Regular readers (?) may remember a post I did a little while ago which basically explained how much I dislike mobile phones. The premise being based on your availability or the expectation that others may have of your availability 24 hours a day. However I went on to say that the thing I really disliked was text messaging. The constant ‘mipping’ noise indicating that a new message has arrived. The daily vision of people hunched over their phones. Cursing predictive text. Their features seeming ever more gaunt when picked out by the LCD backlight. Groups of kids huddled together all with phones in hand most likely texting each other. It seems that one can’t go for a walk, a bus ride a train journey without seeing people bashing away at the tiny little key pads as if their very lives depended on it.
‘Oh I must text because if I don’t text other people they won’t text me and than I won’t have any friends’.
And I’ve often thought that there must be something wrong with quite a few of these people.
But as I found out today there actually might be something wrong with quite a few of these people which is both personally satisfying and vindicating but quite worrying at the same time.
According to an editorial by Dr. Jerald Block, a psychiatrist at the Oregon Health and Science University published in this months American Journal of Psychiatry text messaging is becoming an increasingly commonplace compulsive-impulsive disorder. Dr. Block goes on to suggest that it should be added to psychiatry's official guidebook of mental disorders.
Block says users can lose all track of time or neglect "basic drives" such as eating or sleeping. Some may need psychoactive medications or hospitalisation to combat their over-reliance.
Mip Mip Mip
The down side is that the piece also includes usage of the internet and e-mailing as other major causes.
Nurse!
Regular readers (?) may remember a post I did a little while ago which basically explained how much I dislike mobile phones. The premise being based on your availability or the expectation that others may have of your availability 24 hours a day.
6 comments:
Never do any texting, myself. And I keep my phone off unless I am going somewhere away from home, and only if I think someone may call. I have only given my cell number to a half dozen people; I don't see a need to be on a leash. The only reason I own a cell phone at all is because my wife insisted I keep one handy since my heart went bad.
Completely agree. I don't have one, I don't want one and I ban them at uni in my sessions.
I can't do much about my clients because they're paying me and when they put three mobiles on the table and they go off at certain intervals, what can one do?
I both love and hate mobiles.....and i probably should see a shrink for my addiction to all things internet/computers/games.
But i keep my mobile on silent so at least it shouldnt bother others too much. ;0)
It's not April 1st is it?
I dislike mobiles but have to admit they have their uses (in a broken-down car alone for example).
I prefer texting - but still only do it once a month at most! - as it means I don't have to talk to people.
Husband thinks blogging is a compulsive disorder - especially as he's on holiday this week and has seen me doing your quizzes!
Hangs head in shame-I was checking my email in the pub via my phone. Bendy Girl
Texting is not so popular here except maybe with school children who can text each other surreptitiously in class but I wish the adult would do it instead of shouting at each other via cell phone and disturbing everyone else. Don't they think the microphones on the cells work?
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