Can You Hear Me Now?

As everyone's network continues to grow we all become more connected to the world. Our rather large spherical land has become deceptively small. With a few quickly pressed buttons, invisible data is expelled through the air to the intended recipient. It is an action that occurs within milliseconds and one that I fail to comprehend. How is it that somebody located 1000 miles away can be expected to receive a text in only seconds after I hit send? Regardless of the science behind our electronically dominated communication system, it is an impressive powerhouse for efficacious interchange.

Powerhouse might be an understatement. Electronic communication has caused a complete metamorphosis in not only the way we communicate, but also the way we live. For example, I remember the days when a pager (which certainly meant I was a drug dealer) announced that I needed to start looking for a pay phone, in a not too scary area of town. Now, Pandora, which is streaming through my Blackberry to my car stereo, is interrupted to enthusiastically proclaim that I have a call coming. At stop lights I muse at the knowledge that every person around me is frantically texting away. Are our thoughts and ideas really so important that we must jeopardize our lives by compromising our attention? I say this in a completely non-judgmental way, as I am not free of blame. I too have engaged in DWT (driving while texting).

Can you hear me now? We ask this when that enigmatic signal in the air starts to falter. But is it possible that we also ask that because amongst endless ways to electronically connect we still don't feel heard? When did we become incessantly married to our phones, I pods, laptops, bluetooths, social networking sites, social networking site games, etc? Right now I can think of at least 5 ways to "catch up" with my friends and family, and honestly, a face to face visit doesn't seem to be an acceptable option. Why spend the time to actually visit with someone in the flesh, when I can complacently visit with others from the comfort of my way too soft vortex, AKA couch? I love and abhor our society of electronic communication. I experience mild panic when I realize that I left the house or my office without my Blackberry, but I CAN sever the the Blackberry, I-Mac and I-Pod bond so that I may spend time interacting with the live, corporeal world. Can you?