Tragedy of the Common
In my Inbox just now from a good friend:
"SUBJECT: Sad, Sad Day
On 12/10/06, Tony K wrote:
Everyone,
It is with great regret, sorrow, and resignation that I announce that I have made the stunning leap into the 1990's. Thus, I may now be reached by cell phone at the following number, assuming I can figure out how to turn this confounded thing on.
404-XXX-XXXX"
And my reply:
"Oh god, Tony, I'm so sorry. But you need to know that it will get easier over time; millions of people have learned to live with this condition, and many have gone on to lead happy and productive lives. But I know it's scary, so if you need to talk to someone, I'm here for you. I know that you're going to want to shut people out in this time of crisis, but it is under circumstances like these that you should be communicating more, not less. So know that, no matter what you decide, my number is, and always has been, 919-XXX-XXXX.
--Kit"
Isn't it weird that we got the same number, just with different area codes? Actually kind of creepy, when you think about it. Mine's better though since only one number's not a 9.
...
I'm a goddamn liar. My phone number's not nines. It's actually a string of 7 X's spelled out on the cell phone like so:
919-152426354857-596818272938159357
Let me tell you: it was a battle at the Verizon store, you better believe it.
.
"SUBJECT: Sad, Sad Day
On 12/10/06, Tony K wrote:
Everyone,
It is with great regret, sorrow, and resignation that I announce that I have made the stunning leap into the 1990's. Thus, I may now be reached by cell phone at the following number, assuming I can figure out how to turn this confounded thing on.
404-XXX-XXXX"
And my reply:
"Oh god, Tony, I'm so sorry. But you need to know that it will get easier over time; millions of people have learned to live with this condition, and many have gone on to lead happy and productive lives. But I know it's scary, so if you need to talk to someone, I'm here for you. I know that you're going to want to shut people out in this time of crisis, but it is under circumstances like these that you should be communicating more, not less. So know that, no matter what you decide, my number is, and always has been, 919-XXX-XXXX.
--Kit"
Isn't it weird that we got the same number, just with different area codes? Actually kind of creepy, when you think about it. Mine's better though since only one number's not a 9.
...
I'm a goddamn liar. My phone number's not nines. It's actually a string of 7 X's spelled out on the cell phone like so:
919-152426354857-596818272938159357
Let me tell you: it was a battle at the Verizon store, you better believe it.
.