I spend most of
my time leaping from one Wi-Fi signal to another.
It’s like an
addiction: I MUST HAVE FREE INTERNET. I’m like a monkey swinging through the
trees; though in my case, the vines have been replaced with iCloud, 02 and BT
Openzone. It’s a clunky simile that almost works.
It doesn’t help
that the Doggett & Ephgrave office doesn’t have a hub of its own. We’re both
with BT, so have opted to just use their hotspots (“…and what is a hotspot
not?”). This is fraught with pitfalls. Yoghurt pots connected by string offer a
more reliable service. I open my laptop each day, hoping for the best.
It’s the same
when I’m out and about. One of the first things I’ll do on entering a public
building is attempt to connect their wireless. I’m not the only one to do
this. It’s become a part of most people’s routine.
While the
prevalence of free Wi-Fi is convenient, there’s a hidden expense. It affects face-to-face
communication. Watching a couple sitting at a table more engrossed in their phones than each other is a depressing sight.
I make it my
mission when I’m with someone to be present. What’s the point of being there
when your mind is somewhere else?