--There was a list in Reader's Digest this month of the 8 Things being Killed by the Internet. Polite disagreement - Memory - Daydreaming - Waiting a day for sports scores - Footnotes - Leaving your desk for lunch - Concentration - Letter writing.
--What do you think? Are these things being killed off by our fascination with the internet? Memory? I have to admit I thought my memory was just getting killed off by too many years or too many things to remember or perhaps lack of proper attention, but now I know. It's not me. It's the internet. What a relief! And isn't it all those talk shows on the radio that have decided we can't disagree politely? No ratings boost without controversy. Concentration? What's with that? I'd figure it out, but I have to check my Facebook page.
--But no way am I going to let anything kill off my daydreaming. Daydreaming is essential to a person's well being. Well, at least a writer's idea bank. Oh, the things we can imagine or dream up. The internet might even give us even more amazing things to daydream about. But it's not only a writer who daydreams. As long as there are sunny days with kids wishing school was out and as long as there are romance and love, people will be doing some daydreaming, don't you think?
--Ah, but letter writing. They might be right about the letter writing. It may be a dying art with everybody shooting messages across cyberspace without having to lick any stamps. (Oops! Showing my age again. I guess I should say attach any stamps. Nobody licks stamps these days.) I'm sure they said the same with the telephone and letters no doubt took a hit then too. We send cards. Some of those cards have our feelings expressed in perfect words written by someone else. Other cards even sing to us, but how often do we sit down and write a letter. And yet, don't you love getting a letter in the mail? An old fashioned full of news (Christmas one-size-fits-all newsletters don't count) letter just to you. Or a card with some good wishes written down on it by the sender.
--When I'm researching a time period, I feel as if I've received a gift when I come across a book with actual letters written by someone who lived in that time. I did some research on WW I for my book, tentatively titled Angel Sister, that will be out in January 2011 and I found a book of letters written by a soldier from Kentucky back to his wife. Perfect material for me to get the feel of what my character might have gone through as a soldier. But unless somebody is printing out their e-mail messages or saving them, that kind of thing may be lost to future generations. Of course a lot is saved out here on the net. Think of all the blogs. That's what this is - a letter to you. So maybe there will be more material than ever before. Just in a different format.
--What do you think is being killed off by the internet? Books? Brick and mortar bookstores? Music CDs? Secrets? Privacy? I don't know about any of that. I just know I'm not about to let the internet kill off my daydreaming. Or wool gathering. I've got a new bunch of characters to dream up.
--Hope you dream up lots of fun things this week - while you're enjoying the internet.
Hi! Your remarks about memory and concentration made me smile. Loved your writing on all of this. I do agree that internet might kill some things, but it also, to me, contributes a lot. Since I live 30 miles away from any town in every direction, the internet is my library. It is wonderful to think about something and be able to go find out about on the computer. I don't have to wait in line for a research book that has alredy been checked out....instant access. On letter writing, I am fortunate to have and aunt and a dear friend who write long letters back and forth with me. I love my email, but nothing is better than a long hand written letter. To answer you question on what I think the internet kills....innocence....not only in our youngsters...but there is so many things that we hear about...some still shocking at my age! And I also our patience is effected as well because we want every thing now...fast..just like internet access. I also enjoyed reading your last post, so good. blessings,Kathleen
ReplyDeleteOf course, Kathleen. You thought up two good ones - innocence and patience. Except if you have dial-up internet and then you have to learn patience. Lots of patience. And I enjoy checking on things instantly on the internet too. Great research tool. I just have to remember not to believe everything I see out there. Thanks for reading.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that letter writing, plus sending greeting cards & thank you notes has really declined with the internet. I have 2 teenagers & I have seen that "face to face" conversations have really decreased with the internet. My kids mostly do internet chat & texting with their friends - I try to tell them that they miss out on all the non-verbal communication that goes on when talking to a person face to face. - Elaine (rejordan79@msn.com)
ReplyDeleteHi, Elaine. I guess with teens you're on the front line with the texting rage. And it is funny that they like that better than face to face, but when I was a teen I might have talked to more people that way since I was so shy. But if I'd used up all my words texting, I might never have written that first story.
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