Disconnection Anxiety
Posted on June 8, 2008
Filed Under Blogroll, networked society |
Hi, my name is Hiram and I have disconnection anxiety. I get nervous when the bars on my cell are scarce and when there’s no open network available. I check my Treo (yes, Blackberry’s navigation system gives me the creeps) every few minutes and respond to incoming communications promptly. This behavior does not stop when I’m on vacation.
On a recent holiday, while answering several emails on a particular thread somebody wrote–I’m sure not thinking particularly about my well being–”aren’t you on vacation? stop answering emails.” Nice people all around, one should add. It suddenly downed on me that what I was doing could be construed as “work.” But for me was really just part of my regular conversation, yet another interaction with my (virtual) surroundings.
I have a “no email left behind” policy that really works. There are no unread text messages. My Facebook friend’s requests are all dealt with (”ignore” is an answer too in Facebook). Believing in the basic goodness of the human kind and in Manuel Castells’ idea of the networked society, I tend tend to expect reciprocity. Should I not?
I share the same angst. I’ve been caught waking up in the middle of the night and check my black berry for messages.
‘La cosa’ as my friends call my blackberry sleeps under my pillow, lives in my pocket, is my best friend when I am alone, and helps me keep in touch with my ’so called life’.
I can’t remember how it was before I had it.
I sincerely believe I should be de-blackberried.
But then, how would I connect to my world…
You are a rare person if you respond to all your emails.
You can and should take a week away from email and voicemail. It will open up new perspectives. If people really need to get hold of you, they can call the hotel where you´re staying.
A lot of so-called crises resolve themselves. I used to tell my managers, make decisions while I´m gone. Don´t wait for my approval. I promise I won´t second-guess you.