At one time children were taught to use various modes of
speech in any given circumstance. When in the presence of parents, they might
use one form while at school another form. When outside with friends, children
could break down the barriers and say just about whatever they wanted. The formal
speech was used for those in authority, while the respectful courtesy speech might
be used with strangers. Today we have no filters used for anyone at any place
or situation we find ourselves in. The result is an insensitivity regarding our
fellow human beings. It has also resulted in fostering anger, frustration aggression
and hurt feelings which diminish self-esteem. Quick replies via technology of
all sorts are the current mode of speech. How technology is destroying humanity
should be contemplated. It is time for us to control technology rather than
technology controlling us.
We leave our house feeling happy.
We get into our car and drive to the highway and are met with eradicate drivers
who immediately proceed to cut us off and honk their horns in the process. Some
are on the phone and others regardless of rules are texting. Our smile
decreases slightly. When we arrive at our place of employment, we spot a
parking place but we are aware of another driver speeding towards the same
parking space. We slow down and turn our car into the further space and think
to ourselves the walk will do us some good. We are still happy but tense and
alert. As we step out of our car to walk the distance to the entrance, a loud
blast from a horn startles us to the core and we feel our heart racing. Our
head turns in time to see the angry face of the driver who is sporting ear
plugs. The driver shouts out the angry words, “That’s how stupid people get
killed.”
We are
not happy anymore. The tension and aggressive mode seeps through our body. We
have a meeting in fifteen minutes and we are not looking forward to it. We
enter our workplace and are met with the secretary’s quick mechanical good
morning as she busily taps on the computer. Our first thought is to ignore her hello. We
begin to retort a reply when we observe her texting. We continue on our way and feel our whole body
tightening. Gathering our materials we realize we are late for the meeting.
Upon entering the room, a co-worker slaps down some material in front of us and
simply says in a commanding voice, “page eleven.” Now we slouch into our chair a bit lower.
The boss
looks over at us and comments, “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.” We
think to ourselves how old am. He shouldn’t
talk to me like that. We can’t help the warm feeling spreading across our face.
At lunch our co-workers laugh as they discuss a fellow worker in a derogatory
manner. We smile to get along but secretly think that could be us they are
talking about. We leave the lunch room and a companion demands we hold the door
because their hands are full. We feel embarrassed we didn’t notice but we wish
they had just asked rather than demanded. Creeping back to our workplace we
check the time and frown because little time has passed. It is going to be
another long day.
After
work we stop at the food store to pick up a few things. At the grocery line we
get bumped in the back of the leg. It wasn’t a painful bump but we are surprised
the person said nothing. We turn around and
see that the person, who bumped us, is on the phone laughing. They glance at us
and quickly say, “Sorry”. The person at the register states what money we owe
without even a glance. We begin to say thank you for the change but they have already
started to ring up the next person.
When we
get home we are greeted with a nasty response from our child who is busy
texting friends, and a superficial response from our husband who is busy on the
lap top. The phone rings and it is the bank.
We needed information about changing an account. The person on the other
end of the line gives us a spiel. When we question the person they snap a curt
response and end by telling us to call another number if we still have
questions. They finish with an exasperating reply for us to have a good day and
they hang up the phone. Now we wonder if it is us or if the world is crazy.
Children
used to respect their parents and their tone and words reflected this. People
used to respect each other and their demeanor and speech expressed this. Many
people are now running on the ever spinning treadmill. They are too tired to
exhibit the niceties of kindness and empathy. Being well-mannered is not so much taught as
understood. When we are aware of others and have a regard for others, we
exhibit a concern and respect for them. If we continue to fill our lives with
things that don’t count and don’t have any significance, then we leave little
time left for the things that really do have importance. We don’t have to worry
about inventing robots to do our bidding. We are becoming like robots. We are techno savvy at the expense of inner qualities
of virtue and morality.
Happiness and kindness are
dissipating. Anger frustration and aggression are increasing. All we have to do
is observe what is around us. Nobody holds back their thoughts even if they are
harsh and cruel. We are aware of the mechanisms of our many devices, yet less
and less aware of the workings of the human spirit. The person we are aware of
is the one at the end of our technology device.
The live person in front of us is of no consequence. If we had a choice
of humane qualities or accelerated technology, which would we choose. Most
people would likely choose the technology. That is why we are now living in the
kind of world we live in. The thought for today is to start reflecting on the
loss of empathy and the loss of our connections to other human beings.
