Monday, October 27, 2008

Andrea Pelose response to Ferguson


The Phenomenon of Text
The Death of Human Interaction
by Andrew Ferguson
05/05/2008, Volume 013, Issue 32
Once upon a time we all had a little thing called a voice. It would come from the larynx out the mouth and grace the public with an interesting soliloquy of opinion. Now, as if the vocal cords of the entire American nation have been surgically removed from country’s youth, we are given the cell phone. Not to call someone, of course, but to grab it from one’s pocket flip to “new message” and T9 away.
The casual conversation and small talk has become nonexistent. One would not want to go over their allotted texts for the month. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer human interaction, instead of this Twitter form of it.
Our old friends at Time, just came out with an article recently that claimed texting to be “the best technological advancement of our time”. The article goes on to rant about the time-saving capabilities of being able to contact someone so quickly with precise questions instead of having to engage in actual conversation. I will not get started on my disparaging with Time (see http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/ 000/015/554usojy.asp), but are we really in such a desperation for time that we can not take the extra five minutes to speak with someone about their day?
This is not the route I want to take the future in. Next thing you know, this lackluster attempt at communication will take over other aspects of our lives.
News will be given to us with source quoting that claims “McCain texted” instead of “McCain said.”
The articulate Obama will have his next manuscript, The Faithfulness of Truth, texted to his agent with a concerning number of “ttyl” and “OMFG.”
Presidential elections will be conducted via text with a monitor to display the messages. The time limit for a rebuttal will be taken down to 160 characters.
Had enough? Too bad.
Coffee shops will go out of business.
Water coolers will function only as a device to get water from.
People will lose such closeness that history will cease to exist. Nothing will be on the record. It will be accidentally deleted when a person’s inbox gets too full.
Even the clear dominate desire for Lincoln biographies and theologies will wilt because people’s interest will not have a driving force to spark.
Basically we’re looking at the destruction of our society, itself.
People need to interact to feel whole. Society thrives on independent thinkers voicing their opinions. One nation, under God, with liberty and zero texting for all.
Do not get offended. I realize you are probably sitting and texting as you read this article. Excuse me for saying, but I would like to live in a world where language is unlimited, my sister calls me to see how I’m doing and obnoxious abbreviations are never seen.
Think about it.

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