Blackberry Mania
January 5, 2010 by admncc
Happy New Year! Here at The Constant Complainer, in addition to my own posts, readers can submit Guest Posts on topics they’d like to complain about. Tall Elf is back and submitted the below-Guest Post. His complaint is texting while driving and the overuse of blackberries. A great complaint! Enjoy and without further adieu, here’s Tall Elf…
I understand the value of a blackberry. And I understand that if your company provides one to you to stay connected to your job and to be at their beck-and-call, that it is an important part of your identity. To those of you that are required and reimbursed by work to carry the wonderful piece of fruit, I commend your dedication. I myself instruct my employees to leave work at work, and home at home; if you have a bad day at work, don’t take it out on your family, and if you are having a difficult time at home, hey, why not use work as a temporary escape from reality and get down to business. But I understand that sometimes these things overlap, and it is unavoidable.
I however am a tax payer. And my taxes are paid to a state that I do not live in, but where I work. I live in a rural area where cell service is spotty, but on my way to and from work, I frequent an urban section of side streets where I see my tax dollars hard at work (sarcastically of course). If I do not have a blackberry myself, why would I want to see someone that is benefiting from my tax dollars walking in the street texting/checking email, while pushing a stroller? That is right. The other day I was on my way home and an observed a woman pushing a stroller through the middle of a 5-point intersection while texting/emailing in the street. I would like to know what was so important that she had to do that in the middle of the intersection. Not even looking because I guess that the crosswalk was her ticket to not be wary of her surroundings. Once she hit the curb, she put the phone away and continued on her way. If someone had hit her, I am sure that the newspaper would have read, “Mother and child struck by vehicle.” Not, “Woman texting walks out in front of car.”
In an unrelated incident there was a tractor-trailer from a winery in Maine hauling grapes down the highway on a dark and stormy day. I had pulled into the left lane to pass a few cars because they were doing 35 on the interstate (that is another blog waiting to happen) and this guy pulls up behind me, mind you I was doing about 70 in the 65, and starts flashing his lights and riding my tail, as if I am going to pull over to the right into the side of another vehicle. I am not going to disclose the name of the company but there was a phone call made to his HQ to discuss the matter, and I was informed that there were no drivers in that area that morning. When I advised them of the truck ID# and License Plate # they hung up on me. That man was on his cell phone too and since it was in upstate NY, it was against the law as well.
Can we just put down the phones? Is that too much to ask? They serve a great purpose in case of an emergency; however most times they are not used for emergency purposes.
*** This section was added by The Constant Complainer. In addition to driving, are blackberries a distraction in general. A guy was just telling me about a non-driving story yesterday. He was at his kid’s basketball game and the big star (not his son) had a phenomenal game. The star apparently set a record, but his mother, who was at the game, didn’t see it, because she didn’t move her head up once to watch the game – because she was texting the entire time…
Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blackberries, cell phones, IPods, you name it. If it goes in or against your ear, you become a total moron to the world around you. I work in an eye doc’s office. 95% of the patient’s under the age of 25 have a cell phone glued to their ear or to their fingers. I call their name in the waiting room, they never look up as the walk into the exam room. They slouch in the chair, texting away while I am trying to get a medical history from them. I end up saying, “come find me when you’re done if you want your eye exam.” The usual response is “Whatever”. Not to single them out, adults too will answer a ringing cell phone in the midst of an eye exam. “Yeah. I’m at the eye doctor’s. I dunno. Hold on.” They look at me and say “How long is this gonna take?” JHC, YOU booked the appointment, Bozo! My response, “Depends on how long you’re going to talk on that phone.” Amazing. A whole society apparently raised by wolves.
Thanks for the welcome back…and the opportunity to voice my opionion.
