What a world we live in. Communication has never been easier.
There are numerous social media apps, SMS’s, phone calls and even video calls.
You can make friends with someone on the other side of the world or meet someone in your own area you’ve never spoken to before.
But sadly, as our means of communication rapidly expands, the less of it we actually do.
The simplest of things, whether it be among co-workers or family members, are never communicated.
Too many people assume that you know what they’re talking about or assume you will see something, and will never actually relay a message on.
In the good ole days, when you only relied on letter writing, smoke signals and even mail by pigeons, messages got around.
Even the great wars that were fought were reliant on messages either delivered by a bird or by a soldier having to ride for a few days just to get it to a general. People endured great danger to deliver a message but deliver it they did.
Nowadays, all you have to do is send a text, but we can’t seem to get that right. Sadly times have changed and communication has changed for the worse with it.
The only form of communication that is readily and eagerly spread is gossip.
How often does someone say ‘did you hear that so-and-so did this?’
And how often does that same story get spread around without anyone verifying the facts.
And how often does someone say, ‘I have a secret to tell you but please don’t tell anyone,’ only for that secret to be hot news the next day?
It’s actually considered a crime nowadays if you keep a secret.
People will think you can’t be trusted to spread the news and will never share information with you again.
How very ironic it is!
The next time someone tasks you with ‘keeping a secret’, write it in a letter and post it to no one in particular.
Then when you’re asked why you never ever divulged the information, just blame the Post Office for being unreliable. It’s actually a valid excuse.
And in the spirit of communication, spread this column any way you can. We have so many ways of keeping in touch with people, why not use it?
