Got my text? No? How ‘bout the message I sent to your Facebook wall? Okay, I tweeted you. Hmm. The voicemail I left on your cell phone. You got that, didn’t you? No? Email? Blog? Anything? Hell, don’t you check anything?
I have a novel suggestion. How ‘bout we meet for coffee and have a face to face conversation? We can sit down and find out what’s going on with each other’s lives, catch up on mutual friends, family. It seems like this is a dying art. People are so stuck on technology that they’re forgetting what its like to have a civilized conversation.
I have no problems with technology. It makes a lot of stuff a hellava easier. After all, where would a writer be without a computer? Writing by hand or on a typewriter. No, thank you. Give me a screen I can easily make changes, write over or delete if necessary … any day. I appreciate being able to leave a voicemail for someone who isn’t home — asking that he or she give me a call when convenient. I’ve been in medical appointments where I’d sit and text a friend to take up time rather than just sitting there doin’ nothing.
But by the same token, I much prefer to speak with that person. I have a lot of long distance friends that I keep in touch via email and texting. But given an opportunity, I’d rather call and speak with these people. If only to hear their voices. It’s the personal touch that I crave, not the electronic.
I sometimes think we’re so caught up in our technological world that we forget the art of conversation. Yes, we all lead busy lives and it seems like its getting busier all the time. But we still need to stop and smell the roses ‘pon occasion. Have to have that human touch. I’ve known people who have gone for weeks if not months without meeting with family and friends – in person. I’d really hate to become one of those people and make an effort to keep that personal connection.
On a side note … I cannot believe that states actually have to enact a law to keep people from texting while driving. Hellooooo! Can anyone say “stupid”?
What’s your take on modern technology? Is it killing one on one conversation or do you see it as a necessary bridge in keeping people connected?
Oh Liz, I could just kiss you! I’m so with you on this. I hate to sound like my mother but…What is this world coming to?
Not only can people not converse, they can’t write or spell either. With so many abbreviations out there, people have even forgotten how to spell the word “you”. It’ pathetic.
Ever been out to dinner with people who can’t stop texting long enough to have even a short conversation with you? Oh, I have. A couple of times I became so irritated I told them I was leaving since apparently they didn’t want to be there anyway. Of course they just laugh it off.
I think they’re addicts in every sense of the word.
So do me a favor, Liz. Cast a spell or something and make people normal again. Oh! While you’re at it…send some kids outside to play. Video games are killing their minds!
Fired Up Elle
Liz, I was emailing you this weekend, and had a crazy idea — why not call her? LOL I ended up not calling because I thought you’d be busy. Maybe I should have.
I’ve thought for a while that my emails and blogs are a time suck. I do go to Twitter and Facebook sometimes, but I don’t spend a lot of time there.
I think texting while driving is nuts, too. I don’t even like to see people talking on the phone while driving. Talking is very distracting. You’re concentrating on the conversation, not the driving. My son calls us all the time while driving, and my husband hates it.
Definitely a bridge for connection. I love seeing all these childhood friends and high school friends and college friends. I love reading what they’re up to. For a lot of them, we may only touch base real quick with a comment once a week, but I’m glad they’re still sort of there.
As far as phone goes, though, I think everyone knows I have a fear of the phone. So for my friends, I email and set up a time to meet for coffee, LOL. For those far away, save my best friend, it’s all via Facebook or email.
I wish there was a law against eating a Big Mac while driving. Have you seen those people gripping the steering wheel with their elbows so they can eat? After all, it takes TWO HANDS to handle a Big Mac.
The electronic age is a blessing and a curse. I’d rather receive emails than snail mails, and cell phones offer security when I’m out on the road and something goes wrong. BUT, man do I hate trying to enjoy a meal in a restaurant when somewhere in the room a loud mouth is having a conversation on their cell phone. What is up with people thinking they have to shout while on the phone? But worse yet, can’t they just speak to their dinner company?
Yep, cell phones and other electronic forms of communication have removed the art of conversation. Kids in my college classes (who are generations younger than me, if you can believe it) have a very difficult time articulating when called upon, and many have difficulty making eye contact as well. I find that disturbing.
Guess I hit a button, Elle.
Good. I am so with you on people losing the art of one on one communication. I’ve personally never had anyone texting while I met him or her for dinner but I think I’d do the same. First I’d ask if I was such bad company, then I’d probably walk or have myself moved to another table where I can enjoy a meal without feeling like a texting interruption.
