Cell phones are everywhere these days. According to recent studies, younger people tend to favor texting over actually speaking with one another. It must be true, because I've seen numerous youngsters sitting together, walking side-by-side, and enjoying meals, while spending all their time staring at their phones. I even watched in silent awe as a trio of girls went past, texting each other and laughing. What ever happened to looking someone in the eye and saying what you mean? It's odd to me.
Now, I adore gadgets--despite barely having a cell phone--and am genuinely thrilled to get any new toy, but this communication style flies right over my head. There's so much more to communication than only the words. There's body language, inflection, tone, rhythm, stressed words, pauses, and on and on and on. Those things don't come across well in texting (no, emoji don't count). It's also much harder to be snarky, snide, and sarcastic via text (at least, not unless the person you're texting completely knows how you think).
It's interesting how in our modern age of instant communication, we are losing touch with each other on a personal level. Neighbors are a treasure going untapped most of the time, and we do so little to change it. Sure, if you text it's less likely you'll get a fist in your mouth, face hurt feelings, or otherwise deal with communication as it happens. We want contact totally under our own control, when we're ready for it, and not when it actually takes place. I think that's sad, despite the incredible technology. It's good to sit down and talk with someone, to really get to know them. Why should we be uncomfortable with such a natural method of expression?
- M
No comments:
Post a Comment