Many of us are quite nifty with texting these days. It's quick, convenient and most mobiles are user-friendly, therefore making the idea of sending a quick text an easier option than picking up the phone and making conversation. But does this mean the art of conversation is beginning to fade? I was talking to someone over the weekend who feels this is exactly what is happening. Some of us find talking on the phone enjoyable and easy, but some of us don't. I fall into the latter category. Texting for me is a really useful tool to have in our modern lives and means I don't have to pick up the phone every time I need to say "How r u 2day?"
Emails have taken over letter writing, though I do have a few friends who still write a good old-fashioned letter. I prefer to email, or text. But do you think our modern day methods of communication will ruin, or have already ruined, the art of conversation? The someone I was talking to over the weekend about this was my lovely mum. She's never got to grips with texting even though she has a mobile phone. She tried it but wasn't keen. She loves to talk on the phone and is my total opposite in so far as she loves social gatherings and having a face-to-face natter. Her adamant expression when she voiced her opinion about texting was quite assertive for someone as gentle as my mum. Perhaps if she ever got the hang of it she would enjoy doing it, but her words did ring true. I think a lot of us now find it difficult to pick up the phone, write a letter or take time to visit, when it's so much easier to tap in a few words like "luv u". To read that takes seconds. To say it also takes seconds. Guess she does have a point.
I think she does have a point.
ReplyDeleteTexts are great for quick, short messages, but sometimes they don't arrive, and sometimes it can be difficult to put something in text that would only take seconds on the phone. Intonation and the opportunity to instantly correct a misinterpretation are there in a phone conversation, but a text taken the wrong way can cause a lot of hurt.
I've also noticed that texts can be used to avoid contact, as in "we must meet up soon", "when are you free"...this can go on for ages before the actual "meeting" is arranged.
Having "said" all that, I wouldn't be without my texts!
This is something very close to my own heart. It saddens me that technology has taken away letter writing and actual communication. People rave about such things as Facebook saying they are convenient and easy, and how they are now in contact with people they had lost off with. Indeed more often than not people ask if you have Facebook rather than for your number. So what has made it easier, to me has taken away the personal and affectionate side of communication.
ReplyDeletei think that our methods of communication these days is very impersonal in many ways...we are more connected than ever and we are less connected than ever...
ReplyDeleteAn interesting post, Kathryn, and one that I feel quite strongly about too. Texts and Facebook have their uses at times, while emails have been invaluable to me. Apart from keeping in touch with several friends through emails they have also saved time and money for work. I have sent hundreds of emails to publishers, agents, newspapers, bookshops, over the last few years. Imagine the cost in stamps, as well as the extra time involved if they were all letters instead! But it does seem a shame that so few of the letters that arrive on our doormats these days are personal ones. As you know, Kathryn, my book could never have been written if it hadn't been for the fact that my mother and her friends were such prolific letter writers all those years ago! They had to be - it was the only way of keeping in touch with their families regularly while they were away. Will the next generation of travellers leave such detailed records of their adventures for their descendants? Sadly, most of them won't. Letter-writing is an art we are losing and while I do still put pen to paper from time to time, I'm as guilty as everyone else for not doing it enough.
ReplyDeleteTechnology has brought some wonderful things but I think that very soon humans will evolve without voice boxes and their writing hands will be weak and no one will be able to spell. That would be a great pity!
ReplyDeleteMaggie X
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ReplyDeleteI try to mix traditional and modern communication but email is so much easier and more accessible these days. I have found that I don't text as much since most of my friends use twitter or facebook. However, it still thrills me to receive a hand-written letter from my (elderly) relatives in Ireland and I always write back to them so I hope that thrill is reciprocated.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I love a letter and enjoy writing them too - phone calls I like too but texts I find disappointing - as though the sender didn't have time for me - texts are fine for urgent messages/meeting confirmations etc but for me letters and phone calls have warmth.
ReplyDeleteI love receiving letters and treasure them, and I love meeting face-to-face, but I find phone calls stressful, mainly because there's always a child that needs something or an appointment to go to, or simply because I need to sit down and switch off! I love new technology too, it's brought me closer to many many people, especially friends and family overseas. But I guess you have to consider what other people like: I'm certainly very glad that I rang my Dad every day after his cancer diagnosis xx
ReplyDeleteYup, I think technology and "social" media have destroyed conversation. I can be very chatty via email, blogs, texting or Twitter, because I have time to think about what I'm going to say. Conversation needs spontaneous responses and I'm not very good at that. That may (or may not be) the fault of technology :)
ReplyDeleteI notice it most on the train though. A few years ago everyone chatted to whoever was next to them, or had a conversation on the phone. Now it's all headphones and head down looking at a tiny screen. I do it too, but it's still depressing.
Then on the other hand you get things like FaceTime on the iPhone/iPad/Mac which enabled you to have a proper conversation with someone. We used this with family who work abroad and it keeps conversation going, so I guess it can work both ways.
A point well made ... I am always texting, tweeting etc when I should be phoning. Technology has created connection but its taken away intimacy.
ReplyDeleteI must be old school...If Crystal starts to text me about something and it looks like it's going to be a long conversation, I pick up the phone...Too much typing!Hahaa
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