When you are available to everyone, you are available to no one. The allure of all of this high tech only further erodes the fact that we don't communicate with each other any further.

People survived without cellphones and Blackberrys. And if you have a cell phone, why do you need a Blackberry for a brief email? Aren't most the messages "Call me ASAP."

Unless you are a major CEO or responsible for thousands of people, why do you need these devices? There are just available to make common folks feel more important than they need to be. Walking down the street in their self-absorbed worlds.

Just today I was taking my kids to the dentist and had the pleasure of riding in a cab with a driver who was NOT talking on his cell phone! And, to prove how wonderful he was, he even made sure that my kids were fastened into seatbelts before speeding off. He also happened to be in his mid 60s I'd guess.

We joked about how all the cabbies talk on phones all the time and wondered what they talk about all day. And my kids got a nice lesson -- for once -- in how nice it is to talk to your cab driver.

PLEASE! People get a life!

come on what next should i sue compuer co for getting us addicted to computersthis is the digital age live w/ it

I wholeheartedly agree. While I think it is important to use technology advances to improve communications during emergencies and to keep pace with the demands of today, these devices are also totally invading life. I watch my daughter on the laptop for hours and wonder where "getting together for bike riding, or putting on plays for neighbors, or just hanging together" have gone. Employers expect you to be available whether you are grocery shopping, driving (very dangerous),or trying to enjoy family time. And then there all those times I think someone is talking to me (because they are standing right next to me when they talk -- quite loudly I might add)and I look up to answer only to realize they were talking to the "invisible person" in cyberspace.

We can't stop progress, nor should we. But a little decorum, common courtesy (turn the stupid devices off during presentations, church and in fine restaurants and moviehouses please) and remembering that human interaction is key to health....that's worth a lot.

You have a point, but i believe awareness is the key and know that we know that these new tech items can be addictive, we need to make it a point to not be on them all the time. We need to take time and smell flowers, look at the beautiful skyline, talk to strangers or stroll in a park, without an ipod, blackberry or cell in our hands. We live in a microwave society and we need to slow down, because life is precious and life is short. Ask God to help us slow down. Blessings, Alcira

I'm so glad someone is saying enough! Absurd technology is costing Americans jobs, while it's not a necessity to drive and talk on your phone unless you're Donald Trump. Keep your cellphones for emergency and keep your child's brain healthy and CURIOUS. Blackberry Schmackberry. Einstein didn't need one. Neither did Leonardo DaVinci.

Echoes of the idiot who sued McDonalds for spilling hot coffee? How about taking some personal responsibility for our own obsessive compulsive behaviors and stop blaming others???

The list of lawsuits would be endless if we are allowed to sue over all our compulsive habits. Gambling, over-eating, smoking, drinking, caffeine, etc...I am only saying that we all need to start taking responsibility for our own actions. We are a lazy, drive thru country who puts all our energy into "who we can sue". I agree people need to work on phone manners...but lets keep it real!

Perhaps when the judge dismisses this frivolous lawsuit, the "bosses" can fire the idiots who brought it? Clearly the leadership in this nation shows no example of personal responsibility, but can we not ask a little more of each other? If you have an addiction - deal with it! It's your problem and yours to fix - stop looking for the easy way out or a way for some greedy lawyer to make a fast buck.

The truly important person is the one who is not accessible! In fact, a simple message on your answering machine such as "If you want to leave a messge, be aware that I may not get back to you. If you really want to get in touch, send me a letter"

This has gotta be one of the dumbest allegations, I've ever seen. What's the matter people? You don't have control over your own brain? This is just as stupid as people trying to sue McDonalds because it "made" them fat. Uhh, no one is standing on your neck and forcing that cheeseburger down your mouth.

I like computers, but I don't have to have one under my armpit wherever I go

They say smoking is addictive, then how come I've only smoked 3 cigarettes in my lifetime?

