Did You Know? What do you think?

Today, Chris sent over an interesting fact from Gartner research. 

Apparently, a college grad today uses 98.4% of text relative to 1.6% on voice for a cell phone.

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While we can't determine causation or correlation, I would assume it has something to do with the cost of voice minutes as compared to unlimited texting; that and the ease of texting, particularly due to the lack of thought required. 

Unfortunately, there is an entire generation that has not learned proper phone etiquette. I went to a party that my 14 year old sister hosted, and there were groups of kids standing around, each of them with their phones out while they were talking to each other. They were texting and zoning out while their friends without phones tried talking to them.  The entire conversation centered around what was being texted. 

Verbal conversation requires articulation and thought on a more immediate basis than a brief text with misspelled words does.

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Although I definitely fall into the category of someone who texts regularly, I feel as if there is a gap even between my younger sisters and myself. 

Actually, I know there is a gap because we share a phone plan and my monthly text total is less than 50% of theirs. 

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we spent the 90s talking on the phone every night to our girlfriends, until we got in trouble for tying up the phone line. The first thing we did when we got home from school was run to the message machine to check the tape for messages. We had no access to a cell phone -  outside of the "family plan" for calling in case of emergencies.

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In middle school, I remember thinking it made so much sense, when I heard that one of my guy friends had written a list of topics on a sheet of paper before calling a girl he liked. He prepared himself so he wouldn't sound stupid when they ran out of things to talk about.

I guess my age group was right in that transition phase where we had phones as teens but we grew up without texting or Facebook. The most immediate communication we had was via AIM when our parents let us tie up the phone line (until they realized they needed a second line just for the internet!). 

Cher was so glamorous in Clueless because she and Dion had their own phones and could use them whenever they wanted. 

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A lot of younger kids I know don't even like calling to order a pizza, they opt for online ordering. 

As we go forward, will talking on the phone become obsolete? If so, what implications will that have? 

It will be interesting to see how things play out. Think about how awkward you were when you were younger. Think about those awkward pictures, those awkward comments, those awkward moments, those awkward romances. 

Now think about how instant communication has become. Now think about how quickly things can be made public. Now think about how all those pictures can be texted and forwarded and posted on Facebook. Now think about the lack of judgement young teens have...or any teens for that matter. 

I guess, I wonder what the benefit is for these kids?

 Yes, they are learning how to be tech savvy, and yes, many parents are getting better at learning what to monitor as information becomes more public, but there's almost unlimited access to instant information and communication. 

How effective can parents actually be?

Wasting Time and Reviewing Books

Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

My housemate and  I have successfully boycotted a cable TV subscription for over a year now. We do subscribe to Hulu and Netflix, but you'd be amazed at how much time you save when you don't have a place to just crash easily and channel surf. I do have a couple shows that I try to keep up with here and there on Hulu, but it seems to happen a lot less. It only sucks when we want to watch live events. Typically, the only live events I want to watch are football games though, and I can easily watch those at a bar or at my cousins' house. 

If you could cut the biggest time waster out of your life, what would it be? Who or what steals your time? 

My biggest time thieves are:

Facebook, Pinterest, Catching up on Blogs, Reading

Last night, after drinking way too much caffeine and finishing the accounting homework that provoked me to drink that much caffeine, I managed to read until 2am. 

UNNECESSARY sleep deprivation!

I did just finish an awesome book though. Have you ever read Shantaram?

Gregory Roberts wrote an amazing story based loosely on his incredible life. I use the word incredible very literally here. He escaped from a maximum security prison in Australia, made his way to India, lived in a slum, was recruited by the Bombay mafia, and  lived to tell of his adventures. His writing doesn't just tell a story, it communicates his philosophy. I found his insights were both challenging and profound. Even if you disagree with him, his words will make you think. 

"It's forgiveness that makes us what we are. Without forgiveness, our species would've annihilated itself in endless retributions. Without forgiveness, there would be no history. Without that hope, there would be no art, for every work of art is in some way an act of forgiveness. Without that dream, there would be no love, for every act of love is in some way a promise to forgive. We live on because we can love, and we love because we can forgive." Gregory David Roberts, Shantaram

This book was the culprit that kept me up last night. Worst of all, when I got to the end, I was sorely disappointed. Nicholas Sparks must make a lot of money. 

Shame on him, he just keeps regurgitating prior work.

I keep reading it though -shame on me. 

You know how when you make a copy on the copier, and then you make a copy of that copy, and then a copy of that copy, and by the end of it everything is blurry and ugly?

 That's happening here. 

The dialogue is a stilted, awkward amalgamation of every book he's written prior to this. 

The story has great potential but becomes unbearably predictable. Do not waste your time.