So, I was listening to talk radio today (I'm old... I do that ) and there was a guest (a psychiatrist) on the show that was suggesting that techonology has ruined conversation.

By that he meant that instead of having meaningful face to face conversations using real language we have become a society of catch phrases and text messages. Can you actually have a conversation using "bff" and "lol" and "ttyl"??? You spend no time actually using your vocal cords and interacting with the other person. You don't see facial expressions or hear emotion.

He also suggested that this lack of personal communication between people has eroded the barriers of manners and respect the used to exist among people.

I'm curious what other people here think. Maybe I'm just hitting that a point in my life but I would rather sit and talk to someone for an hour or 2 face to face than watch TV or a movie with them. Now, I do make use of some technology to communicate. I use this message board, but not to the exclusion of meaningful conversations with people. I rarely use text messages (mostly just to reply to people who have sent them to me).

So what do other people think of this? Do you think this is a problem or is it simply where society is headed? Is this going to be detrimental to the upcoming generation?

I think it's hilarious he used technology to get his message across.

I dont think technology is ruining conversation, technology is there; use it I say.

Originally posted by gtwalq

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I think it's hilarious he used technology to get his message across.

I dont think technology is ruining conversation, technology is there; use it I say.

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uhm... he was on the radio....

I think you really misunderstood the point.... and maybe I didn't explain it well enough. It's not just technology at all.... but emerging technologies like cellphones/text messaging, instant messaging etc. that push us away from talking to people and instant typing to them.

I find irony and truth in this because the real definition of technology suggests that it is supposed to make anything easier for humans and society. It is ironic because the escape happens to be the cause, and true because..well, its true. We are becoming overly dependent on this so-called "society of catch phrases".

The escape is the cause. But to be honest, we are just moving along.

I gotta agree with Garth, this nut is a total hypocrite using technology himself to spread his message. He needs to wake up and realize how much more technology has saved conversation then ruined it.

First of all, if he really stuck to his word he would have preached it in person, not by radio.

Many people use terms which define a subject. While some people use LOL or BRB on the net, he needs to wake up a look around. There are far more terms cut short in person. Many organizations use short terms like USA, FEMA, FAFSA, hell people even use it in their names. George Bush "Sr." come on this guy needs to get real.

What about in morris code? When someone does SOS, do you expect them to send the longer version of it? What about the phone number 911? Should it be as long as our phone numbers? How bout 911-911-9111.

In case he hasn't noticed not everyone is face to face, technology saves face and time and allows people to communicate anywhere with one another that is the purpose of it.

Plus he needs to realize that there are humans like me who have absolutely no social skills to begin with so net HELPS conversation a lot.

[sigh]

you don't get it

Someone just close this thread.