out with someone just to look at your phone? Or why would you go to a birthday, party, reunion and just BBM instead of socializing with the people that are already there? I am not saying the Blackberry is bad, I LOVE my Blackberry, but people need to understand when is the right time to use it. at a dinner party meeting the cousin you only get to see once a year is not really the right time, Christmas eve with your family is not the right time to BBM or use the phone at all, and like this there are many more moment one just need to know which time is right. And there is a right time.
