Nadia Idriss Mayen: Cell phone shackle

I remember when I use to run around the mall in search for a telephone booth, trying to ring my parents to keep them posted on my day out. Today I have three cell phones, which I’m not sure is a blessing or a gift from hell.

Over a decade ago I had to wait till I got home to check my answering machine to find out who wanted to get in touch with me. Today I can be reached at easily on one of my cell phones. Everything can be sent directly to any phone from voice messages, text messages, emails, phone calls, video calls and possibly teleport yourself right to me. Basically I can’t run and hide.

It all started a couple months ago when I disconnected my Internet service on my iPhone for the purpose that I was getting a little too attached to my phone. I told myself I would have to wait till I got home to check emails, surf social networks and Google: the things that came to my mind. I thought it could last, but it was until I was provided a third cell phone, a Blackberry with all the services that would keep me updated and connected to work. I receive emails, breaking news stories, blackberry messenger chats, texts and calls.

It seemed perfect at the start. I was diligent about responding all emails on time, took all calls on the spot, and was informed of every single breaking news story by the second. It’s only when my family and friends notice that I walk, talk, and email as well as write notes on the little phone all the time. I have become a slave to my phones.

If you can’t reach me on one, you can reach me on the other two.

(Nadia Idris Mayen, Executive Producer of Web TV at Al Arabiya English, can be reached at: [e-mail])