The Devolution of Communication

Although not directly Orthodontic related, something that has been on my mind as we move into the New Year. Today we live in the most technologically advanced society ever known to history on earth.  Within seconds, we are able to communicate with almost anyone, anywhere , at any time on this planet.   What I find amazing, is that this is leading to a De-Evolution of human communication. 

 What do I mean by this?  Today, cell phone usage has exploded on the planet, and I find it amazing that with all the amazing features of these technological marvels, so many young people choose to communicate via texting.  Texting?  There is a perfectly functional telephone attached to that text generator.  Why is it so difficult to call someone?   

 As the father of daughters ages 15 and 22 it was quite an eye opening experience for me to learn that nobody listens to, leaves , or retrieves voice mail messages.  That takes WAY too long to execute for our younger generations.   They want instant communication delivery.   But what is the price to pay for this?  

 As recently as 70 years ago, there were parts of this country that lacked residential phone service.  If you wanted to contact somebody remotely, you’d actually have to write a letter.  Imagine that!  Have you ever asked a 21st century teenager to write a letter? Now where does that stamp go? 

 Writing a letter is becoming a dying art.   Writing requires patience, and taking pause to put your thoughts together into a cohesive piece.  Texting is “On the Fly”, requires and is given very little thought, with rapid communication it’s main goal.  If I have anything meaningful to say, I’d prefer to think about it before pressing “Send”.  How can you?  Texting creates the demand for immediate response. 

 An increasing number of public school systems are dropping cursive writing from their curricula.  Tight budgets, lack of time, teaching to the tests are all implicated in this decision.  I can see the writing on the wall (sorry….I couldn’t resist that pun) See: http://bangordailynews.com/2013/04/07/education/cursive-handwriting-disa...

 While our kids are one of the most communicatively connected generations ever, the connections are mostly superficial.  How many “friends” on Facebook do they really know?  The connections are somewhat illusory and demand an immediate reply.  My teenage patients are very frequently attached to their phones and texting while they in the chair, with their mouth open, holding their phones in the air to keep that life line of communication alive!  And, nearby is that kid’s mom or dad interacting with their phones. 

 Boys and girls leave each other text messages and then wonder about the meaning of some of the quick or absent responses.  How can solid human relationships form when they eschew conversations? 

 So why do I say we are reversing the evolution of communication?  While we have the means to communicate in meaningful ways (writing, talking in person, phone, or video chatting) we are going backwards.  In the mid –late 1800’s there was an early predecessor of text messaging:  It was the Teletype machine:  Two enormous typewriters separated by a cable.  That’s the level of communication that is becoming a default choice of many, only wirelessly.  Perhaps soon we will text dots and dashes to one another?

 Is there a solution?  Yes, but it runs counter to the current of technology.  Technology is supposed to save time, reduce the complexity of tasks, and improved our ability to communicate.   It is supposed to serve us.  At the risk of sounding weird, I believe technology is taking on a life of its own, and is beginning to own us.  It really doesn’t save time, because it demands more of our time.   So what are we to do? 

 In my own family life, I require No Texting Zones:  The dinner table, going out to a restaurant with my family, and when having a conversation.  It’s swimming upstream, but worth trying to engage my kids in conversation…..between texts!

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