Re-discovering a lost art

I can say without a doubt that my friend Daisy is a master with technology. If I ever have a question about anything regarding my computer……she can figure it out. So for my email “letter” I let my friend know how much I appreciate her advice and guidance. I let her know that without her skills and ability to diagnose my computer problems (sometimes at the most insane times of day or night) my goose would be cooked……so to speak. I also let her know how much I value our friendship, but she already knows this as we "talk" every day, in fact we are IM’ing as I write this Blog. Daisy is 10 years younger than I am and it is amazing how much more technology plays a part of her life. When I visit, her and her husband the evenings are spent “connected”. Daisy can IM 5 people at one time and keep the conversations straight, she reads her books on Kindle and has many friends that she has never actually met in person. Postman states “Technopoly is a state of culture. It is also a state of mind. “(page 71). I believe that technology is a natural progression as we humans continue to try to explain and rationalize the mysteries of the universe. It is our nature to explore and advance. I believe that Postman feels this is what will end us as a culture. He writes as though we should all be in fear of technology, (technophobes) as there is no progress, no benefit. There is a balance somewhere and often we have to go to extremes before we can find it. Postman promotes the extreme behavior that he also deplores in society. I believe that the answer lies somewhere in the middle.

This assignment was a wonderful exercise in balance. Letter writing is a lost art. About a year ago I was re-introduced to writing letters. When I first met Gloria Barr I was flying home from Baltimore. It was hot and muggy and we were stuck on the tarmac at BWI waiting for a thunderstorm to pass. Babies were screaming, the smell of jet fuel was nauseating and the pilots turned off the air. Needless to say it was the last place I ever imagined forming a friendship. When Gloria sat next to me, I was a little surprised. It was not a full flight and I couldn’t imagine why she wanted to sit next to the window, in my row when there were plenty of seats available. When I fly I am usually plugged in, (I-pod attached like a life line) especially in a situation like this. Though I don’t often show it on the outside I am a nervous flyer, and I don’t usually chat with people. I find solace in pumping music into my head, I know it’s not a particularly friendly way to be….but it is just how I fly (Postman would love that!). Well as I found out Gloria was also a nervous flyer, but unlike me she felt comfort in sitting next to people. She said I had a “friendly face” and squeezed into the seat beside me.

All things considered I had a wonderful flight home that trip, and learned a lot about the kindness of strangers. When the flight was over I wanted to make sure that Gloria and I exchanged email addresses as I wanted to keep in touch with her. I was stunned when she told me that she did not own a computer. She said that her son bought her one so that they could email each other, but she could never figure it out so she gave it to her granddaughter.

In the beginning I thought the idea of writing letters was tedious. Obviously I had done it many times before, but love the instant gratification of email and over the years no longer found a “need” to write. However, after the first few letters I began to really enjoy the process. There is an excitement to waiting for a letter in the mail. The anticipation of wondering when it will arrive, checking the mailbox and being greeted with more than just junk mail and bills broke the monotony of this daily task.

For this assignment I wrote Gloria and thanked her for re-introducing me to letter writing. I let her know that she has inspired me to sit down and pen a note to many of my other friends as well. I am really grateful to her as I now adore writing letters and my friends enjoy receiving them.

There is a beauty to letter writing, both in email and "snail" mail, a commitment that you enter with another person. It requires effort and is not a one way exchange. The act of letter writing must be reciprocated in order to continue, unlike the junk mail (whether in your mail box or inbox)….that just keeps coming regardless of the lack of effort or intent to reciprocate.
Postman states “But for the moment, computer technology functions more as a new mode of transportation than as a new means of substantive communication…..….they place an inordinate emphasis on the technical processes of communication and offer very little in the way of substance" (pg119). I will have to argue that while there is no doubt without balance technology could be dangerous, and all junkmail is certainly benefited by this "mode of transportation" lets face it, letter writing is old school. The computer is a fast, efficient and wonderful way for many people to keep in touch. Keeping their families and friends together when they are spread out all over the globe. How could that not be considered substantive.