This does worry me a lot about emoloyees sueing the
employer for some so called addiction or depression
People are sueing over nothing like that coffee
woman who sued a fastfood restaurant only because
she needed money because she was a low wage earner
all her life and had only social security to live
on so the had that law suite to pay for her old
age retirement. They need to change the laws to
stop these bu** Sh** lawsuites we need more
Republicans in the house and vote another
Republican in.
I will go to India to hire my help for 1/10th the
pay and not worry about being sued.

My counselor at Quaker meeting responded to my question regarding my possible response to the individual who enters the elevator in the midst of a loud cell phone conversation with a third party: "please, unless this is an emergency, could you please respect my privacy and curtail that conversation until you are in your own private space."

Well then we men should sue Hustler magazine and you woman should sue Playgirl Magazine for acquiring "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome". Come on folks get REAL! This is progress and if you hermit yourself sooner or later you're going to want to interact with somebody socially, spiritualy or intimately.

what makes me ill is seeing mom's strolling with their babies and not talking to their children but instead talking on their cell phones!!!! this is wrong and the babies are left looking bored when its the time that mom's should be talking to them!!!!!

A little over a month ago I was asked to take a survey. The state department that I work for wanted to know if the higher management needed a blackberry as a form of communication. My answer was different than the majority. I already have email at work. I sit with a phone on my desk. When I leave the office I have a cell phone (the pagers weren’t good enough to ensure the state was getting their monies worth, and goodness knows someone may have a crisis while I am driving from point A to point B and not be able to reach me. At least with the pagers I new when it beeped that I needed to start looking for a place to use a phone. Now I get to search for the phone when it rings, talk and write and read all while I drive. Does this make me happy? No. There has NEVER been one phone call in the 9 years I have served in this position that could not have waited until I got to a land line. Now they want me to answer email too while I drive because they just HAVE TO HAVE MY INPUT IMMEDIATLY. Oh, I feel so important!!! People place safety second and prestige first on their list. These people with cell phones glued to their ear (and the ear pieces… aren't they Important looking!) think they appear, and believe they truly are, more intelligent than the average joe (excuse me if your name is joe). Anyway... bottom line...If because my job has added all these expectations from me as part of my job duties and something, because of these expectations, happens that negatively effects my life then I would darn well go after them for compensation. The hot coffee... that was blaming someone for your own clumsiness. If you are being made to comply with something that may cause you harm this is a different story. (but as all above this is only my opinion)

Um, this is just another stupid situation in this greedy human race, although if our government wasnt making it so hard to live maybe people wouldnt be looking for absurd law suits. Bottom line, technology continues to improve and humans dont, and its driving everyone freaking crazy!!! What they dont realize is, as long as they are in their self consumed little worthless cyber space worlds, life is passing them by. We are not going to improve, unless life gets simple again, and thats not going to happen.

Problem Susan with what Im hearing from you, is that you are downing everyone, talking about how important they look for the same thing it sounds like you are doing yourself. Are you doing it because it makes you feel so important? because this is what you are accusing everyone else of here. I am a Realtor, and because I am, I am forced to use technology completely, I get tired of it, and they are about to make cell phone while driving illegal, which I can understand, yes its a safety hazard. Therefore though, I would have to wear an ear piece because this is part of my JOB and I have to work because I have to make a living. So if someone see's me driving down the road with an ear phone talking to what appears to be myself, its not because I feel so important, its because a Realtor has a high demanding job of the public and must be available at all times or you wont make it in this business. Sue somebody???? Nobody FORCED me into this line of WORK. Those people have no business sueing anyone for a job that THEY applied for and THEY went to the interview and THEY accepted.

The writer's comment is appropriate insofar as lawsuits which are truly irresponsible are concerned. The facts about the so called 'MacDonald's coffee' lawsuit are, however, incorrect and omit a lot. As I understand it, (and I am a lawyer) the coffee used was inferior and heated to an extreme temperature to disguise that fact. The woman plaintiff concerned, spilled the coffee on her lap and sustained 3rd degree burns to her genital and peritoneal area. She could not perform basic functions for many months, I believe, in addition to the excruciating pain that she suffered. If her lawsuit had been solely as a consequence of her irresponsibility and greed I would think it was inappropriate. This was one occasion, however, when I think such a claim was justified.