With that being said, who is this Tallelf? Doesn’t he realize that elf’s are not tall? Anyway, what do State Government employees carrying blackberry devices have to do with this baby’s mamma walking across the street? Or was it his problem with the baby carrriage not being pushed fast enough? Was the baby’s mamma a State Employee? See, I am confused! And why does the Tallelf think we care what he tells his employees about the work vs. home seperation… What is his heartburn with paying taxes to the state in which he earns his salary? I like my blackberry. I do not use it when driving. I do however thinkthat outlawing cell phones while driving is an assanine idea. What’s next, no eating while driving? My complaint is people who call themnselves Tall Elf… Elf means vertically challenged!
I had a girl texting during yoga class last night.
I agree that many people seem to live through their technology rather than in the real world. They are truly missing life. There can be balance. Cell phones and other technology can enhance our lives and I have no problem with it used in moderation and not used while driving or while expecting service to be rendered. Around here, there are many signs up that indicate you will not be served if you are on the phone. Doctor’s offices ask that the phones be turned off.
I’m an advocate of hands-free devices for driving.
Dude, great post. Cell phones and texting are taking over the world. And it is causing a decline of social skills with today’s youth. How’s that for a global complaint?
Zig, something tells me that your not a golfer. Anyways as far as her being a state employee, and being on state and local payroll, those are two entirely different things. You obviously work for a living, and pay taxes in many ways, but she probably isn’t required to pay taxes on her income, based on multiple factors that I don’t care to get into.
Dan, today’s youth, middle aged, and even some senior citizens are impacted by the digital era. I am a huge proponent to advances in technology to assist the everyday lives, but where it kills me is when people become so dependent on technology that they can’t count back change, read a map, or even tell directions.
CC I appreciate you providing a venting post for rant’s raves and general brain droppings.
Also, I wonder if the woman in Toledo’s rage for not being able to get chicken nugets and punching out the window in the drive through was driven by the need for instant gratification which this technology driven society has pushed us into. Think about it, how many of you get frustrated when your internet connection is slow.(taking more than 1.2 seconds to load a page). Just makes me think.
I am very happy to say that I do not own a blackberry or other device. I have an old-school cell phone and hate texting. 🙂
But it does make me wonder what is so important that people have to be texting their friends/family constantly.
Tall Elf makes some excellent points. I appreciate the way we keep expanding on the technology front, but I think that all of these great communication tools have diminished face to face communication.
p.s….Zig “works” for the gov’t. He’s your typical gov’t “worker” that is protected by his precious union so when he screws something up, or wastes tax dollars, or doesn’t even work at all, he cannot be fired…I just hope he isn’t part of the 25% of all federal workers that will be downsized after King Barry is removed from the office of Tyrant of the United States…
I love this article (I read it while driving home on my Palm Pre).
Probably my biggest pet peeve in the world, seriously. I hate that my friends get annoyed with me for being annoyed with them for texting/talking while driving. WTFH? KEEP THE PHONE TURNED OFF, that’s what voicemail is for!!
So, tallelf, you can tell what his woman crossing the street, talking on her phone does to earn a living? That is incredible. You wouldn’t be steriotyping, would you?
NCD, at least I have a job and am a contributing member to society!
Happy New Year bro, I hope you and your family had an excellent holiday season 🙂
Now in regards to the guest post, excellent. I am so sick and tired of being almost killed by other idiots each morning and night during my commute! I had a girl that worked for me that actually use to brag about texting and driving, she is younger and certainly not easy to get through to, but time and time again I would try to explain her of the dangers of texting and driving. She never listened.
One day she finally had an accident, and I am proud to announce….. it didn’t change a thing, she still does it till this day. Unreal.
Back to tinyelf… How can you pretend to know that this woman yuo saw crossingthe street is a vagrant? Maybe she works nights so she can care for her kid during the day… Maybe she is a computer programmer and wqas deeply engrossed in writing code when you saw her crossing the street on her blackberry. Without a job, how could she afford a Blackberry?
Now, I’ve seen you. I know you. You don’t impress me. Can I assume you are lazy? Can I assume that you treat your son poorly? Can I assune you are a bad guy? I just put it out there for everyone to see… Don’t assume. YOU don’t know her business. By making assumptions about other people, you diminish yourself and your opinions!
