The other day when I walked into the Safeway where I shop I notice a new sign that said, "Safeway is now a Hot Spot. Enjoy wireless Internet access!"
My first thought was why in hell would I need to access the Internet while in Safeway? I pictured shoppers, laptops precariously perched on their shopping carts, crashing into other shoppers while trying to read their emails.
Then I remembered: my Safeway has a wee Starbucks outlet crammed in one corner of the store with a stand where you can order your choice of Starbucks poison and tables where you can sit and "relax" while drinking your brew. Perhaps Safeway was compelled by Starbucks to provide wireless access because of Starbucks promise to its customers.
Whatever!
Most people who come to Safeway come to shop for groceries. They might grab a Venti Mocha Latte to get them through the experience. And, a few might sit at the tables next to the Starbucks coffee stand with their not to be missed view of the checkouts, to munch an over priced biscotti.
But really, how many people are going to sit there with their laptop?
Damn few.
Which leads to the fundamental question: why the hell to we need such immediate access to the Internet? Methinks we have TOO DAMN MUCH!
One of the reasons I love to go camping in the Rockies is because I GET AWAY from the Internet. In my humble opinion, we all need to get away from Internet access!
Sometimes LESS is More…. More peaceful. More soul restoring. More sanity.
October 8th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
I couldn’t agree more. A recent computer crash brought up so much fear and grief that I just knew, even in the midst of hell, that it was for the best - clearly I needed some time away from electronics!
But even though my internet usage tends to be off the charts, even I don’t bring my laptop to Starbucks. I go coffee shops to enjoy a latte and relax. I can’t imagine being so attached to my email that I spend a half hour at Safeway without it. Yikes!
But then, I rarely turn on my cell phone either. In my own way, I’m a bit of a Luddite. We’ve become a bit too available in this information age, seems to me. I don’t want those “important calls” when I’m out for dinner, chatting with a friend, or walking on the beach. What did we do before we had answering machines? (I suspect we read books and took walks more often.)
October 9th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Thanks Carol!
I’m with you.
Lyle