white poison industries

The internet has changed the way we communicate.

The second the very first ‘lol’ was typed our system of writing, reading, and grammatical propriety began a horrid backslide that pretty much erased hundreds of years’ worth of education and etiquette. Now I know of people who “myspace” their office mates and text message their managers. We use tacky abbreviations and “emoticons”  that render Drake lawschool graduates just about as articulate as a sophomore at Scavo.

Sure, texting, myspace and email are convenient, fun ways to keep in touch with friends. And I’m by no means the spelling police. The problems arise when these methods of communication step become our “default” and are used at inappropriate places and times….

As a general rule, that would be any business related place or time.

I also feel that as our dependency on technology increases our ability to do things in more traditional ways decreases. I remember being taught how to write “Thank You” notes as soon as I was old enough to pick up a crayon. My parents felt it was important that my sister and I learn to show appreciation. Now people are more likely to send invitations to get togethers via email or text and “Thank You” notes are rarely sent in any form. And that’s only one example…..

Love letters? A text reading “r u up” around 2:30 in the morning hardly counts….When I dated a soldier who did a tour of Bosnia I learned how it must have felt to be the wife or girlfriend of a soldier during past decades because times haven’t changed a whole lot in some places. He couldn’t usually get to a computer and phone calls were rare, so we wrote each other. Everyday. And there is something about holding a letter and reading words your loved one wrote in their handwriting that somehow means so much more than an email ever could. It’s a hassle to actually send a letter, but it’s a joy to receive one. Even though he and I have’t dated in years I still hold onto those letters. Can you say that about your emails?

I’m not suggesting that technology be ignored-it does make it easier to stay in touch with people. And that’s important. I’m just suggesting that when the time and place is right, grab a box of blank notecards or some nice stationary and actually write something. A “Thank You” note after a job interview or an especially fantastic party. A letter to a friend or relative you rarely see. Trust me, it will make their day. It might even be the little thing that gets you that job. Either way, it shows that even in a world that transfers words and thoughts at the speed of light you have something to say to them that is worth the time it takes to get it…even if all you are saying is “Thanks.”

Of course I have notecards, stationary, and all kinds of fun things to write in or on-believe it or not, you can still get this stuff at bookstores. Pink and Ephemera are stationary stores in town. I even make cards myself sometimes using interesting papers, ribbons and assorted strange things….And the first 3 people that request something to write on in a comment below will get a present from me-so you can make someone’s day.