Let's chat.

I was noticing today how much communication and polite interactions between people have deteriorated. A man came into my line and I greeted him with a smile saying " hi sir how are you?" and his response was " large, dark and icy."...oh ok is that your coffee order or your demeanor? My next customer was no better, particularly demanding and in a rush because his 5 year old was being a bit of a disruption. Not only that but he was snappy at his kid, and the boy reacted the way any kid would, he whined and continued his behavior. The man wouldn't even slow down and chill out long enough to realize that his son was being a brat because he wanted the right kind of attention.

And dont even get me started on the cell phones today.

Every other customer it seemed was yammering away on cell phone, interjecting their orders between breaths and sentences then apologizing to the people they are talking to for "being interrupted"...terrible.

Even in the workplace, essential information that needs to be conveyed personally to be effective is reduced to being written in bubble letters on hot pink paper and taped on a supply closet door. Great management.

These past few days I have been pretty much without a cell phone, which I thought would be devastating and a huge inconvenience. But to be honest, it is kind of nice. I feel myself being less stressed, not worrying where it is, if I missed a call, or if my inbox is full. I was thinking about just getting rid of a cell phone all together, saving $30 a month and leaving it at that. Cell phones really are just another technological advancement that I feel we probably could have done without. Everyone says " I can't imagine not having my iphone/blackberry/laptop/bluetooth/etc.etc." Really? I can. I can imagine a payphone on street corners. I can imagine using landlines just fine, or walking down the block to a neighbors to ask for something rather than sitting on your ass and sending a text or email. I can imagine a world where people waved hello to others in a small town or stopped to chat on a morning jog or a walk with the dog. Am I a utopian dreamer? I wouldn't say so, I can just recall how the world once worked. Now everyone is plugged in, and tuned out. I literally watched a couple walk their 2 dogs the other day side by side... each with their own set of white headphones snaking up from their ipod arm bands. It repulsed me. Even at the gym everyone is plugged in. I can understand the desire for wanting to tune out there, but I'm still in shock at how the instant people see others using mobile technology they know not to approach. It's like mosquitos and repellent. And so many people use it as just that, to deter others from talking to them! What's so bad about talking to other people? That's how you learn things, get different perspectives or atleast a good laugh. It's how you reconnect and revisit things, or discuss issues and ideas. It's how our ancestors figured out how to build things, discover things, trade things, make things, by communicating and working together. Now it feels like we are all working seperately. Don't get me wrong, I am ALL for independent work and living, but when do we draw a line?

I feel social networking through a computer is replacing interactions we could be having on a daily basis. Some may argue that things such as facebook or other social sites will essentially bring the world closer, working with people we never would be able to work with if we didn't have this technology. Yes, that is a valid point. However, I also can see these things taking away from everyday social interactions people could have face to face, be it with neighbors or family or old friends. It takes us out of where we are and brings us to someplace else, which is fine but so many forget about where they come from or how to behave, simple manners, or the people you see everyday. For a long time I thought the same way, that you needed to get so far away to find answers or see things in a different light. But by taking things slowly and listening to others, really paying attention, you can find a surprising amount right here.

So when my next customer hung up her phone when she placed her coffee order, I thanked her.

Lady- "Oh honey, you shouldn't thank me, that's what everyone should do automatically."

Me- "I agree, but you would be surprised at the amount who continue to talk and order at the same time!"

Lady- "That's so rude. Personal interaction should never be made impersonal."

Me-"Wow. Well put."