Oh, and I’m with you on kids. Fortunately my little darlin’ isn’t really big on video games. That may change at any time, but so far so good.
You could have called, Edie. But I don’t know if I would have been home.
When I wasn’t out running around, I was feelin’ a little off, so did a bit of sleeping over the weekend.
Yeah, I don’t like it when I see people on the phone, but I’ve been guilty of that myself. Generally I’ll pull over (if I can), but if I can’t and knowing how distracting talking and driving can be, I try to be doubly diligent
One thing that I totally miss, Natasha, is writing actual letters. I have a friend in Australia that I’ve know since I was a little girl and I used to haunt that mailbox waiting for a letter from her. Now? Yes, it’s a lot easier and quicker to email her. Pretty much instant communication. But there just seems to be something missing.
I’ll admit that keeping in touch via Facebook, email and texting is important, but don’t make it your entire world. You gotta have that face to face. Everything else seems so … impersonal.
Liz technology is taking the personal out of relationships. Us old school chicks remember how nice it was to sit down over a cup of coffee or glass of wine and catch up. My kids constantly text. It annoys the hell out of me, but what annoys me more is while I am having a face to face conversation with someone and they start testing! I sit back, shut up and don’t say a word until they are done. Usually they tell me to go ahead they’ll be done in a sec. I refuse to speak until they are done at which time I say, “It’s me or the electronic leash.” I refuse to have a face to face conversation with anyone while they are having an electronic conversation with someone else.
That is scary, Kath. Both the eating a Big Mac while driving and the fact that today’s generation is having a hard time articulating and associating with others without a gadget in their hands.
I’ve seen news reports on this and find it incredibly disturbing. How can these kids go out into the world and not have a clue as to how to interact with another human.
Sounds like an episode off of the “Twilight Zone”.
Totally with you, Karin. I can’t think of anything ruder than ignoring a dinner guest/friend while apparently finding texting to be more important. Emergency? Yes. Understandable. Socially? Uh-uh.
The little darlin’ wants a phone in the worse way. She’ll probably get it soon, but rules are going to be posted and enforced.
Liz, great blog and I so agree! I chat on the phone with my girls all the time, and once in a while we’ll fly a group email around since the youngest is in Alaska. But, I need to hear their voices.
On a sad note, in reference to the texting thing, two brothers died last year the day before graduation. They were texting while driving through a road construction area. I was a few cars behind them. The next day, I heard what had happened. That mother’s loss haunts me to this day. Two sons, gone.
I do talk on my cell phone, but try to speed dial whomever before driving. Usually my hubby, to touch base. I would never text while driving, though. No way.
I’m joining a local reading group for exactly this reason, Liz. Face to face conversations and discussions. Seems like the only time I have actual face to face, conversation to conversation interaction is at work, or the store when I’m shopping.
Even talking to people on the phone leaves something to be desired. It’s better than contact through digital medium, but its not the same as a good visit.
I miss the fine art of face to face communication, too.
Some of the ladies in my local RWA group have started organizing activites so we can all go out and just chat–face to face. I like that. Call me an old-fashioned girl!
The telephone is a great instrument. Think what it was like before telephones. It would take weeks, if not months, to communicate with a loved one across country. Cell phones only made us a bit more mobile.
That is tragic about those boys. I know that teenagers view themselves as invincible. Tragically, they’re not.
Oh, very cool, Theresa. What could be more fun than joining a group of like minded people and discussing something you absolutely love. Let us know if you have anyone in the group who insists on texting while interacting with the others.
I’m with you, Cyn. Its one of the reasons I love going to our chapter WisRWA meetings. The people there are just as passionate about writing as I am and its such a pleasure having a one on one with them. Sure the internet is wonderful in keeping up on news and events with these people, but I still love the expressions, the enthusiasm and the laughter. LOL just doesn’t cut it when sharing a laugh.
I love email and cellphones. Don’t know how the world ran before them. But I can’t STAND being texted about something that is more appropriate as a phone call. People who ask favours in a text? Uh uh. Call me, baby. Want to check something quickly with me and text me rather than call? Sorry, but I’m so seldom near enough to my phone to hear the little beep, you won’t be getting your answer.
I love Skype. I can talk to my family in the UK and South Africa as much as I like. That’s great technology
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