Have I lost the art of oral communication? Technology has taken over so many aspects of our lives, when are we going to take them back? I have watched myself get sucked into the technology vortex know as electronic communications. I never thought that I would be texting and emailing instead of having phone conversations. This is why I may never date anyone new again.
Even with my increased level of typing and clicking I still find online dating a chore. I can’t win. My online dating has gone on for 4 months now. One good guy out of several toads and he is thousands of miles away now. See I just can’t win. I am even more convinced that men don’t know what is good. My target demographic (age only) seems to be in the throes of a collective midlife crisis. Claiming to want to meet the perfect, mature, drama-free, woman but it seems that they are looking for the perfect, young, not too bright, easily influenced girl. I say good luck with that you old farts because those girls want young, vibrant, non-blue pill popping bad boys. Because that is what I wanted when I was in my 20s and 30s. So why should I spend hours a week sifting through pictures and profiles crafting clever emails? What’s wrong with a phone call?
But I digress as usual. Back to electronic communications, I strongly advise that Generation U(nemployed) learn how to have a decent conversation in person. I remember having long phone conversations into the night with the men in my life. Falling in like, lust, and love with the sweet words and promises of the next meeting. Talking long into the night, laughing and learning all that makes a person who they are. I even remember waking up with the phone to my ear hearing snoring on the other end. We were together for 3 years after that.
I am not just talking about personal conversations, but as a HR pro I have noticed that way too many young people cannot express themselves in a meaningful way in job interviews, on resumes, or when speaking to someone that is directly in front of them. I have attended a few ‘networking’ events recently. I have listened to exchanges between seekers and establisheds (yes I made up that word) and cringed. Being able to express yourself in proper tones, using real words seems to be a lost art form. Speaking without use of ‘umms’ and ‘you know what I’m sayin’s’ should have been the exception, but turned out to be the rule. Interestingly enough this applied to college educated people. Maybe I expect more, but I keep getting less. I will not go on my bad resume rant, I’ll save that for another day.
All of this to say that I am going to send one less text a day and pick up the phone to my sweetie and practice the art of oral….communication.
Have a Cafe Day!
