How are you doing, Patty?

If you have a Facebook account, you have seen this question. I think it is interesting that when a person asks this question, we typically answer, “fine.” For some strange reason, when staring at the computer screen, faced with the same question, we answer the question truthfully. I find people are typing things on Facebook, they may not vocalize to another human being. When I see that, I ask myself . . .

"Are we losing touch with other humans?"

I worry about the future of our world. I worry about marriages when today’s teens get married. They are a texting generation. I have seen two teenagers, who are sitting in the same room, text the person sitting next to them. How will they communicate?

I am a teacher. This week I asked a student a direct question and he chose not to respond. I waited. I explained waiting was good. The student still didn't respond. I then decided to review some material that may help him answer the question. I had other students chomping at the bit to answer the question. The selected student still sits mute. I ask the question again. He remains silent. Now we have spent 5 minutes with this exercise, in futility. I call on another student, who immediately answers the question correctly and ask my co-teacher to take over the lesson and ask the student to step into the hall with me. He does not respond. I move over and stand by the door; I call his name and motion for him to step outside in the hall with me. He doesn't move. One of my favorite students says to him, “Hey, she wants to talk to you out in the hall. She is motioning for you!” He then mumbles something under his breath. I have no idea what he said, but hey he said something! I ask him to repeat it, he sits silent. So his “elbow partner” says, “He said, this is ridiculous. And he is not going in to the hall with you.” Again, one of my favorite students says to him, “You better go.” He refuses my request. Seriously! He refused to step into the hall with me. To which I say, “Here are your choices, talk with me in the hall; or go talk in the office.” He chose the office. I followed him and we had our chat with an assistant principal.

But seriously, why didn't he respond. Turns out - He doesn't like me! “I rub him the wrong way!” is what he told the assistant principal who attacked as our mediator. The AP explained to the student that he may not like me but he still had to talk to me in class.

When did it become socially acceptable to simply not speak, when you are directly spoken to?

Later that period, another student had not been actively engaged in class. We had asked her to participate multiple times. She would pretend for a couple of seconds and then check out. I filled out an intervention slip for her and took it back for her signature and was prepared to send her out. She signed the slip but she didn't leave, she simply leaned back and continued texting!!!!! Yes, I said, TEXTING!!!! So I followed school policy by reminding her of school policy and asking her to turn off the cell phone. She ignored me. So I repeated my request. Again, I’m ignored. Now I change the request, “Give me the cell phone.” A response, “I’m not giving you this cell phone. I’m leaving anyway, does it even matter?” Again I calmly repeat to turn the phone off and turn it over to me. Then she says, “Why are you still talking? You keep repeating yourself. I’m not even listening.” And she goes on . . .

Yes, I am worried about the future generation that would rather communicate with electronics than people or with people via electronics than face to face. We are losing something. We are losing the face to face connection in person.

Even at the bank drive thru, I can’t see the teller until the video camera is turned on. I’m not sure how I feel about that. That is also true when I go into the bank and conduct bank business that uses a teller with the telephone and video camera. I get privacy and all but really? I kind of always thought banking would be face to face.

So what of these ramblings of mine? A challenge. Talk to people! Talk directly to people! Don’t talk about other people, but speak, listen and have a conversation! Enjoy the time people give you. Don’t spend it communicating with someone who didn't give you their time. Value people!