I Don't Think We'll Be Speaking At All By 2050
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
March 9, 2013 8:35am CST
Many of us have already lost the ability to write as opposed to type (and the youngsters can't even do that properly as they can't spell) and now we've got people on their phones, literally 24/7...but not speaking on them. Pointless conversations like 'I'm on the train!' were annoying but not as annoying as not speaking at all..to anybody..even to your parent or daughter/son.
A good example was John at the Dentists the other day.
He was sat in the Waiting Room with an old bloke and they got chatting away. Whilst they were chatting a young woman with her mother came in. As soon as they sat down the pair of them got their mobile phones out and started playing games or going on Facebook (or whatever) with them. Why didn't they speak to one another? What's that about? And don't tell me the pair of them are scared of the Dentist as I don't buy that argument. If that's the case they could talk to one another for support couldn't they?
As John went in the Dentist the old guy got his book out (reading, remember that?) and, as John came back into the Waiting Room later on the mother and daughter combo were called in to the Dentist. The old guy then said to John,
'Those two have been on their phones all this time.'
Incredible, isn't it? No words spoken between the two of them the whole time John was being seen by the Dentist. Am I missing something here? Why is this behaviour considered 'normal?' I'd really like to know.
The bloody things want banning. We're losing the art of conversation. People will have their heads bowed permanently from lowering their heads, looking at their phones, the way it's all going.
I'm glad I don't have one. They're a menace to society in my opinion.
A good example was John at the Dentists the other day.
He was sat in the Waiting Room with an old bloke and they got chatting away. Whilst they were chatting a young woman with her mother came in. As soon as they sat down the pair of them got their mobile phones out and started playing games or going on Facebook (or whatever) with them. Why didn't they speak to one another? What's that about? And don't tell me the pair of them are scared of the Dentist as I don't buy that argument. If that's the case they could talk to one another for support couldn't they?
As John went in the Dentist the old guy got his book out (reading, remember that?) and, as John came back into the Waiting Room later on the mother and daughter combo were called in to the Dentist. The old guy then said to John,
'Those two have been on their phones all this time.'
Incredible, isn't it? No words spoken between the two of them the whole time John was being seen by the Dentist. Am I missing something here? Why is this behaviour considered 'normal?' I'd really like to know.
The bloody things want banning. We're losing the art of conversation. People will have their heads bowed permanently from lowering their heads, looking at their phones, the way it's all going.
I'm glad I don't have one. They're a menace to society in my opinion.6 people like this
18 responses
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
9 Mar 13
Good subject to think about. By now I try to speak as less as possible and I already know I will start speaking less and less. Not because I have internet but because it tires me out. The older I get the more I like to be alone. Also... many words said are seldom usefull, people do talk a lot but it's seldom you hear them say some sense.
3 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Mar 13
It's strange that it's not limited to the youngsters. Like the daughter's mother, for example. She was engaging in exactly the same behaviour as her daughter..as though she was saying to herself, 'There's no point in talking to her, she's more interested in her phone..so I might as well be like her.'
So sad.
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
9 Mar 13
oh lord,the spelling errors i've seen lately..even in newspapers.and it doesn't help the media seems to be making up new stupid words every other day..
what i love is the people walking down the street so engrossed in that screen.
i've been waiting for one to walk into a pole.i like technology too,but frankly there's nothing that interesting that i'd risk being vulnerable walking about.
2 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Mar 13
A few years ago I would use my phone (I don't have one now) to text a fair bit. However, I could not walk down the street and text at the same time. My head would be spinning with all the concentration and I was worried about bumping into someone, or someTHING.
I guess people these days don't give a sh*t if they bump into other people or not. I'd love it if one of them got punched in the face though..if they bumped into someone like..I dunno, a wrestler or something.
