Observation: a family of four sits down at a restaurant for an evening meal. Before the ice water comes, all the diners have whipped out their cell phones or their tablets. An exchange of words is required in placing the orders for food, but after that all spoken dialogue ceases. Only when dad says “let’s get in the car”, will the silence be broken. Gone are the days when phrases such as “How was your day, honey” or “Did you finish your homework?” were cornerstone topics around the dinner table. All four people have just wasted an hour in which they could’ve expanded the family dynamic and enriched each other’s lives. At the end of the night they will have learned nothing of each other on a personal level. If anything, they are rapidly losing ground in that regard.
Observation: Out on the street, shopping at Walmart/Macy’s, looking at used cars, or just standing in one place; the cell phones are out! Who says we’re not communicating? We are in touch with everyone all the time, 24/7, and we never stop talking. The yakking continues while counting out change to a cashier, picking out a plump turkey, pumping gas, or just walking hurriedly down the street. The most brazen of these phone addicts will keep their speakers on, so they can share with everyone else their special personal conversation. Look on the bright side; at least they are speaking and hearing actual words, as opposed to:
The texters, the tweeters, hash taggers, and a half dozen more ways to communicate without using a spoken word!
Observation: a young man sits with his iPhone in a restaurant booth. His thumbs swollen to the size of chicken wings, are a blur as they fly over his miniature keyboard! The rate of thumb speed (RTS) indicates he could type War and Peace in about half an hour!
These tweeters, texters, and Facebookers all have many friends. These are not the kind of friends you could borrow money from, or take to a movie, but friends who are out there in the ether. (Our president elect, the Donald, is a major tweeter!) “Did you get my text?” Said one friend to another. “I haven’t checked my texts lately; by the way, I sent you an email.” (Damn, I forgot about email!)
These electronic communiques are merely words, often in a truncated language, that portray no emotion or feeling or texture. Imagine this scenario: a woman texts her closest friend with a message “My father just died.” Short pause, then “Bummer, want to catch a movie?” Obviously, this should have been a live phone call complete with wailing and gnashing of teeth! That may have been an extreme example, or was it? Our language is rich in words that convey powerful emotions. Can I have an Amen? Remember the pledge? Say it along with me, “I will try to text less and call more.”
Imagine our history if texting had been around for the Gettysburg address; Lincoln could have sent an email, or posted it on Facebook. The eloquence, passion, and beauty would have been lost forever. Great orators have kept these powerful words alive! Suppose Julius Caesar had said “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your laptops!” The great empire would’ve crumbled much sooner. It’s time to make a stand! Don’t let call waiting ruin your life; the next time your phone rings, don’t screen it, answer it!!
It’s time to take my meds.