Writer's Blog and Other Challenges of Communications in the 21st Century



Apparently the world keeps sub-dividing into two camps: those
who eagerly and easily embrace changes and those who don't. There may be a
third camp consisting of those who hang around more or less in the middle
waiting to see if it's a fad or a permanent change. Once it seems that the
change is permanent they eventually wander over to the embrace change camp
side.

For example, I read somewhere (I have no idea where or I'd
gladly give credit to the source) that when the automobile was first
introduced someone said, "Interesting invention. But it'll never catch on.
The noise will frighten the horses too much."

I also heard that when the concept of electric lighting was
first introduced some feared having wires in the walls of a home would be a
fire hazard. It turns out they were right, but it's a very small hazard if
the wiring is properly installed and periodically inspected. I guess some
insurance company would know the risk of fire from electrical wiring
compared to using candlelight everywhere or smoking in bed.

So here we are now in the second decade of the 21st century and
a new millennium. The internet has taken over as the most convenient means
of mass communication. On the up side, it's brought together millions of
people who would otherwise never cross paths with one another. It's fueled
revolutions and election campaigns. It has re-connected college and
childhood friends and long-long cousins. It's generated a whole new field of
IT specialists who actually seem to comprehend how this all works and can
make computers behave.

I think it's too early to know if this communications revolution
has a down side or not. However, it does seem we're spending more time
looking at digital screens of various sizes and less time looking into faces
of other humans. The internet revolution is going change the world of print
media more than the printing press did. In fact, quite a few knowledgeable
people believe it will be the death knoll for printed media.

I for one earnestly pray this is not so. I would really miss the
simple pleasure of sitting curled up on the coach or stretched out on a
beach chair with a great book or magazine in hand. Or snuggled up with a
small child reading a bedtime story. But then those who thought the
new-fangled cars would frighten the horses probably didn't want to give up
the relationship they had with their favorite horses. Those who feared the
destructive potential of electrical wiring in homes probably didn't want to
give up the soft glow of candlelight evenings.

Maybe there's room for some old-fashioned compromise here. Many
people still have horses. They just don't use them to pull the carriage into
town to shop any more. Many couples still dine in person in the soft glow of
candlelight. Maybe we can still figure out to have our books, magazines and
papers along with blogs, e-mails and webinars.

One of the few things we can count on in life is change. Whether
we love it or hate it; embrace it or resist it, change is a force that
cannot be stopped.