3 people like this
@jdawg011 (498)
• Canada
10 Mar 13
Heck, even BOOKS are having multiple spelling and grammatical errors! Mind you, only self-published books, but even so. Look through Amazons online book store and some of those books (even high rated ones according to a friend) have mistakes all over the place.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Mar 13
hi jane I wa s sitting on a bench b y starbucks w aiting for my ride when thie man strode towards me glaring at me and yelling "damn you you know the specs on that do i have to do everything myself look lady" and he waent on getting meaner by the minute and he stopped in front of me.I cringed and said "Look whoever you are do not yell at me as I do not know you from Adams off ox",: He looked
bewildered then pulled out his electronic gizmo" okay Shirley some wacko old lady just interfered. and by theyr I may be an old lady but I do not go around talking to m y self and firing people.I am not wacko but I think you are.Good day ."Heaven help us the thing he was talking into was practically invisible and it looked like he was about to attack me. lol
Where are the peaceful lanes of yester year, gone I guess with modern technology .I am all for new improved technology but I hate feeling like I am beingt yelled at by a stranger
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Mar 13
Oh Hatley, that man was sooo rude! Why is everyone so touchy these days? They should take a Chill Pill lol.
@offlimits (596)
• Philippines
10 Mar 13
This problem is really getting worse by the minute. I'm afraid I'm also like that too but it's only because the one who I always exchange text messages with is very far away from me. But no I'm also not like those who would text each other even if they're already together in the same room, or even ignore a conversation with someone who is right in front of me in flesh just to text. I'd also want that someone to listen to me while I'm talking and not be busy with his/her phone.
1 person likes this
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
10 Mar 13
That is one thing I try to avoid while with someone. Unless the text message or call is something really important, I refrain from getting to my phone. Coz I would feel insulted myself if the person I am with will always be minding his/her phone all the time.
1 person likes this
@jdawg011 (498)
• Canada
10 Mar 13
I actually think it may start turning around. It won't be talking to people face to face but with advancing technology, we may have images which are propelled out of our phones so we are seeing who we are talking to in 3D, instead of 2D like videochat gives us.
But yes, you are right. People spend so much time texting nowadays, you can go to a restaurant, and look around and I bet several people will be texting instead of spending quality time with the people they are out with.
2 people like this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
10 Mar 13
This is a bone of contention with me, before all this technology took over, who said it was 'Good to talk?' oh yeah Maureen Lipman seems like eons ago now, when she was Beattie in those British Telecom Adverts. Part of the reason why I deleted my Facebook account is that I do blame it for not being able to compete against my friends time for it. When we were on holiday, she spent most of her time on her blackberry updating her Facebook page! She even took her laptop! Sad to say the place where we stayed had wifi access! You can't go anywhere now. Granted for me the internet is my lifeline, I have a social phobia, and I find being with people very difficult. Have you noticed the amount of times when shopping in supermarkets, people are pushing trolleys as well as texting and playing with their phones!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
10 Mar 13
Electronics are a good way to avoid contact with others. It puts a barrier between you and the world. I have a pay as you go cell phone, spend less than ten dollars a month. I refuse to text, and I only use it for emergencies. It is my phone, and I control it, so very few people even have the number.
@MoonGypsy (4606)
• United States
10 Mar 13
this is why i love electronics. i use it to avoid contact with others, i must admit. at the same time, it's ironic how it connects you to the world.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
12 Mar 13
Texting someone who's in the same room is very odd..or trying to get the kids down from upstairs. Instead of shouting they text.
At least shouting is free.
@MoonGypsy (4606)
• United States
10 Mar 13
i'm glad it's gotten that way. it makes it a whole lot more easier for me to communicate. i don't do well conversating with people offline and don't have the interest in doing so.
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
14 Mar 13
I'm not quite that far but pretty close, I don't see a lot of people offline any way.
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
12 Mar 13
And then we wonder why there is a generation gap between parents and children!
Yes, we're on the same technology, but it doesn't really promote communication between family members.
I bet that if we confront the young people about this, they would say, yes we're communicating, through the phones.
Yes communicating, but not speaking!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
12 Mar 13
I don't think they realise the sacrifices people made in order to give them that future...and someone should tell them!
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
14 Mar 13
The future is the future. Look, we had not much in common with our parents when we were growing up. And the same applies now. The difference is that everyone, not just the kids are getting into this technology. I love it. But I am not much of a phone person. I hardly talk on the phone unless I need to. AndI only text once in a while. But that is the way of life today.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Mar 13
Why can't people speak though? I don't get it. I know it's annoying when someone has a ridiculously stupid conversation on their mobile but now there's just silence. Do you agree with texting someone in the same house or room as yourself? What's that about?
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Mar 13
It is rude, I agree with echoforever.
