I’ve had a friend staying in town with me for the past week, and when I woke up this morning (after getting the sleep we talked about) to take her to the airport she asked if I remembered my dream.
“Um, no,” I said. “Why do you ask, did you have a good one?”
“Oh, I don’t know, I don’t remember,” she said. “I was just asking because you were talking in your sleep about tagging pictures on facebook. You were very adament about me not tagging those pictures of you, which ones, I don’t know. You just told me to be sure I didn’t.”
“I did?”
“Yes, you did. You know you’re in trouble, or at least spend way too much time online, when you dream about facebook, Jessica,” she sighed. “Where did my best friend go?”
“Um…what’d you say? Sorry, I was checking facebook to make sure no pictures got tagged that I didn’t like,” I laughed. “Just wanted to be sure it was only in my dreams!”
She smiled. “Exactly.”
On the way to the airport we started talking about my relationship with my iPhone (and how it sleeps under my pillow), and the amount of time I spend on the grid is what she sees as endearing (because she’s my best friend and loves me unconditionally), but is worried about somewhat about the addiction. Mostly she’s afraid I’ll walk into something, or in my case get hit by a car, while tweeting. Lucky for me the recovery center is so close.
While what she said wasn’t a surprise, it did bother me. My relationship with social media and my work has impacted my friendships in some capacity. Most of my friends have accepted it, recognized that it’s a part of what I do for a living and know that I love what I do. And if they want to have a conversation with me while we’re out at dinner they know can get my attention by text messaging or DMing me (jusssssssttt kidding, well…kind of).
But in all seriousness, a few of my friendships have been compromised. In fact, my recent ex-boyfriends have felt uncomfortable about the ménage à trois and claim that my iPhone is what broke us up. And it’s not that I don’t care, I do. It’s just when people don’t ask me to come off the grid, that I don’t even think about it.
Is it wrong that my relationship with the Internet is a part of my identity? To the point where I dream about it?
Here’s my resolve: Friends and family deserve my undivided attention without a doubt. But if they understand that I’m happy, and I want to bring my partner iPhone to dinner because I love what I do, what’s the harm in that?
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kevin Littleton. Kevin Littleton said: Liked: New blog post: I must have dreamed you up, my darling, dear, sweet iPhone http://bit.ly/qwqsS (via @JessicaRandazza) [...]
No harm in it whatsoever. I find it perfectly acceptable behaviour and assume your friends and fam must simply be confused.
Excuse me for a minute – I’ve got 3 dm, an sms and tweetbeep telling me a client crisis is about to erupt. =D
I knew I was in trouble on day 1 with the object of my obsession, erm, iPhone, when the charging station moved from the kitchen to the nightstand by EOD.
But seriously — technology is one of those things you can live without until you sample it. After that it’s a question of why go back when you know there’s a better/easier/more effective way to do things. Your job is to stay on top of what’s happening with your clients as much as possible. Without having the grid in your pocket you’d be over-caffeinated from stopping at every net cafe you could find to check in. Everything changes.
I agree. It’s hard to ratchet back when you’ve accepted the technology, and the truth of the matter is, I don’t want to. I want to stay engaged and know what’s news.
I knew I was in trouble when I removed the 1 am – 7 am quiet time for device updates on Twitter. Which means I haven’t gotten a full night of uninterrupted sleep in…uhhh, almost two years? So I’m stopping by every cafe for an entirely different reason!
I don’t see why this is an issue — sounds like personal problems of your exs.
m.
Sent from phone.
Please pardon typos.
…oh, wait.
Loved this piece and love you!!
I don’t own a iPhone. I claim to be a blackberry girl because I fear that if I have an iPhone I would never put it down. As it is right now, I sleep with my Blackberry too! Last week I thought I lost it and felt like I was completely disconnected from the world. Those who really know me…know it is who I am! I am the communications girl that needs to feel connected. The ones that criticize…well they just don’t know me at all.