“I never put down my gadgets; I stay connected 24-7, and I preferably
enjoy responding to messages in public spaces, where people can see me
frenetically responding to people who need me. Collectively, all my
observations here confirm my self-importance, and that, after all, is
the importance of staying connected 24-7.Silence frightens me . .
. the monastics, the mystics, those comfortable with silence . . .
perhaps they are onto something about what truly matters in life.Nah . . .”
This was the first comment on a weekend story, “Working Constantly, Thanks to Technology” (NY Times, Feb 5, 2011). I don’t know if anyone really works constantly. I know I don’t. But I do know this: When my work device is also my leisure device, I’ve got a problem. And when this device weighs just a pound or two and boasts incredible storage and high-speed connectivity, I’m just digging myself in deeper. “Leaving work at the office” was something my Dad could do almost effortlessly, but I don’t know if today’s Dads can disconnect so easily.
