No subject

=20
>Given that I use my blackberry to follow this list=20
>top posting  is the only option I have.=20
>And several other people do so as well.
=20
Agnes Charrel-Berthillier
=20
> He is right about the Blackberry though.=20
> Quoted material  cannot be edited, you=20
> can't write below it. And the sig block=20
>  is added by the server, so you cannot remove it.
=20
Ah. =20
=20
I am not a fan of the Blackberry.=20
=20
Allow me to comment on the technology without
intending any offense to  the users thereof in=20
general or any particular user in the  immediate
case. In fact, let me specify I'm talking
about use of  Blackberries at work, rather
than this, recreational, situation.=20
=20
I am not a fan of the Blackberry.=20
=20
Imagine that a letter goes out. Some senior-ranking
employee gets a  carbon-copy of the long document.
It=E2=80=99s intended for either another person or  a general
group. It is not directed at you, personally.  You -- =20
being a second person literary convention, only -- you
high ranking  person, are included as a courtesy. FYI. =20
Because your years and  long-experience are still respected,
this copy of our e-mail -- which is  easily provided
at no perceptible expense --  is being sent to  you.
This "cc;" indicator in the address line is intended
to tip you off  that we just mean to let you know what=20
sorts of things the younger minions,  yours and your
peers',  are actually and productively doing.  We  have
things under control, as evidenced by the length,
careful structure,  corrected spelling, and formal tone
of the original document.  No  questions are being
directed to you. No decision on your part is  requested,
required, expected or desired.  We appreciate that
you  have tasks of your own to accomplish.  Many of
us, too many, have not  internalized the wisdom of Miles
Vorkosigan regarding the high risk of  sending interim
reports.  And so, we provide you, somebody  else=E2=80=99s
boss, a copy of this carefully crafted work of prose.
=20
You, then, senior person use your Blackberry to --
hmm, how shall  I phrase this non-pejoratively? --
"respond". Typically revealing that most  of the=20
original document has gone unread. Revealing that=20
spelling  without software assistance is a dying art.
Revealing that typing with two  thumbs is less accurate
than typing with ten fingers. Revealing that the =20
quantity of thought going into a 100 character=20
message, created within a  minute of  receipt of
the original pages, is consistant with the length =20
of the response.  Revealing that software can be=20
as limiting as it  is empowering. Revealing  that=20
with great power comes great ability  to  respond=20
immediately, inaccurately, and irresponsibly.=20
Revealing  that the most thoroughly thought-thru
portion of the returned message is the  auto-signature=20
block. And  revealing that certain workers, even in =20
this 21st century,  blame their tools for the =20
poor quality of  their work. =20
=20
I am not a fan of the Blackberry.=20
=20
Theoretically it is possible that a senior=20
person entitled to a  company-purchased Blackberry=20
may, by virtue of long years tap dancing thru  the=20
figurative mine-fields of the profession, recognize=20
that the junior  -- or less promote-able --=20
person sending the longer document has strayed =20
into what she recognizes as just such dangerous=20
terrain.  And so  she may feel compelled to quickly=20
send warning. Yes, I do understand the  theoretical=20
utility of the device.=20
=20
I have never seen the theory realized.  =20
=20
Theoretically, an eminent but distant person might
interrupt a session  at the beach, floating in the
sunlight waters while sipping from tall  drinks
with fruit on sticks in them, to punnch up a short
encouraging word  to the younger, hard working,
toilers left in the trenches. Encouraging,  or
even helpful, direction or advice that merely
adds a tiny bit of  impetus or modest amount of=20
correction to a course already acknowledged to  be
well set and underway. Theoretically, these short
little shouts from  far away will NOT stop traffic
in all directions. They will NOT make  everybody
who get these messages angry, doubtful, or hesitant. =20
Theoretically.
=20
Strangely, a short message from far away is, in
practice, less helpful  than silence.=20
=20
I am not a fan of the Blackberry.=20
=20
The Blackberry, the IM, ICQ , and similar=20
technologies enable and favor  quick, immediate,=20
abbreviated remarks over slower, longer, and=20
more  delayed response, They  tend, I fear, to=20
affect e-discussion much the  way giving a bullhorn=20
to a heckler affects a symposium.  One party =20
has taken the time to prepare charts and evidence,=20
to organize her  thoughts and to structure her=20
presentation, before taking a turn at the  lectern=20
and leaning in toward the microphone.  And another=20
party  randomly tosses in a quick -- not, necessarily,=20
evil, stupid, or rude;  though nothing at all=20
prevents those --  reaction.  When half the  audience=20
have bullhorns ready why bother taking turns at the =20
lecturn?  Why not simply shout rude short slogans=20
at each other  before the inevitable fisticuffs?=20
=20
I am not a fan of the Blackberry.=20
=20
You may write me down as a hopeless and reactionary=20
curmudgeon on this  matter.  In fact, I insist. If=20
you happen to have my e-mail address on  your device=20
I would be obliged to you for removing it.(I do not,
of  course, even have an IM address, so far as I know.) =20
If you may write  down certain addresses for which
no such messages may be sent, -- a "do not  text-msg"=20
list --  I would likewise be thankful that my=20
address be  included.=20
=20
I am not a fan of the Blackberry.=20
=20
It would be completely and eminently fair to suggest=20
that this  particular lengthy screed could be boiled=20
down in its entirety to the one  simple line I've repeated=20
several times.  Which line, quite easily,  could have=20
been typed with two thumbs on a tiny keyboard and sent=20
round  the world within moments of the original comments=20
being posted.  But  had I simply and baldly disclosed my=20
disgust for the device I might have  given even more offense=20
than I have, I suppose, with this carefully neutral  and=20
reasoned -- albeit passionate -- essay. Or, I might not.
It's  hard  to predict.  In practice, if I have given=20
offense, I hope at  least that the offended parties have=20
sufficient grounds to pretend to assume  that I am simply=20
slow and stupid and not evil and malicious.=20
=20
In turn I will pretend to assume the same about Blackberry=20
users.=20



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com=
.