Speak to someone

While reminiscing about my youth, and particularly about my lifelong friend, an important thought prompted this posting.  During my upbringing, many of today's common items were absent: computers, video games, smart phones.  And TV had three stations.  Consequently, we spent a lot of time talking with one another.  And from those conversations, life long friendships grew.

Having worked on a middle school campus and those of two major universities, I marvel at today's lack of human verbal interaction, meaningful face-to-face interaction, by many.  Surely, communication (texts, tweets, etc.) continues, but the in depth discussions with each other seem to be a disappearing aspect of daily life.  I'd watch students sitting in long rows along the benches of one of the major walk ways, each either in the process of texting or plugged into music.  But not speaking with the person to their right or left. 

I've written about observations made while sipping a cup at a local coffee shop.  Broadening these observations, I've noticed that people have their heads focused on their smart phone or computer, not speaking with anyone.

Face-to-face conversation is a vastly superior and preferable means of communicating, because it requires both listening and speaking.  It also enables the communicator to augment the words with voice inflection, body motions, while simultaneously judging the non-verbal reactions of those with whom the conversation is being held.  This communication also enables exploration of views and feelings unlike any other form of communication.  With conversation, friendships develop.

Hope the young ones out there learn to speak to someone.