The Lost Art of Communication

This subject has been broached time and time again, but the problem most certainly remains.  Americans of all generations have lost the art of conversation. A trip on an airplane and through an airport can easily verify this accusation. For my first argument I am going to mention the dreaded electronic devices.   When going through the security line a person requires 12 ample minutes just to get all their electronic devices onto the conveyor belt and through the scanner. When said person is reunited with his electronics a brief 46 seconds later,  he clamps them up close to his chest and vows to never leave them again! (OK,  I admit,  this post might possibly end up having a bit of a dramatic flare injected in it)
Then a group of people,  all clinging to their multiple devices,  head towards their gates.  They reminded me of sheep.  All their heads were lowered,  looking at their smartphones...  They resembled a herd as they walked forward in the same manner,  at the same pace,  in the same direction.
Upon reaching their designated gates they promptly gather around the 4 outlets to charge their life sources.  It's like a mess of pigs rushing to the feeding trough for slop. 

I sit next to the little old lady near the gate ,  thinking "surely she will be nice to talk to".  She is so engrossed in playing Bingo on her Kindle that she didn't even notice someone was sitting next to her!
I sit quietly - staring at the plane as it is preparing for boarding.  As I board the plane I attempt ideal chit chat with the man standing behind me in line. I get a small smile that looks more like a grimace, then the crazy shifty eyes that seem to say "did anyone hear me talking to her?". He stares at the floor,  hoping I won't continue to pester him.
I let him be...  I'll find someone else to prey upon.
I took a window seat near the rear of the plane.  I was flying with Southwest,  so any seat is fair game. A young businessman sits down next to me.  I assume he sits by me because he could just tell that I would be a delightful person to sit next to for the next hour. Or maybe the person he will carry on his last conversation with-  should the plane decide to not make it to our planned destination.  Neither of the scenarios were apparently correct.  I tried to banter... Asking about the much anticipated beverages to come.  I asked about his travel plans.  I asked where he haled from.  To each question he gave a short and vague response and then would look away- begging me to leave him alone.  When it seemed apparent that I would continue to harass him he plugged in his ear buds and watched a cooking show for the remainder of the flight! I'm going to be completely honest here...  I was on the verge of being offended.  Then I looked at all the people on the plane. Every single passenger,  save one,  had their mobile devices on and their attention was glued to it.  Not one person attempted conversation with their fellow passengers. Cooking shows,  Candy Crush,  Eminem,  Jimmy Fallon,  Donald Trump,  Fifty Shades of Gray,  etc..  Were apparently far more interesting than the human being sitting nearby. 

One of the most popular places to meet with someone is a restaurant.  For years it has been common for people to get together to visit and converse while sharing a meal. While the food itself is a significant draw,  one would usually say that it is the company we're with.  Is that true though? If it's the company that we value than why don't we show it? 
I've seen families at restaurants that have spoken barely a dozen words to one another.  Each member is on their phone or such and is wrapped up in their own little world.
I've seen young couples  sitting there texting their friends while on a date!

Which brings up another issue....  Since when do we have to answer every text,  call or Facebook post while in the company of another person!?!?!?! 

Value the person you're with!!

It's gotten so bad now that people are actually forgetting how to communicate with one another.  It is one of the saddest realizations I've ever come to.

Coffee Shop Dwellers

"Stereotypical people who hang out at coffee shops want to seem smart, sophisticated and show they can afford luxuries like coffee" -Michelle K. (obtained from Chacha.com)

When I read this view I compared it to what I observe, as a coffee shop dweller myself, and I must conclude that the authoress is not a coffee shop frequenter :)


Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines stereotype with these words: "Something conforming to a fixed or general pattern; especially : a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment" When one adapts this definition of stereotype, one must allow the authoress to be somewhat correct; for a stereotype is not a fact, but an opinion. Just the same, being the critical person I am, I am going to attempt to explain why I do not hold to the same opinion at all!

Every morning, around 6 or 7 until 8:30 or 9, I sit at a counter at the local coffee shop, downing 2-3 fairly large cups of coffee. At this time of morning the patrons you expect to see, and pretty much always see, are 6-10 middle-aged to slightly older gents. These men, most of them, sit around for about an hour sharing tales, trying to be the one with the most interesting story! And though it's somewhat of a battle of whits, I can not with a good conscience say that one of them is attempting to be seen as "smart or sophisticated". Albeit no one, unless they are playacting, desires to come across dumb, but I can not say that by frequenting a coffee shop these men are attempting to appear "smart or sophisticated".

If one was to take into consideration these men's attire, again one would not assume they were trying to be sophisticated, in fact I would guess quite the opposite.... these men understand the value of simplicity in appearance. They are often dressed in jeans, flannel shirts, work boots, and a heavy duty jacket (often a Carhartt).


As far as the assumption that coffee shop dwellers frequent the coffee shop to show off their money by affording "luxuries like coffee"; well... this is not the 30s and 40s where coffee is a luxury! Though the economy is certainly not good, I don't think that we're in such a grave state yet where we must forgo such things as coffee!


I do concede that the stereotypical view above might apply in the big cities, but out here in the country it's quite the opposite!