1 person likes this
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
14 Mar 13
Texting in the same house is ridiculous and so rude. I would never do that. I'm not a texting person except to keep in touch with my mom or sister in between the times I don't call them.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16792)
• China
10 Mar 13
Maybe your worry isn't uncalled-for according to the principle of " use and disuse".Great changes have taken place in people's social life since the advent of mobile phone. Sometimes,people can indeed use it to while away the dull time,however many are addicted to virtual world and neglect social contact.This can explain why some are unconcerned about others.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
12 Mar 13
That's very true. You don't see any 'activists' anymore marching against cutbacks from the government..definitely not young people. Too busy on Facebook or texting.
The suffragette movement wouldn't have happened if it were NOW.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffragette
@changjiangzhibin89 (16792)
• China
22 Mar 13
There are both advantage and disadvantage to everything.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
9 Mar 13
You just reminded me of my daughter and her hubby. They were in the SAME room and were texting each other. They were laughing but not talking. I ask what's going on and she said they were texting.
@offlimits (596)
• Philippines
10 Mar 13
Oh no. If only my bf is already in the same room as mine I'll be talking to him face to face for hours. I can't believe they're wasting their precious time together with just texting.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Mar 13
A brilliant example of what I mean. I bet they looked at you as though you were the strange one, didn't they?
Mum has the same problem with her boss (well, not really her boss, she just acts like she is) at work..and this woman is forever disappearing 'doing bookwork' in her office, when it's common knowledge she's on her phone. No landlines are allowed (which I think is a mistake) so temptation will be there if it's mobiles only.
I often wonder if that's one of the reasons why 30 million (a record number) of people are in work in this country, yet productivity is down.
Hmm, I could be onto something. I think I might email the government because they DON'T know what's happening. It's so obvious when I think about it!
1 person likes this
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
14 Mar 13
I am not a conversationalist. I never have been. I just don't know what to say when for example I'm with someone a lot.. they already know what I've been doing, my thoughts really aren't all that important to share with them.. I'm pretty neutral about almost anything...
Well that's just me. I enjoy being with people but I don't talk really. Maybe they find me rude I don't know. What do I say?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Mar 13
That's different from texting or gaming on a phone though my friend. At least - by what you've said - I know you're a quiet person and respect that. But, because of all this waste-of-time-and-money new technology even people that WERE good conversationalists cannot be bothered speaking either..and it doesn't help that our pubs are being closed down at an alarming rate. That's where the socialising used to happen but there again..even quizzing is a waste of time because people cheat by looking up the answers on their Smartphones!
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
15 Mar 13
I am a quiet person for the most part.
Yes I can't understand why someone who is good at conversation would opt to text the person instead. That's an art not all of us have. 
Conversation is much more personal and it gives to the lower generations something a phone can't! Its being completely lost.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Mar 13
Mmm, maybe..but I doubt it. A proper argument in the Waiting Room..well, that's something else that never happens anymore.
Shame!
1 person likes this
@redredrose (1105)
• United States
14 Mar 13
My hubby has a cellphone but rarely uses it for anything other than work. He does text on it but only if he gets a text first. he has never in his life been much of a phone person. He says he'd rather talk to the person face to face. He didn't even want the cellphone but had to get it for his job. When i start my new job i will get one too. Tho few people will have the number. I like the old days of when i grew up that yeah they had cellphones but no internet on them no texting etc. People still talked more face to face than on the phone.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Mar 13
I don't have a mobile phone now (and certainly not an Android or a Smartphone) but the ones I did have I loved. Why? Because they were simple to use and weren't like supercomputers. My favourite phone, interestingly, was my first - a brick-like Nokia. I absolutely loved that phone. No internet (just basic chat on it), no camera, no music, just chat and text..that was it.
If someone gave me a Smartphone to look at I'd say, 'Very nice but it's a waste of money, you do know that don't you?'
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
14 Mar 13
Thanks for this timely discussion, yes you are right; lol i have seen people sitting in one room but talking via sms; as if god has not given them voice at all, some gadgets are not used properly.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Mar 13
Thanks. I think they text, etc, just for the sake of it sometimes. I mean, mobile phones were really expensive when they first came out and to talk on them..well..don't go there lol.
But now, these contracts are so much a month so the people have to justify the price. My argument being, if you didn't have a fully-featured phone, just a basic one, you'd save a fortune.
They can't see it though so I guess I'm outnumbered!