She may end up being a night wharehouse manager for a multinational telecom company. You don’t know! Don’t assume! Pay your taxes. YOu are becoming too much like NCD!
…Zig…gov’t “workers” do not contribute to society. They are a drain on society because you are paid with my tax dollars. You don’t have a job until the money is taken from the producers of this great land. Until you have a gov’t job that ensures liberty and supports and defends the Constitution, you are a drain and a cost not a contributor…unlike me! I have contributed more to this economy and to the cause of liberty and freedom in 2009 than you have since you were awarded with your gov’t “job.”
I’m reading this on my phone. But I’m sitting in a restaurant, not driving. Maybe just as bad, but still safer.
NCD, what is the second leading source of revenue for the Federal Government next to the IRS? That’s right, collecting duty on imports. What agency kept this country financially afloat during the civil war? The answer to both these questions is The United States Customs Service. Befofe you talk your shit aboiut Govbernment agencies being a drain on the economy and “stealing” your tax dollars, which you don’t pay, do a little research, asshole1
Oh yeah..You’re welcome!
uhh…so you are suggesting I don’t pay taxes…???? That would be illegal….
…illegal unless I’m a member of The Tyrant in the White House’s cabinet…appearantly it’s okay to not pay your taxes when you have one of those jobs…
Jane, at least you read full words that someone put some effort behind, instead of mndlss jrgn tht cldn’t b frthr frm th inglsh lngng. ttfn
NCD, you said that you paid little tax, because of your creative financial engineering. You may pay tax, but you don’t psy your fair share and you don’t do it quietly!
Tallelf, stop hitting on Jane! You are both too “country” and too “bald” for her liking!
Zig, you are a liberal elitist that thinks he can determine what the “fair share” is for someone. That’s exactly why King Barry’s administration is failing. I pay what I am required to legally pay, and I can assure you that it is far more than what I should pay. Gov’t is only good for building roads and dropping bombs. Everything else is a waste of money. I can’t wait for King Barry to be removed from office, and a new conservative President comes in and fires 25% of the federal workforce…I’ll be giggling…
NCD, actually, your new conservative shit eater won’t be firing any employees of the Customs and BORDER PROTECTION agency. See, conservatives love to play up the fact that they are strong on Border Security and by firing %25 of ther members of my agency, an president would be cutting off his head to spite his face!
The “Fair” share is an established mathmatic equation based on the income, idiot! See, my wife and I make X, therefore, we pay X % of x…We have a child (society building)so we get the benefit of a tax credit!
Any other questions?
…A conservative would build a wall you putz…and then fire 25%. Thanks for defining fair share…I pay much more than that…
NCD, if you pay more than your “fair share,” who’s a moron? I hate…my complaint is people who complain about paying taxes, but still want to enjoy the benefits that taxes buy, like an orderly society! I want to nominate NCD for Moron of the week!
…taxes do not buy benefits. The US tax code has deteriorated into thievery and thuggery. You’ll understand after the first state secedes and there is only a consumption tax in the New America. Income tax, social security tax, medicare tax, and King Barry’s new tax on healthcare insurance will not exist. Here’s the “divorce letter…”
Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists,Marxists
and Obama supporters, et al:
We have stuck together since the late 1950’s, but the whole of this latest
election process has made me realize that I want a divorce.
I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future
generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course.
Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what
is right so let’s just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it
up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.
Here is a model separation agreement:
Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a
portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come
to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our
respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both
sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.
We don’t like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome
to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and war, we’ll
take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. You can keep Oprah,
Michael Moore and Rosie O’Donnell (You are, however, responsible for
finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them).
We’ll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies,
Wal-Mart and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys,
hippies and illegal aliens. We’ll keep the hot
Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO’s and rednecks. We’ll keep the Bibles
and
give you NBC and Hollywood ..
You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we’ll retain the right to
invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war
protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we’ll
help provide them security.
We’ll keep our Judeo-Christian values.. You are welcome to Islam,
Scientology, Humanism and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N… but
we will no longer be paying the bill.
