by Shayne Connolly

Created on: January 06, 2009

How can there be any doubt? Text on a phone is not conversation, I don't think we should even define it. You don't need a survey to tell you that kids talk more these days on texts and MSN then they do in person. This can not be a good trend. Conversation must be face to face as language involves more than simple words. True conversation is deeper than words and more meaningful than a sentence. Real conversation can be felt, it can move you. Don't subscribe to the old saying that each generation does things a little different, this is the first generation to stop talking, to stop communicating.

If you think it's just a fad or a phase or something that teenagers do, think again. Next time you are on the train or a bus or just at lunch in a restaurant, have a look around and see how many people are giving their thumb a workout instead of their mouth. Remember this is supposed to be the thing that separates us from the apes, communication. Apes are better with their thumbs than we are so maybe we should give them all phones and they can join our society. At least we wouldn't have to worry about destroying the rainforest then.

Maybe it's too hard for kids these days? True conversation does take thought and imagination and you must give attention to those involved, you must care about what you are saying. Perhaps they are too selfish to share?

How can there be romance without conversation? How do you ask someone out? To marry you? The art of conversation is dying and we as a society are the poorer for it. Are you going to tell your kids about the birds and the bees with a text? How do you explain love?

In 20 years time how will these people who have no conversation talk to each other when they are riddled with arthritis and cannot text on their phone. I guess by then they will only have to think it and it will be on a screen for someone else to read. How romantic.

Alas I do not know the answer, I do however know that I will never stop using the art of conversation. It gives me the power to discover new information, understand people, relate to others and feel like I have a place in this world.

I do know one thing, if we all went home tonight and turned off the TV and had a conversation with someone, the world would be a better place. Progress to a higher plane of understanding can only come through conversation. Silence awaits those who choose not to converse with others. In silence comes isolation.

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