Last week a really good friend of mine was dumped by her boyfriend via a text message. The week before that I tried calling one of my US colleagues at least 15 times without success but was able to get an immediate response when I emailed. This week I had a full blown, humdinger of a row with one of my closest friends...on IM.
What has happened to the art of conversation? I just can't seem to get anyone to talk to me any more. Not only is electronic communication impersonal but it takes so much time to get across your meaning when a simple phone call would suffice.
Most of my friends send me texts and emails rather than phone. I hate it. I can't text anyway - it takes me ages to write what I could say in a couple of seconds. People argue that it is more simple, cost-effective and timesaving. I think it is lazy and sometimes even dangerous. I have got into far more trouble sending emails in anger or sending them to the wrong people.
That said, I think my friend can see what a lazy, thoughtless, classless twerp she was dating and I think that can go some way to making her feel better. And I PHONED my IM-bashed friend to clear the air and everything is fine now.


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