Some communication isn't progress after all

These are my thoughts on cellphones. I don’t own phone, I like my landline just fine. If I leave my home and my landline, it’s because I have other things to do which require my full attention. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you when I get home.

There’s enough distraction going on around me when I’m driving. I don’t need a phone call reminding me to get the milk, a Post-It sticker works just fine. Not do a need a so-and-so who thinks it’s a good time to have a chat.

When visiting folks, I like to give them my full attention. If I wanted to talk to you right now, I’d be there instead of here where I am. I like making eye contact with folks I consider my friends, not “tap” out a message on Facebook or Twitter via my phone.

Should I go camping or to City Beach to enjoy the sun, I don’t need a long-winded chat about what you’re up to. I’m here, you’re there, we’ll talk about it later.

Texting does a great disservice to communication skills. We’ve moved beyond the days of the telegraph, let’s not revisit it.

It’s amazing our species survived without cellphones for countless eons. Folks used to communicate by flapping their jaws instead of pushing buttons. Friends were friends, not words or images on a screen. Now, it seems life is not worth living without cellphones. Call it progress; I just call it sad …

LAURIE WADKINS

Priest River