The Ink-Pot and the Palette

And so dangerously out of hand when people text while driving, and the like. I know the impulse (though I rarely drive anymore)--it's just so boring to be at a stop light, and there's this thing, right there in your pocket or on the dashboard, that contains all the whole wide world and all your friends, and love, and connectedness and all good things.

It's absolutely enticing. And the same thing happens to me when I'm online in a safe and stationary situation: look! An email has come in! Someone loves me! I must go and see! Shiny object!

And that physical feeling, that little surge of dopamine or whatever it is, that accompanies that reaching for the mouse or the iPhone, is exactly like that stupid episode of Star Trek TNG where they all become addicted to that game.

I'm talking myself into an addiction model here, something I was really trying to avoid. :(