A pair of stories in the past week or so described social mores around electronic communications ((1) crackberrying at the dinner table ("BlackBerry Orphans") and (2) the "elaborate" evite response ("Online R.S.V.P.'s:  A Simple No Just Won't Do")).   The behaviors described in the article would seem outlandish to most people, whether they lived in other cultures and countries or are middle class Americans.

1.  No, It's Really Not That Acceptable to Use the BlackBerry At the Dinner Table:  We didn't really need the Wall Street Journal to tell us this.  Equally obvious are the travails of those seeking to sneak the BlackBerry past the house enforcer (be they the spouse or kids).   But the article seems to characterize as some sort of Herculean struggle -- the decision to not use the BlackBerry at the dinner table.  Or while you are watching your kids.  What took the cake was this quote from young Chris DuMont (15, of San Marino, Calif.) who:

recognizes that his father's habit helps bring in income. "Sometimes when we're on vacation he'll be on" his device, Chris says. "But the whole reason we're on vacation is because he's working."

Looks like someone didn't quite pick up on the work-to-live/live-to-work distinction.

2.  All of Evite is Not a Stage:  This NYT Article explores the difficult question of whether it's appropriate to decline an evite invitation with a simple "no".  Emily Post's great grandaughter-in-law says regarding responses to e-invitations: "potential guests need not give a reason for declining an invitation. 'Just answer yes or no, short and sweet,' she said. 'If you want to give a brief reason, fine.'"  Of course, you can always go to the other extreme like this person:

Just last week Carolyn Fitzpatrick, 32, a retired lawyer from Wollaston, Mass., spent 20 minutes drafting a "no" response to an Evite.

The article contrasts Ms. Fitzpatrick with previous generations who "did not feel compelled to explain in depth how a soiree conflicted with their Lamaze class, spa weekend or Ironman competition."  Is it more a generational difference between offering up "unsolicited" information?  Typical lawyer behavior?  Either way, I'm thinking the host probably breathed a sign of relief upon seeing Ms. Fitzpatrick's "elaborate no".

Update:  here's a link to the 12 step program for BlackBerry addicts at the WSJ Law blog.