Saturday, October 24, 2009

Phones

I recently read a few posts about people who don't like to talk on the phone and prefer to email or text. And thought I would put a few thoughts out there as well. I do screen phone calls to see if its a telemarketer but unless I am hugely busy with my hands deep into something messy, I will answer any phone call from family or friends, and of course work for the most part. Maybe its because my parents are older, my brothers and families live far or maybe its because I have missed a few important phone calls in the past when a friend's husband was gravely ill, and I wasn't able to be there for her immediately, but I feel like if someone calls me, they want to talk to me.

I do enjoy emailing updates to friends and family across the country occaisionally, and I do use email or texts for quick questions, and updates like. . .we landed or its snowing here, but I still prefer to hear the voice and the laughter over the phone. Its just not the same reading it. Yes, written word is powerful, but NOT as the only way to communicate. Not being able to see my family and friends as often as I would like. . .well, I need to hear them if I can't see them.

Also, I believe the technology of email and text is teaching our children how to NOT communicate with others. I find some of the high school kids I work with unable to speak to another person face to face unless they really know them, and this could be something that might hurt them in the future. College, job interviews, customers, colleagues. . .there may be a need to actually talk. . will they be able to learn it that late in life? Seeing friends texting other friends or even each other when out in a group is disturbing to me. What happened to just enjoying the company you are with. When I go out with friends, because I have no children who might need me, I turn off the phone and talk. (and talk and talk and laugh, and sometimes even cry). These friends deserve my attention, and there is nothing worse than sitting there while someone else gets a call that is not important, and they just sit and talk while you do nothing but stare at the wall.

OK, so I guess I have some strong feeling on the subject. I too understand that mothers of small children can't talk on the phone often or for long, but sometimes you do need human contact and hearing a voice.