Today is a milestone for The Controversy. This is the 150th commentary I have written for this blog. Many of you have told me that you have been regular readers since I began posting editorials on November 22nd, 2012 - 40 months ago today. Others have informed me that you only read The Controversy when it's a topic that interests you. And then there are those of you who don't read my columns at all. I hope you are reading this one.
I'm doing something differently today. I'm advising you - or perhaps, warning you in advance - that this essay is considerably longer than most of my compositions. Please read it as if you were reading a printed magazine article...or a newspaper. Remember them? The reason I'm giving you this heads-up will become apparent as you continue to read.
I'm curious to know what it takes for someone to reply to a Facebook posting... or...what it takes for someone to even read what I - or anybody else, for that matter - write on Facebook...or on any Internet or so-called "social media" forum? And if you see a longer than usual posting...do you simply scroll on passed it...or "click"...to something else?
Suppose I posted on Facebook that I won 500-million dollars in a lottery? I didn't...but how many of you would have even gotten to this paragraph and read what I wrote? And if I had won that money...how many of you would comment? Suppose I said I will be dead in 24 hours? Don't worry - that remark was for dramatic license. I don't plan on dying tomorrow. At least I hope I don't. But how many of you read the above statement...or would comment on it...if it was true? And suppose I said that I have hidden the fact that I'm a multi-billionaire...and that I'm running for President of the United States? I'm not either...but did you read that? And if it was a fact...would you reply to it? These questions were asked to merely make a point. I don't expect you to answer them.
Once again I ask...what does it take for people to read a Facebook posting...and what does it take for a "Facebook Friend" to acknowledge and answer that posting? And I don't mean by clicking on a "like" icon.
Are Facebook and other means of "social media" worth all the time spent by Americans and other Earthlings worldwide? Will Facebook, Twitter and other forms of technological connections eventually destroy one-on-one communication in the United States and around the globe? Has it already? Yes. I think it has. Not totally...but at least in part.
I close each and every one of my commentaries with the tag line, "We'll talk again." I do that because those three words have been my broadcast sign-off for a long, long time on my radio shows...and before that...my newscasts. So, I decided to use that phrase to end The Controversy...as it is my trademark slogan. Obviously - in this setting - I am not..."talking" to you...my readers. I am writing...and you are reading. Well...I hope you are. That being said... please ask yourself the following questions.
When was the last time you had a one hour - or even a half-hour - telephone conversation with a friend? And how often do you have such a phone conversation with that same friend...or any friend?
Except for family...a co-worker...or someone else that you see in-person on a regular basis for whatever the reason...when was the last time you spoke with anybody else - who you consider a friend - by telephone...one on one...for 60 minutes? For 30 minutes? For 15 minutes?
The title of this commentary is not to imply that we - only you and I - should talk...but persons everywhere. So why does it seem that most people today recognize "texting" as an acceptable substitute for actual talking? Part of the reason our country has become as polarized, as it is, is because the "art of talking" is disappearing...or has, in many ways, already disappeared.
Equally as bad is the lost "art of letter writing." And I don't mean e-mails. Relatively speaking...nobody...hand writes letters today. Oh I realize that sending a letter via the U.S. Postal Service can take days to reach a destination...and now with the technology of e-mail...that is a more speedy and expeditious way to send a written correspondence. But for those of you over the age of 40...don't you remember the personal touch that you would give a handwritten letter...and the inner warmth you would feel...when you would write one...or receive one? Plus, today, a personal letter by e-mail rarely gets fully read. That is for those that even get written. E-mails - for the most part - are skimmed. A quick little note might get the full attention of the reader...but if somebody sent you a 2, 3 or 4-page letter...by e-mail...would you read it word for word? I've actually been told by people that such a lengthy letter would simply get deleted...and dumped into the trash bin.
