The Modern Dilemma

This Sunday, on an act of impulse (which really seems to be my weakness when it comes to these things) I was looking at the LiveJournal website, trying to see if I could set up an account there. And as I was looking about the site, something occurred to me, as these things do.

Why was I looking at another social networking site when I already have this blog, Facebook, emailing, texting, and other assorted modern methods of communication? I mean, isn't it enough that I can automatically see most of my friends and family members whenever I log on Facebook? And I can text them whenever I please, since I have most of their cell phone numbers?  And the really the only reason I was looking at LiveJournal at all was because I liked the graphics and backgrounds on other people's LiveJournal pages?

I know. I like pretty things and shiny pictures and that alone is enough to get my attention. I'm shallow.

Also, LiveJournal actually makes you PAY for certain graphics or account features. Really. You need to pay money to use their site. And I don't think my mom and dad would appreciate it if I did sign up for LiveJournal after all. So I'll stick with Facebook, thanks.

So now I appeal to you, my loyal readers (all six of you), to halt the overexposure of the modern era. It's already enough to have Facebook or email or texting (or this blog). NOBODY needs all of those things, and a MySpace page and LiveJournal and Twitter or...anything else that people use nowadays. I'm not that hip and relevant. This is, of course, not bashing or vilifying any of those sites that I mentioned above. I am a devoted Facebooker, since as aforesaid, I have family members and friends on there that I can connect to easily when I don't see them that often. But I'm all for keeping some things private. No one needs to know every little thought that passes through your head. No one needs all of those things, because eventually, some of it is going to fall by the wayside. No one I know is that good of a multitasker (not even myself). 

Whatever happened to letters, for heaven's sake? To writing someone a nice note of interest with an inkwell pen and pretty stationary? And sealing wax! People used to denote special meaning and significance to the color of sealing wax! I mean, I've seen letters and envelopes and letterheads at Staples, Michael's, Borders, Barnes & Nobles, or whatever. So obviously somebody is still using them or they wouldn't be selling right now. Somebody is still using what used to be disdainfully termed "snail mail." Because if the day of the handwritten letter was truly dead, then Hallmark would be out of business right now. (Though they really sell novelties now that I think of it. And ornaments and other assorted holiday paraphernalia. But I digress.)

If you want to talk to someone, send a letter. Send a card. Or better yet, send yourself, for goodness' sake! Is our time really so valuable now that we can't be bothered to show up at a friend or relation's house and say, "Hello, I missed you! Care to have coffee? Look, I brought cupcakes!" (Because you will always be welcome to anyone's house if you bring good cupcakes.)  No one is really that busy that we can't take time out of our insane schedules to pay some good old-fashioned human attention to our loved ones? No, you aren't. Don't look at me all innocently over your Starbucks coffee and your Kindles and/or Nooks. Make someone's day brighter, would you?

And no one needs to point out the irony of using a blog to decry the over-use of the Web in people's daily lives. I'm already quite aware of it, thank you.

Over & Out,
Rachel