District View

摘要

Mobiles and Blackberrys have, for many of us, become like an umbilical cord. I went to the Open Golf recently, where cameras and mobiles are banned, and some 'exec types' looked near to tears because they were separated from their phones and electronic gadgets. In a similar vein, I understand that both PM Gordon Brown, and Tory leader, David Cameron, while on holiday, have their Blackberrys switched on, read policy briefing papers brought up from Whitehall, and make early morning calls to London-based colleagues. Call me old-fashioned if you will, but surely, what matters most over that special two-week period is beach volleyball with the kids, where to find the icecream kiosk, and sitting outside a quaint country pub supping a pint of the local brew! It seems that sun, sea and sand are nowadays superseded by the need to keep in touch. Speaking personally, I've got real problems with this type of approach. First of all, people in top positions - be they our country's leaders or bosses of public or private companies - have got hugely-important jobs to do.