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Opining of a Cranky Old Man
Please Don’t 'Text' or 'Friend Me' Pleads Cranky Old
Retiree
Columnist Bill Kalmar may speak for many digitally
frustrated senior citizens
By Bill Kalmar, Retiree
 June
22, 2011 - By
way of background, I am a senior citizen, but not technically challenged.
I know how to operate my HD television and the DVR. I have a cell phone
and understand how to use the speaker phone. OnStar is in my car, along
with a TomTom GPS. As a way to connect to the past though, I do have a
Sony Walkman that accompanies me on my daily runs. But don’t ask me
about “blue tooth”, whatever that is!
Having said that, I am definitely not a fan of
“text messages” or Facebook. In fact, I at one time blocked all text
messages to my cell phone, but discovered that in so doing I could not
access the “minutes used” portion and, thus, had to reactivate the text
message feature. If someone does send me a text message I do not
acknowledge it but rather just phone the person. And guess what? Most of
the time the originator of the text message answers his or her phone! So
why did they send me a text message?
I also receive text messages from department stores
about their sales, and from other companies wanting me to buy their
products. Yes, I subscribed to the “Cell phone do not call me” feature,
but somehow these text messages continue to get through and irritate me.
So each time I receive a text message I immediately send a “cancel”
message back. It seems to have worked.
So someone please explain to me the necessity for
text messages. Why can’t people just make the call and speak?
And yes, I understand that there is a new cancer
scare about using cell phones so maybe some people are no longer making
calls. Then how about just activating the speaker on the phone?
People are text messaging so much that we,
especially youth, have lost the skill to actually engage in intelligent
dialogue. Everything is now a code such as “LOL”. So if you want to get
in touch with me, just give me a call. My number is in the phone book.
And now let’s discuss Facebook. What is it about
some people that every boring minutiae of their life has to be
highlighted on Facebook? Do I really care what you had for breakfast and
what tidbit of gossip your barber shared with you while he trimmed your
locks? Am I interested in what cute trick your cat did? Why should I get
excited about your next pedicure?
What is particularly disturbing is when people post
important news on their Facebook, and then never take the courtesy to
make a simple phone call to alert friends and family to a problem or to
something exciting. Two cases in point: my son called me to ask if I had
heard that my best friend had suffered a heart attack. Of course I was
not aware of it and asked how he knew about it. Guess what? It was on
Facebook! Now who puts this type of information on Facebook and fails to
call people about it? Perhaps people who have lost a communication skill
called “interacting with the public”.
And recently our daughter called us to inform us
that our niece had a baby. We had been awaiting news of the arrival but
had not heard anything until our daughter called. How did she know?
Facebook of course! And yes, our children and grandchildren are on
Facebook and even text message their friends but not me of course
because I won’t acknowledge the message.
Evidently what with texting and Facebook there is
no longer a need to teach proper English or grammar in the schools or
even social skills. Because of texting and Facebook we longer have to
interact with society but can just remain in our homes like hermits and
bang out text messages on our cell phone and update our life on Facebook.
What a sad commentary on life!
Well, time to go. Just received a text message from
the Meijer Grocery Store. Seems eggs are on sale this week! Wow! Maybe I
should get on Facebook and alert my friends! Yeah right!
L Bill Kalmar is retired in Lake Orion, Michigan,
and is the former Director of the Michigan Quality Council. He is a
frequent contributor to SeniorJournal.com. His opinions are his own.
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