Fewer and fewer people are reading e-mails - or text messages, for that matter - that are longer than 4 or 5 short lines...if even that long. Why do Americans today claim they have no time to read or write a long letter? Years ago - as a child... through college...and beyond - I would receive handwritten letters from my grandparents, from my parents, from my siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins...and, of course, from my friends. Some of those handwritten letters, I have kept all these years. I cherish them...and the special memories that accompany them. In fact...as a kid - for several years - I had pen-pals...both male and female...all my age... beginning when I was about 8. And these pen-pals were not from the United States, but from countries all around the world. From England to Japan...from India to Israel...from Peru to Australia...and other nations too...I had written letters to friends in foreign lands...and they wrote to me. And those letters to and from pen-pals - as well as to and from family and American friends - might have been as short as one 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper...or - more often than not - 2, 3 or 4 pages or more. And I always replied similarly. It was wonderful receiving a handwritten letter from a friend or loved one. And writing back was an equally joyous and significant pleasure. Thus, penmanship - years ago - was taught in every elementary school. Is it today? Some schools do, while others don't.
In decades of the past...we made the time to write letters. And we made time to talk on the telephone. Today, people spend a tremendous amount of time on Facebook...or Tweeting on Twitter...or performing other non-one-on-one means of "personal communication." It's one of the reasons why the U.S.A. and other countries have so many devastating problems. We don't write to each other in a personal fashion. And we don't talk...really talk...to each other.
The word, "gab"...is hardly ever used. And "chat"...means to type words in to a little box on a computer screen or mobile device. "Chatting" today...is not talking.
Who do you know today that drops by your house or apartment...just to have a cup of coffee...and to talk? Probably very few people - or more than likely - nobody. That's a custom that seems to have died...but one that would make life in America so much better...if it hadn't.
Someone recently told me that she talked with a friend for an entire day. Stunned by her remark, I responded by saying..."THE ENTIRE DAY?" "Yes," she said. "We texted each other...and continued a conversation, on and off, from morning to night." I'm sorry, but THAT is not a conversation. Plus, texting and e-mails don't convey emotions. Or, the emotions are misconstrued.
I recently texted back to someone who texted me...and the person thought I was insulting her...when that clearly was not my intention. But, as a text, it was misinterpreted. If what I said was spoken in a telephone conversation...she never would have taken it the wrong way.
And then there's e-mail and texting etiquette. Don't get me started on that. Capital letters mean you're shouting. But...in a handwritten letter...it would simply equate to EMPHASIS. And, there are so many more e-mail and texting rules that - to continue in this vein - will only boil my blood. (No pun intended).
I wonder how many of you have actually read this commentary...to this point...have totally read each and every word...and have digested what I have authored? I wonder how many of you will express your own thoughts about what I have written about today? And I wonder if any of you will change - or, at least, try to change - your ways of communication after reading this essay?
Now I'm not at all suggesting that we don't enjoy progress with the various social media formats...but there is no reason to ignore that which is more pure and honest...the person to person telephone call...and a heartfelt and sincere handwritten letter. Plus, of course, the best type of communication - when it's possible - is live and in person. Two people...one to one...talking.
Can we talk? And can we hand write letters? For the sake of our nation...for the sake of our planet...for the sake of the human race...I certainly hope so.
And that's The Controversy for today...Number 150.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
One of the chief goals of a blog...one of the major reasons to publish a blog...is to entice others to express their opinions about the subject for which the author is writing. The Controversy is being read by a tremendous amount of people throughout the United States of America and all around the world. If you agree or disagree with my commentary...your views are welcomed. Tell me that you love what I write...or that you hate it. Give your name...make up one...or remain anonymous if you prefer. The Controversy is your outlet to speak your mind and to say what you want about the topics discussed. Please share The Controversy with others by posting it on Facebook, Twitter and on other social media forums. Please also pass a link to everyone in your e-mail directories. The Controversy wants to know your thoughts on the column above or on any other editorial or essay written on this blog.
Now, please express your opinions. Just click on the word "Comments" below and write your remarks in the box that appears. Make sure please that when you finish your statement that you click on the word "Publish." Thank you for your thoughts and thank you for reading The Controversy.
Copyright 2016 Gary B. Duglin and TheControversy.net. All Rights Reserved.
You sat too often in a red velvet chair and learned what talking was all about.
ReplyDeleteI didn't necessarily learn what talking is about from sitting in that chair, Joe...but talking with the two people in that living room...sure did make talking...a wonderfully pleasant time. I miss them both very much. By the way, though...my chair was the blue one next to the couch...not one of the two red velvet chairs. Thanks for the comment. GBD
Delete