Pre-Boomer Musings

There was a time, not so long ago, when a handwritten letter from a loved one, friend or associate allowed the person who penned it to be close to the reader, whether across town or across the country.   People took time to think about what they were going to say before they wrote it. 

Image by Wim Mulder via Flickr

Letter writing was a process.  We selected a fine-quality stationery to carry the message and picked the right pen — a fountain pen, the kind we filled from an ink bottle.  Often we wrote draft of the letter to be sure it was thoughtful and not rambling.  Our best penmanship was a must, and we always read the letter before posting it.  That’s how we pre-boomers were taught.  The way we go about communicating today bears little resemblance to this dying tradition. 

Communications capabilities resulting from technology have replaced letter writing for the most part.  As soon as we receive an electronic message of any sort, we hasten to provide a quick response.  Usually no one has asked for an immediate reply, but our culture is so accustomed to instant gratification that we feel compiled to do so.  Writing is only one of the communications tools that have become a faster-than-the-speed-of-light phenomenon.  All forms of transmitting and receiving thoughts, ideas and instructions have suffered from the “fast is better” attitude, a trap into which we have all fallen.

The idea of being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week is the curse of the computer age.  It started with beepers, then cell phones and now its BlackBerrys and iPhones; all of which are networked with our desktop and laptop computers.  We could turn off these “conveniences” but are afraid someone won’t be able to get through to us or maybe we’ll miss something.  Are we that important?  Is what they have to say that earthshaking?  Could all of us benefit from a little downtime so we can think instead of react?

Gone are the days when a letter took several days to deliver and the recipient read it and considered it before writing back.  This process took ten days or more.  Of course, if a fast reply was in order, one could always call.  However, business calls were restricted to office hours and personal calls were made at the appropriate times as well.  Now, we try people on their cells, leave text messages and back these up with emails.  The sense of urgency is so instilled in us that we have lost all subtlety in the way we present the message, no matter which mode of communications we use.

Drama, sweetness, sincerity, expression and gentle persuasion have given way to punchy statements, abbreviations, poor grammar, even poorer spelling and a lack of sensitivity in current day communications.  Instant photos or streaming videos with sound captured on a cell phone and sent to everyone we know have a place in society.  But all to often, these mini-messages water down our ability to build relationships and nourish them by painting pictures with our words through a personal one-on-one letter that means something to the person who sends it as well as the person who receives it.  Imagine texting someone a love letter.  How romantic.       

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