How Do You Teach Technology Etiquette ?

Perhaps the better title of this post would have been "Just because we can does it mean we should ?" but that may be misleading or altogether confusing.  I'm specifically only referring to etiquette when using technology for communication purposes.

It is almost mind-boggling to consider the communication options that technology affords us.  I remember it being less than a decade ago when I had my first workplace video conference call.  I found it amazing to be able to see and hear business partners that were thousands of miles away.  Sure the images were limited and a little grainy, but I was in awe (and this even with my employer's technology being well behind the curve at that time with the equipment we were using).

Fast forward to this year.  I have been on a few video chats with many different people from many miles away ... on my PHONE!  The picture and sound quality are much better than they were in that office chat, and at least one of these situations involved multiple devices being connected (i.e. my phone to someone else's tablet and they are connected to someone else's phone).  Simply AMAZING right?!

And yet ... the social etiquette of these face to face conversations was nothing near what it would have been had we been speaking in person.  This has also been the case when I have received phone calls during a time that text messaging would have been more appropriate to the topic of conversation.  It also goes the other way, where we get so used to texting others that we forget the option we have to actually call and verbally converse with one another.

It seems to me that we'd all be better served to consider the time, place, mode, and purpose of conversations we are having through use of any electronics.
Does everyone need to be connected in on this call or video chat?  Does this need to be discussed now or would it be better after kids and pets have gone to bed or outside?  Wouldn't it be easier to text since the connection is spotty?

Bottom line: just because the technology exists doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.


Song Of The Day:
I'm sharing "Talking Loud And Clear" by OMD with today's post.  You've likely never heard this song before, but it's a classic 80's synth-pop tune.  But that isn't why it relates to today's post.  If you take the 4 minutes to listen to the tune, I suggest paying attention to the lyrics as they are poetic and beautiful.

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Why Do You Even Respond ?

I never thought I would actually have hate toward a letter of the alphabet, but that's what's happening here.  Every single letter response to a text or instant message conversation is moving me further and further down a path of destruction.  I'm beginning to wish the letter didn't even exist.  I'm questioning whether it has any value outside of that lazy response.  In fact, I've written this whole first paragraph to this blog and haven't needed to use it once.  Perhaps it has been over-rated all these years and should be relegated to a single function.

And yet I find myself also wondering ... why do those who invest the infinitely small amount of time to reply with that letter even do so in the first place?  Perhaps, they see the inequality of letter distribution in everyday language and they have vowed to elevate this letter to it's rightful place in history.  Consider their efforts a crusade to right what is wrong.  In that case, they are most certainly not deserving of my negative reactions, but rather are worthy of admiration for their actions.  Could it be that they are sending more of a message than just the letter itself?  If so, what other letters will they rally behind and create usage for?  Will we type or text a simple "Q" to represent answers we do not have?  If someone is boring us or we need to head to bed would a "Z" response suffice?

Perhaps we'll never Know ... (see, I guess it does have another use!)


Song Of the Day:
I think of the title of the song "Don't Answer Me" by the Allan Parsons Project whenever I get a "k" response.  Just save yourself a millisecond and I'll assume you saw the text and agreed with what I said.  I trust technology well enough to believe that you got my message.  If you don't agree or you have something of value to add, feel free to respond when you have time to type at least a few keystrokes.  K?

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Why Is My Phone Buzzing Off The Hook ?

This evening Colorado Springs is being hit by a pretty good snowstorm.  We're usually quite accustomed to large snowfalls here (we've had some serious blizzards before) but not so much in the last 2-3 years.  Sure we get a few inches here and there, or we will go through a few weeks where it seems to snow every few days, this just hasn't happened much at all lately.

The snow never really bothers me, but tonight (during scouts of all things), my phone was buzzing off the hook (if there was a hook that it was on ... I suppose it would be more accurate to say buzzing off my hip ... but that's not really a saying anyone is familiar with yet so I'm sticking with the "off the hook" line) ... wait, where was I ?!  Oh yeah ... I had multiple people on several different fronts reaching out to ME because 1. they knew I would respond and 2. they knew I would have the answers they needed.

So the basketball games for the evening were cancelled.  Men who were planning to travel (some a good 30 minutes away) in to town for the games were informed to stay home.  Stake leaders were advised that these men were successfully kept off the roads.  The youth at our church were advised we were ending mutual (youth night) early.  Parents were informed to come pick up their children.  My own wife (and parents) were updated on the safety of myself and my oldest son, Josh Jr.

Technology is pretty amazing when it comes right down to it!  I talked to, texted, or emailed at least a dozen people within about a 30-minute period.  All the while, still working with our Deacon's Quorum.  Very cool indeed!

Song Of The Day:
I know I will catch some flak from certain people for this choice, but today's song is "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen.  It just fits!  Not the cutesy romantic lines in the song, but the title.  Some folks called me, some folks texted me, and others just wanted some emailed information. 
And BTW ... it's actually a catchy song and I know you're singing along to it right now!  :)

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Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?!

So it's that time of year again ... no, not football season ... FANTASY football season.

Every year I swear I am done wasting my time with this silly game ... and every year (at least for the past 4 years) I find myself invited or playing in at least 3 different leagues.  I even ran one for the past two years because my wife really got into it a few years back and wanted to play.

So tonight while watching some more of The Office (end of season 4 if you are following along at home) I received a text message from a good friend of mine from work (Marcos).  He was texting to see if I was interested in playing FF in his league (they needed one more person and I figure what the heck, why not!)

But I am NOT setting up a Yahoo league this year for my ... what's that? ... yes dear ... no sweetie ... yes we ... okay but we have to ... the first week of the season ... I know ... okay ... maybe tomorrow or Sunday ... I don't know ... my family might not want to ... well you can ask Bob ... and Dennis ... but I don't want to ... what's that? ... okay ... I promise. ... O-kay!  I promise!  Love you too ...

Dangit!