Our Increasing Email Addiction

AOL Mail recently released the results from its annual Email Addiction Survey, revealing Americans' increasing -- and strange -- addiction to email.

According to the survey, nearly half (46%) of email users said they're hooked on email (up from just 15% last year) and 51% check their email four or more times a day (up from 45% last year).

Not only are Americans are checking their personal and at-work email on weekends and during vacations, but they're checking it from the strangest places, including the bathroom and even in church!  Other strange places include:

•  In bed in their pajamas: 67%
•  From the bathroom: 59% (up from 53% last year)
•  While driving: 50% (up from 37% last year)
•  In a bar or club: 39%
•  In a business meeting: 38%
•  During happy hour: 34%
•  While on a date: 25%
•  From church: 15% (up from 12% last year)

Looking at this list, I'm struck by the dominance of checking email in public spheres -- social ones to boot -- and I'm left wondering how the f2f discourse is affected by this, especially in places or situations where active involvement is anticipated and sometimes even expected .