We’ll keep the SUVs, pickup trucks and over-sized luxury cars.
You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.
You can give everyone health care if you can find any practicing doctors.
We’ll continue to believe health care is a luxury and not a right.
We’ll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem.
I’m sure you’ll be happy to substitute Imagine, I’d Like to Teach
the World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World.
We’ll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up poverty
your best shot. Since it often so offends you, we’ll keep our history,
our name and our flag.
Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like minded
liberal and conservative patriots.
In the spirit of friendly parting, I’ll bet you ANWAR which one of us
will need whose help in 15 years.
Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American
P.S. Also, please take Barbara Streisand & Jane Fonda with you.
Here in Arizona nobody could figure out how to get people to use the HOV lanes on the freeways, besides the pregnant women who say they are driving for two, and the ones that use very life-like blow-up dolls, according to the local police. Until, that is, the HOV lanes were re-named the texting lanes, now you can’t get on the darn things at all!
John Wall, like any good Republican, makes half good points and half moronic cheerleader chants, complete with stomping and clapping. Looks like we need to divide the U.S. into thirds instead, but the greedy CEOs / NAFTA sellouts and imperialists will not be taking my flag with them. I’m not worried about the Constitution since neither of the other two groups would want it, so I’ll take that, too.
I know you love Walmart, Don, but you have to see the real cost that you’re paying. The Chinese exploit their own people to satisfy our materialism. They are slaves to their government and must live in unimaginable poverty and filth. Sewage and waste is simply pumped offshore to keep costs down. On top of that, they produce poisonous toys that we give to our children and other junk that has to be replaced in a couple of months due to shoddy materials and craftsmanship. This is not sustainable. Start buying local product and you will be ahead of the curve. Better yet, start producing local product and you could be a visionary. Just a hint to any aspiring entrepreneurs…
The unfortunate reality that we live in Tristan is that the problem isn’t just Walmart. Those exact same toys are on the shelves at every toy store and department store. I liked your idea about actually producing our own products. Too bad the gov’t has no interest in having companies actually produce goods in America. If card check gets passed, the unions will once and for all put the manufacturing sector out of business in America, and EVERY product we buy will come from South East Asia.
But I have to admit, WalMart has turned me off recently. They have inked deals with General Electric ( a company I am boycotting forever), and they are using the global warming lie as a way to make huge profits. A few years ago, Walmart represented American excellence…today, they look like a greedy progressive large business that’s in bed with the liberal Washington elite….At least I can still carry my loaded gun in there when I shop though….
No doubt, the current direction of things makes what I say quite unrealistic (and I don’t mean to imply that Walmart is the problem, just the king of low cost / low quality), but a corner is dead ahead. There is always an equilibrium that exists, and when we push too far in one direction, this balance has a way of snapping us right back in the other direction. The harder we push, the more violent the reaction. I’m gonna get a head start in the other direction to soften the blow. I don’t think any union or government is going to stand in the way for long.
It’s sad, but this is the way of the world now…..
Unfortunately, it does seem to much to ask of people to put down their beloved blackberries. Ever run into a coworker with Blackberry withdrawal symptoms? It’s not pretty. Picture some dude (or girl) with a glazed look in their eye, arms outstretched in classic zombie-movie fashion, thumbs straight out and gyrating, reaching for that imaginary trackball.
And why is it that most blackberry owners seem to be multitasking workaholics? Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be so much of an issue, except when you’re driving in morning traffic next to some toad who’s simultaneously texting, talking, shaving, munching a blueberry bagel, coffee, while flipping the bird to the unfortunate soul in the car next to him. Fun stuff.
~to the tune of Grandma got run over by a reindeer~
“TallElf almost got run over by a grand ma
talking on her cell phone on the highway.
You can say she was using her hands-free
but that’s no excuse to put on makeup and drink coffee.
She nearly ran in to my saturn…
It is such a lovely car
I bet she was talking to her grandchild
and dropped words that they should never hear from her
Can you please put down your cell phone
and concentrate while you drive.
we’d be be safer on the highway
and get to where we’re going still alive.