Experiencing Phantom Status Light Syndrome?

Guilty as charged, I think. If you haven’t heard of it, there’s an epidemic slowly sweeping all of us over called “Phantom Ring Syndrome” or even “Phantom Vibration Syndrome”. This is when we think we hear our BlackBerry device going off when it’s actually just laying there stagnant.

Well, a post over at HowardForums has planted the seed of another syndrome, this one having to do with your status light: Phantom Status Light Syndome.

Imagine, for a moment, that you’re sitting somewhere… home, work, car… and you’re not looking directly at your BlackBerry. Then, out of the corner of your eye, in your peripheral vision, you see the status light on your 8700 (or your 8100 or 8800, for that matter) blink. And you just KNOW it was RED! There’s no doubt in your mind! You’ve got a new message!

Excited at the prospect of your new message, you reach for your phone. But when you pick up your beloved CrackBerry, there are no new message alerts showing on the screen. Looking directly at the culprit (i.e. the status light) now, you see that it is blinking away in the usual GREEN (or BLUE if you have your Bluetooth accessory connected to your BB), rather than the red you were expecting.

Seriously, has this ever happened to anyone? Like I said – I think I might be a sufferer. I often have to stare down my BlackBerry for a few seconds just to be sure I saw a green/red/whatever light. It’s hard having a staring contest with an inanimate object, by the way. Tell me your stories.

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Michael R

I usually have my BB in the cup holder when I take my wknd drive on the turn pike. Now I hav the green network status light off. And bluetooth on a short key so its not on till I need it. So with nothing blinking I swear Ive seen a red message light outta the corner of my eye, just to find a moment later a messagless display. Ive suffered this disappointment numours times.
Michael R

I usually have my BB in the cup holder when I take my wknd drive on the turn pike. Now I hav the green network status light off. And bluetooth on a short key so its not on till I need it. So with nothing blinking I swear Ive seen a red message light outta the corner of my eye, just to find a moment later a messagless display. Ive suffered this disappointment numours times.
therev5275

You know my secret shame…
therev5275

You know my secret shame…
therev5275

You know my secret shame…
http://www.mailinator.com/ snowskier79

I thought I was the only one!! Thank for addressing my syndrome!
http://www.mailinator.com snowskier79

I thought I was the only one!! Thank for addressing my syndrome!
JPSKILLZ

Blackberry brethern! It is good that we can commune together and talk about such shames. For what is done in the dark must come to the “LIGHT!” The Led light that is, hahaha. U don’t know how many times my blackberry has said something to me (SAID- Blink, Vibrate, Ring, etc.) only to pretend that he said nothing at all. They think I’m crazy, but we know the truth!
JPSKILLZ

Blackberry brethern! It is good that we can commune together and talk about such shames. For what is done in the dark must come to the “LIGHT!” The Led light that is, hahaha. U don’t know how many times my blackberry has said something to me (SAID- Blink, Vibrate, Ring, etc.) only to pretend that he said nothing at all. They think I’m crazy, but we know the truth!
mymitsu3kgt

I’ve felt that a thousand times. Glad to know I’m not going crazy.
mymitsu3kgt

I’ve felt that a thousand times. Glad to know I’m not going crazy.
rwmutton

I have seen this before. I swear a few times it was red. I do stair it down, then I try it again. and i tested it a few times. Out of the corner of my eye, the Green light looks red/orange.
rwmutton

I have seen this before. I swear a few times it was red. I do stair it down, then I try it again. and i tested it a few times. Out of the corner of my eye, the Green light looks red/orange.
rwmutton

I have seen this before. I swear a few times it was red. I do stair it down, then I try it again. and i tested it a few times. Out of the corner of my eye, the Green light looks red/orange.
rwmutton

I have seen this before. I swear a few times it was red. I do stair it down, then I try it again. and i tested it a few times. Out of the corner of my eye, the Green light looks red/orange.
brianna

ok cool, I’m not crazy either…the phantom ring thing is creepy though. I swear I heard it the other day in the car, but no call. Really strange.
brianna

ok cool, I’m not crazy either…the phantom ring thing is creepy though. I swear I heard it the other day in the car, but no call. Really strange.
brianna

ok cool, I’m not crazy either…the phantom ring thing is creepy though. I swear I heard it the other day in the car, but no call. Really strange.
HR

I get this (phantom blinking) all the time: with phone leds, computer devices, etc. It always happens when I first glance at the unit, and never if I’m “looking” for a phantom blink. I’ve even seen a “waiting” moving circle on my wifi radio when it’s shut off! Once conscious of the blink, it immediately stops. Is this some kind of a brain cramp, a form of ESP. I’m hoping others have this as well.
HR

I get this (phantom blinking) all the time: with phone leds, computer devices, etc. It always happens when I first glance at the unit, and never if I’m “looking” for a phantom blink. I’ve even seen a “waiting” moving circle on my wifi radio when it’s shut off! Once conscious of the blink, it immediately stops. Is this some kind of a brain cramp, a form of ESP. I’m hoping others have this as well.

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