While I was in New York I spent some time with my brother, who lives nearby. Like many Jewish guys of our generation, he’s a doctor. He’s also a dinosaur—practically the only person in my life who doesn’t communicate by computer.
Just before I got to New York last week, my brother finally caved in, and is gingerly entering the computer age. This is a big deal. He used the internet to find a restaurant; he’s just learning to use email; he even sent me a message as a test run—- over dinner I could see he was really proud of himself.
So I don’t have the heart to tell him about the article I read in today’s Wall Street Journal—- announcing the end of the Email era. (Click to read it here) **Note to my brother: if you see words in blue type on this blog, that’s a link.
He probably won’t click, anyway. If you don’t either, the point is that Email is already a dinosaur, too. Too slow, too laborious for those who like easier, instant, and constant communication—via the fun things like Facebook and Twitter…and the upcoming Google Wave.
I use the fun stuff; but I took a hiatus while I’ve been traveling. And it’s been kind of liberating to disconnect….even a little bit. So maybe that makes me a dinosaur too—–a blogosaurus.
Maureen@IslandRoar says
But isn’t it fun to see the “dinosaurs” going all tech-y?
My parents are only in their 70’s and have no computer. They seriously miss out on so much contact with me and their grandkids; I hope I’m not like that…
Marla Wentner says
I just deactivated my Facebook account. I found it was sucking too much time away from what I need to be doing — want to be doing. I was not exercising enough control, and being a little voyeuristic.
So…I was thinking that the people I really care about would be in contact through e-mail, or (heaven forbid!) cellphone. Now I’m not so sure. Human beings are bound to start experiencing (if they haven’t already) a disconnect between how fast the electronic world is moving, and how we are wired to handle it. Great news for the therapists, though!
Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky says
Darryle, you are just one surprise after another! A brother! That’s news to me.
Insofar as dinosaurs go, I was an early adopter of eMail, but the Tweeting and texting do nothing for me, and I return the favor. Communication choice is good, but when my granddaughter says she has to have texting so her friends don’t exclude her, that’s techno-tyranny. (Good thing she’s not my daughter, or she’d be on the outside looking in. My parents were the “if all your friends were jumping off bridges” variety; that attitude is ingrained in my psyche.) Just call me Mr. eMailosaurus and proud of it!
Darryle Pollack says
I don’t know where to begin commenting—each of you zero in on some of the many fascinating aspects of this subject and the pace of our technology. I think each generation is equipped differently and has its own issues.
When I first started blogging I was shocked to hear from an aunt I hadn’t heard from in many years–who was reading my blog. She’s one of the few people her age who’s so wired, she’s constantly sending me links and comments–by email. I love it and think it helps keep us all young.
On the other hand I also think Marla is right that electronic connections affect our personal relationships and we can’t even imagine or guess the impact yet. Our kids seem to be able to handle the rapidly moving technology—but then I just read the study proving that multi-tasking also means not doing any tasking really well—which is another issue for their generation (whatever they’re calling it.)
Mark opens up an entirely different can of worms (and I don’t mean his surprise about my having a brother) I mean the whole issue of parenting and where to draw the line—so I’m drawing mine right here and leaving that subject for later.