When it comes to being entertained, I far prefer the internet over television. I read blogs of folks I respect, check emails, chat on IM, peek at Youtube videos, play some TeamFortress, check the latest news and lolcat pictures (which is my secret passion). There are two, maybe three tv shows that I even watch on television, and Tivo gets them for me.
Recently I accompanied my oldest son to a large, metro hospital to correct the break in his thumb that he incurred New Years Eve (whole story there, I’m saving it for some time when I get writer’s block). The same-day surgery was simple enough; but surgery is surgery, and they used anesthesia, so it was done carefully and correctly as any other surgery. From beginning to end, I would say we were there 8 hours.
For most of that time, we just waited. I cleverly brought my wifi-ready lappy with, thinking that I would be infinitely entertained while we waited. Youtube here I come!
To my chagrine, I found out that the surgical waiting areas have no wifi hotspots. These waiting areas are not only in the basement of the hospital, they occupy the space was formerly used by the radiology department (no windows and lead-lined walls)… which means absolutely no signal – even for the cell phone.
I’m frankly surprised (and at the time, really frustrated!) that this very modern hospital, which presents itself as a very professional organization, has yet to come to the realization that the public is net-connected these days. While I can respect that hospitals still fear that a cell phone will cause an equipment failure (there are articles for and against), I would point out that the prestigious Mayo Clinics in Rochester, Minnesota have wifi hotspots in every lobby and waiting area.
As soon as we arrived home, I think I was on the internet before my coat hit the floor. Do you think I’m net addicted?
Tags: cellphone, constant communication, hospital, internet addiction, second life, tivo, wifi, YouTube
