Is there such a thing as too connected? Study reveals that people check email in the strangest places

Lyndon B. Johnson had telephones everywhere and he used them constantly -- even in the bathroom.

This was once considered rather gauche.

Today, however, it might be considered merely efficient. At least, that's my take on it after reading Howard Wolinsky's story in this morning's Chicago Sun-Times.

Wolinsky reports on a survey by Opinion Research Corp. for AOL (although I couldn't find anything about the survey on AOL this morning) which shows, among other things, that 47% of survey respondents in Chicago looked at their email while in the bathroom or restroom.

Twelve per cent of the persons surveyed nationwide confessed to peeking at their email while at church -- 22% of Atlanta churchgoers with mobile email systems check out their email during services while only 9% of Chicagoans do. There are several conclusions one might draw from this. Perhaps Chicagoans are more devout than residents of Atlanta. Or maybe Atlanta residents are just more tech-savvy than Chicago residents. But I suspect that the difference may be explained entirely if church services are longer in the Bible Belt.

I remember reading Studs Lonigan many years ago and how he had impure thoughts while attending Mass. Now, if you have an iPhone -- such as our old blogfriend Dr. A just acquired -- you could have impure illustrations to go along with the impure thoughts.

Not, I hasten to add, suggesting anything whatsoever about Dr. A! Or his thoughts.

And maybe -- if the sermon is boring but you're in a religious mood -- you could explore the 10 Commandments for Driving recently issued by the Vatican....

I don't have a phone that can check email. I have a cellphone, but it's a bit worn these days. The keypad no longer dials a 0 or an 8, at least not reliably. But even if I did have such a phone, I don't think I'd be tempted to use it: Long Suffering Spouse would probably kill me there and then. Besides, the widows of Nigerian generals or that very friendly fellow from Sierra Leone (he started out his spam email to me with "Hello Dear") can wait....

Although maybe I could pray that this latest one was for real....

But, no, the age of miracles is passed.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Unscientific survey: What's the strangest place where you've checked your email?

----------------------------------------------------------------
Illustration taken from the Chicago Sun-Times.