Machines Have Taken Over Your Life: Consider Yourself Warned
E-Needy: adj \ē-nē-dē\ - 1: wanting 2: desiring affection, attention and emotional support
1. She checks her Blackberry relentlessly. He is e-needy and requires attention and support often. First Known Use of E-NEEDY – Today – 9/22/10
At what point in society did our need to connect with people get so perversely out of hand? The E-Needy Era is marked by individuals' needs to connect instantly, consistently and spontaneously. And, as if that connection isn't enough to make one feel wanted and needed, the ubiquitous blanket of personal information posted online apparently requires constant updating as well.
How constant? You can change your Facebook status from your mobile phone (what's the urgency?) or log into your Foursquare account and pinpoint your exact location to provide stalkers or cheating spouses with a better way to track you.
How do you know if you are E-Needy? The strongest sign that you have crossed the line from rational user to irrational dependence is if your smart phone is set to beep or alert you of incoming texts or emails. Why is that irrational? Life should be lived, not interrupted by a message that says, "What's Up?"
The rational user checks messages on his or her own time, when there is a break between activities. It has become so commonplace today to have a meal or shop with a friend when a signal interrupts the conversation and your friend stops all activities to reach over and check to see who just sent him or her a text or email. Always met with an, "Oh, I'll call them later." What happened to living your life? And, how important is it for you to check each message when your Blackberry or iPhone tells you it needs attention?
A recent study released by the International Center for Media & the Public Agenda (ICMPA) at the University of Maryland called "24 Hours: Unplugged," deprived 200 college students of all digital media for 24 hours. Results revealed, "their feelings when they have to abstain from using media in literally the same terms associated with drug and alcohol addictions: In withdrawal, Frantically craving, Very anxious, Extremely antsy, Miserable, Jittery, Crazy."
Digital to the Extreme (but that’s ok, we’ll enable you)
Texting while driving is deadly. The compulsion to drive and type a message on tiny little blocks of letters using the gigantic digits that God gave us is mind boggling. But don't worry E-Needies, OnStar is rolling out new ways to stay connected. It seems some marketing guru at the company thought communicating with a person during an emergency was throwing away a perfectly good form of instant communication. OnStar has announced beta-testing of voice-texting features as well as audio Facebook updates. Yes! DRIVERS apparently don't have enough to do when driving, now OnStar will allow subscribers to verbally update their Facebook status AND listen to Facebook’s news feed messages.
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