BlackBerry addicts have a crack at freedom when they check into one Chicago hotel: the manager will put the communications devices and others like them under lock and key for guests who want a break.
Rick Ueno, general manager of the Sheraton Chicago Hotel, said the program which began on Wednesday grew out of his own personal BlackBerry addiction. His one-step recovery was switching to a regular cell phone.
“I was really addicted to my BlackBerry. I had an obsession with e-mail,” he told Reuters. “Morning and night. There came a time when I didn’t think it was healthy … I quit cold turkey.”
Ueno said he would take personal charge of any BlackBerrys or related devices guests want to surrender and place them in his office locked up until their return is requested. There is no charge.
“I run a hotel with over 900 employees and thousands of guests. I think I’m more effective. I feel better. I sleep better. My family likes it,” he said of his post-BlackBerry life.
Overdue.
John!! John…………Block me from posting…………I need…………….I need………………..
Yeah…I can’t go a few minutes without my “Crackberry” going off and me having this incredible urge to check it. Perhaps it’s would be best to switch back to a regular phone, but some of us don’t have that luxury when your employer provides it for you and expects it to be constantly checked…
Ah, the crackberry effect. I have an associate who keeps his within reach 24/7. The company won’t pay for it because they (on my advise) don’t think we need ’em so he fronts it out of his own pocket. He spends more time answering email than anything else – he’s told people to email him and not to call him on his cell. Since then he’s constantly griping about how much his workload has increased. It’s not his workload, it’s his ineffiecient way of working. Put the ‘berry down and use the phone once in a while.
hmm … I wonder if I should ditch my gmail notifier … same effect, just only when you’re on the computer, ‘stead of 24/7