Comments on: If a BlackBerry Is a “CrackBerry,” Then What Is a Treo? http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/ Harangues that just make sense Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:30:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: assistant devil's advocate http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120463 assistant devil's advocate Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:58:59 +0000 http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/5496/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120463 do you feel brio when you're on your treo? do you feel brio when you’re on your treo?

]]> By: krazy kagu http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120146 krazy kagu Sun, 10 Dec 2006 22:27:45 +0000 http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/5496/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120146 Al Gore must be hooked on crackberries why else is he suc a crack-pot? Al Gore must be hooked on crackberries why else is he suc a crack-pot?

]]> By: Steve M. http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120118 Steve M. Sun, 10 Dec 2006 20:31:30 +0000 http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/5496/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120118 My theory is that the constant flow of messages from lots of different people, combined with a snazzy gizmo that not long ago was in the realm of science fiction, makes us feel important. We add to that feeling of self-importance by convincing ourselves that we have to respond RIGHT NOW and we have to check for messages RIGHT NOW or we might miss something crucial. The truth is, few of us are so important that our messages can't wait for a few hours or even a day while we tend to our real lives. The here and now should always take precedence. It's not just more polite, it's smarter, because we have a limited amount of time in this world and we shouldn't forget to experience it. My theory is that the constant flow of messages from lots of different people, combined with a snazzy gizmo that not long ago was in the realm of science fiction, makes us feel important. We add to that feeling of self-importance by convincing ourselves that we have to respond RIGHT NOW and we have to check for messages RIGHT NOW or we might miss something crucial. The truth is, few of us are so important that our messages can’t wait for a few hours or even a day while we tend to our real lives. The here and now should always take precedence. It’s not just more polite, it’s smarter, because we have a limited amount of time in this world and we shouldn’t forget to experience it.

]]> By: Dana http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120087 Dana Sun, 10 Dec 2006 17:12:45 +0000 http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/5496/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120087 Regardless if its a fluff piece or not, I sure wouldn't call it a 'highly amsuing' piece....more like another sad evidence of the sign of the times. As if modern families weren't already struggling to remina intact, and children weren't already screwed up enough by popped into daycare 12 hours a day....now we have another form of 'absent parents'. How depressing. Regardless if its a fluff piece or not, I sure wouldn’t call it a ‘highly amsuing’ piece….more like another sad evidence of the sign of the times. As if modern families weren’t already struggling to remina intact, and children weren’t already screwed up enough by popped into daycare 12 hours a day….now we have another form of ‘absent parents’. How depressing.

]]> By: assistant devil's advocate http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120080 assistant devil's advocate Sun, 10 Dec 2006 16:01:28 +0000 http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/5496/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120080 i hear that typing on blackberries makes your thumbs sore. if treos have tiny buttons, same thing. saw an article about the sf 49ers before the new orleans game, qb alex smith was texting his old high school backfield teammate, reggie bush, on a blackberry. first thing i'd do if i were the coach, take it away from him. last thing we need is a qb with sore thumbs. i hear that typing on blackberries makes your thumbs sore. if treos have tiny buttons, same thing.
saw an article about the sf 49ers before the new orleans game, qb alex smith was texting his old high school backfield teammate, reggie bush, on a blackberry. first thing i’d do if i were the coach, take it away from him. last thing we need is a qb with sore thumbs.

]]> By: Bradley J. Fikes http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120044 Bradley J. Fikes Sun, 10 Dec 2006 14:23:28 +0000 http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/5496/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-120044 That article is just a series of anecdotes posing as a trend article. Jack Shafer has <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2126636/" rel="nofollow">some apropos words</a> on this bad habit. Words like "many" and "some" are weasel-words, used to disguise the lack of hard data. If it were presented just as a string of anecdotes, the article would be fine, but it pretends to charting some larger-scale phenomenon. Like this: "The refusal of parents to follow a few simple rules is pushing some children to the brink." How many children? Has anything like a rigorous survey been conducted? Not that the article mentions, and it should make note of that. Or this: "Some mental-health professionals report that the intrusion of mobile email gadgets and wireless technology into family life is a growing topic of discussion in therapy." Or this: "For many parents, finding the right balance is a struggle." How many? The article gives no numbers. This article is empty journalistic calories -- tasty, but not nutritious. That article is just a series of anecdotes posing as a trend article. Jack Shafer has some apropos words on this bad habit. Words like “many” and “some” are weasel-words, used to disguise the lack of hard data. If it were presented just as a string of anecdotes, the article would be fine, but it pretends to charting some larger-scale phenomenon.

Like this: “The refusal of parents to follow a few simple rules is pushing some children to the brink.”

How many children? Has anything like a rigorous survey been conducted? Not that the article mentions, and it should make note of that.

Or this: “Some mental-health professionals report that the intrusion of mobile email gadgets and wireless technology into family life is a growing topic of discussion in therapy.”

Or this: “For many parents, finding the right balance is a struggle.”

How many? The article gives no numbers.

This article is empty journalistic calories — tasty, but not nutritious.

]]> By: Anwyn http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-119977 Anwyn Sun, 10 Dec 2006 08:07:50 +0000 http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/5496/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-119977 object=deny. object=deny.

]]> By: Anwyn http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-119962 Anwyn Sun, 10 Dec 2006 07:39:04 +0000 http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/5496/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-119962 "I strenuously deny? Is that how it works? 'Disbelieved.' 'No, no, no, no, I *strenuously* deny.' 'Oh, well if you strenuously object, let me take a moment to reconsider.'" :) “I strenuously deny? Is that how it works? ‘Disbelieved.’ ‘No, no, no, no, I *strenuously* deny.’ ‘Oh, well if you strenuously object, let me take a moment to reconsider.’”

:)

]]> By: fishbane http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-119943 fishbane Sun, 10 Dec 2006 07:04:49 +0000 http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/5496/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-119943 Heh. After a serious connectivity addiction/job from '96-01, wherein I found, um, personal activities with my then partner interrupted by various electronic methods that allowed others to get my attention, I banned them from my life, and refuse to have a cell phone. If I'm not in my home/office, I dont want to be contacted. Normally not a problem, because my business ties me to my house almost all the time, but still. When I go out for dinner or a pint, I'm not contactable. What a bleak, horrible future we live in. Heh. After a serious connectivity addiction/job from ‘96-01, wherein I found, um, personal activities with my then partner interrupted by various electronic methods that allowed others to get my attention, I banned them from my life, and refuse to have a cell phone. If I’m not in my home/office, I dont want to be contacted. Normally not a problem, because my business ties me to my house almost all the time, but still. When I go out for dinner or a pint, I’m not contactable. What a bleak, horrible future we live in.

]]> By: DRJ http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-119931 DRJ Sun, 10 Dec 2006 06:58:19 +0000 http://patterico.com/2006/12/09/5496/if-a-blackberry-is-a-crackberry-then-what-is-a-treo/#comment-119931 The article paints a sad portrait of obsessive, immature adults. However, their children seem mature beyond their years and most have an excellent vocabulary. So they've got that going for them. The article paints a sad portrait of obsessive, immature adults. However, their children seem mature beyond their years and most have an excellent vocabulary. So they’ve got that going for them.

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