Ills of Imminent Airplane Internet

There is a very sad aspect of the always-connected, Blackberry-addicted culture we've built these past five years or so: It highlights the Americans' complete lack of personal willpower.

I was struck by that while reading a story this morning about the imminent coming of Internet connectivity on airlines. Half the story quotes busy, successful people bitching about how this will be like waving chocolate cake under a dieter's nose. They've liked the forced disconnection on flights -- because, apparently, it's the only way they can disconnect.

From the story: Jon Carson, chief executive with online fundraising company cMarket Inc., said that between kids, meetings and electronic interruptions on the ground, "I get some of my best work done on the plane." Good decisions and breakthroughs often arise from "the kind of deeper, reflecting thinking" not possible when new messages continually arrive, Carson said.

So what's the deal? We can no longer choose to find time and space for "deeper, reflecting thinking" -- we can only do it if it's forced on us? Doesn't anyone know where the "off" buttons are on their laptops and smart phones?

Apparently, as the old Devo song said:

Freedom of choice/ is what you got Freedom from choice/ is what you want

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