Thursday, July 20, 2006
There is no plural for "Blackberry"
There are no Blackberries. There are only Blackberry devices.
I learned this when I wrote newsletter copy last week. I referred to the little wireless devices as "Blackberries". My editor corrected my mistake.
Oh. OK. Didn't know that.
So now you know, too!
Research in Motion (RIM) is the Waterloo, Ontario company that designs and manufactures the Blackberry. The device serves as sort of a combo of hand-held phone, email, text-messenging, internet access, and mobile organizational center. Buncha com tools, all in one little package.
I first heard the term "Crackberry" shortly after I first heard of the "Blackberry". "Crackberry" is a derogatory term for the Blackberry. It refers to the addictive quality of crack cocaine -- and the way that Blackberry users seem to be unnaturally attached to their little devices; hunched over, steadfastly avoiding eye contact as they press its tiny buttons. Users look and act like they are hooked.
This pejorative "Crackberry" term also reflects on how Blackberry users seem to be helpless without their Blackberry fix. Take a Blackberry away from its user, and the user freaks out.
So, if there are "users", who are the "pushers"?
And why are people getting hooked? ¶ 7/20/2006 08:32:00 AM
There are no Blackberries. There are only Blackberry devices.I learned this when I wrote newsletter copy last week. I referred to the little wireless devices as "Blackberries". My editor corrected my mistake.
Oh. OK. Didn't know that.
So now you know, too!
Research in Motion (RIM) is the Waterloo, Ontario company that designs and manufactures the Blackberry. The device serves as sort of a combo of hand-held phone, email, text-messenging, internet access, and mobile organizational center. Buncha com tools, all in one little package.
I first heard the term "Crackberry" shortly after I first heard of the "Blackberry". "Crackberry" is a derogatory term for the Blackberry. It refers to the addictive quality of crack cocaine -- and the way that Blackberry users seem to be unnaturally attached to their little devices; hunched over, steadfastly avoiding eye contact as they press its tiny buttons. Users look and act like they are hooked.
This pejorative "Crackberry" term also reflects on how Blackberry users seem to be helpless without their Blackberry fix. Take a Blackberry away from its user, and the user freaks out.
So, if there are "users", who are the "pushers"?
And why are people getting hooked? ¶ 7/20/2006 08:32:00 AM
