Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Manners Count in e-Messages


Source: Rockford Register Star - Melissa Westphal

In her article titled, "Text this, pal," Melissa Westphal reminds us of the recent news stories reminding us that manners count in e-messages. Read her complete article HERE.

According to CTIA - The Wireless Association, there are 219.4 million U.S. wireless subscribers, and more than 118 million people using MySpace. So it's no surprise that the news is filled with recent "questionable" uses of text messages:


RadioShack Corp. in August notified about 400 employees by e-mail that they were being let go because of planned job cuts. A spokeswoman told The Associated Press that the company had warned employees of the potential digital firings

A woman in London bemoaned being fired from her job at a body-piercing studio by text message. Her employers said it was the only alternative after being unable to reach her with several phone calls to deliver the news
In Chicago, a woman shared her story with a Chicago newspaper of being dumped by her fiance by a text message

A woman in London bemoaned being fired from her job at a body-piercing studio by text message. Her employers said it was the only alternative after being unable to reach her with several phone calls to deliver the news

Jenny Kosinski, a college Sociology prof, has found herself trying to erase the marks technology has left on student papers in her college-level sociology class.Her students are using e-mail and text-message language in their papers and assignments - "u" for "you," "lol" for "laugh out loud," and, of course, the smiley face symbol which html prevents me from using in this paragraph.

Is technology now becoming a scapegoat for our bad manners?

(My thoughts:) Let me ask you this, have you ever checked your Blackberry while having a face-to-face conversation with someone else? If so, you are in good company (or maybe bad company).

I recently sat in an airport next to an older gentleman who was wearing a cap that signified his involvement in WWII. He sat in perfect silence the entire 45 minutes. His "peacefulness" was enviable. Meanwhile, I pounded away on my laptop, sent 5 - 10 emails on my Blackberry, and talked in to my Bluetooth the entire time.

I'm sure he was thinking, "What a freak. This guy needs to get a life."

Isn't it strange that all I could think was....

Geez, if this guy had a cellphone he could be talking to his grandchildren while waiting for the plane. Or his wife! Or his brother! Or his children!

Our generation is all about being connected - no question. But I suppose we could still use a few lessons in courtesy adopted by our grandparents.

Dennis
WirelessJobs.com

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