The Old Coot will reply in 10 seconds? I hope!
By Merlin Lessler
There is a good thing going on in society; more and more old
coots are communicating with text messages. It delays their interaction, like
the 10-second delay built into live TV. It provides an opportunity to block inappropriate
remarks. As texters, they have time to think before they press “send,” even
though many text messages are littered with inappropriate auto-corrections that
go unnoticed. Still, there is an opportunity to avoid insulting remarks, (and
fix those unwanted auto-corrections). I’m not saying they take the time to do
it. It’s one of those “lead a horse to water” things.
It's a better world because of the smart phone. But, it
doesn’t impede an old coot like me, who in person, blurts out whatever comes to
mind. “Hey knucklehead, where’s the syrup for my pancakes?” OR “Are you really
going to the prom with that big zit on your nose?” Oh, yes, my crowd needs a
ten second delay when we open our mouths. We need a mask with a filter. Maybe we
should be required to text, even when interacting in person. We’re so inept
with those tiny keyboards, it would provide plenty of time to mull over what we’re
about to blurt out. Our responses might become a little less thoughtless. Our
mother’s tried to teach us to think before we spoke; our teachers did the same.
And, it worked, for most of us. Until we became old coots. Then, the training
and discipline disappeared.
Mandatory texting for old coots would be a great boon for
our wives too. They would be relieved of the embarrassment of standing by our
side when we say to a perfect stranger, something like, “Hey lady, how do you
get into a car with that big hat on your head?” It would keep down the senior
divorce rate.
Comments? Complaints? Send to - mlessler7@gmail.com ((‘ll get back to you
in ten seconds)
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