The End of E-Mail.....

[Fozzer]

...as we know it.... ...!

As someone who is using a Land-line telephone, and a computer with a full-size QWERTY keyboard, for all my e-mail, etc, communication with the outside World....

..I am gradually realising that my Correspondence World is rapidly shrinking!

Everyone around me, friends, family, etc, are all using; "Mobile Phones" for all their correspondence, spoken and text.

All e-mail messages that I now receive consist of half a dozen, (on a good day), badly spelt words with little, or no punctuation, obviously quickly tapped out on a tiny mobile phone keyboard display, whilst shopping/crossing the road/driving the kids to school/cooking dinner/annoying folks in a restaurant, etc, etc.... ...!

No-one seems to be prepared to sit down at a proper Keyboard, on a Computer or Laptop, and type out a long, interesting message to me, describing all the fun goings-on of the day, (the same as we do here, on the Forum).... ...!

In the Olden Days, folks used to type letters with pen and paper, followed by computer e-mails typed on a keyboard; now, everything is carried out on minute (my newt) electronic devices, with no real interest or patience in the folks who they are corresponding to!

We/me are now a throw-away society!

Paul....gazing at my empty e-mail "In Box", while my land-line telephone gathers dust in front of me.

[Sinkrate]

Eee by ‘eck, I remember in t’good old days; telex were t’bees knees in written communication. You could dictate a message to t’typists in t’morning and get a printed reply in th’afternoon’s post. When Fax came along, by thump, it were a revolution; any idiot could use it, and most of them did! Don’t know what to make of this new-fangled email; tis a bit complicated for my old clockwork brain.

Funny, I always seem to come over all Yorkshire when I reminisce about the past.

Mobile phones – wassat then? Ruddyell boyo, I think I’m turning Welsh now!

[Canuck1955]

We are not better off for having these cellphones. Sitting in the doctors office the other day awaiting the call, I could not help but notice eight other people sitting there all with their faces looking down at their cellphones. What are they looking at that can be so interesting? People used to chat. No longer.

I recently watched the series on Queen Victoria. Much of the history was disclosed by the examination of letters various parties sent to one another. That will be a somewhat duller experience if future generations have to endure wading through e-mails with abbreviations and emojies. Probably in 100 years hence there will have to be a translator available just to understand the exchanges.

Don't believe it? Well consider NASA. They are still receiving data from the Voyager spacecraft, but the current machines no longer can decipher the data, they had to hire someone to do it on 3rd party machines. And that is from 40 year old machines.

[ftldave]

We are not better off for having these cellphones.

It's a trade off, and I would certainly miss the utility and convenience of my smartphone. It tells me when the bus is coming down the street, so I never miss it. It tells me when a thunderstorm is coming, so I know to carry the umbrella. It told me when a great deal for a new Dodge went on sale, with all the specs and options I wanted. And when the alien invaders show up, I can pull out my phone and take pictures, even shoot videos, of the UFO.

And anyway, this guy showed us how to do it, back in 1966.

[Jetranger]

YUP',,,,,

CPTS,,,,,,,,, !!!!!!!!!!

WDYT ?????????

WYO ????????

BSTLAC ~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Trans'lation in todays younger generation techno' terms ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


CPTS = Cell Phones totally Suck

WDYT = What do you think ??

WYO = Whats your opinion ??

BSTLAC = Be sure to leave a comment ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

its all total BS !!!!!! damn I hope ya' know what BS still stands for

[zswobbie1]

I actually think it is a great thing to have.
1. Better & instant communication. More kids are communication with each other. Granted, in short word speak, but instant & more frequent chats.
2.Older people have embraced the technology. Families spead all over the world can now communicate instantly either individually or as a group.
We have a family chat group, with family in our country, as well as all over the world. Instant chats & distribution of photo's
3. So what if we use 'shorter' words now. It is ALL about communicating with each other. (olde english is different to what it is now, even american speak is different to english.
4. As mentioned before, if we get stuck, or want directions, my phone tells me where to go.
5. Instant news!
6. No need to go home, switch on the computer, load up the program then type it out, when we can do it immediatly.
7 It allows breaking live news to be sent immediatly.

We are not better off for having these cellphones. Sitting in the doctors office the other day awaiting the call, I could not help but notice eight other people sitting there all with their faces looking down at their cellphones. What are they looking at that can be so interesting? People used to chat. No longer.
It can be anything, looking at a picture of a new baby, reading about family in another country, world news, chatting to a friend. We all have choices. Maybe we do not want to sit & chat with strangers? Maybe we have family issues & just want to be left alone? Maybe we just want to chill & play a game?

Out world is a better world, once we embrace technology.
Yes, I love my Facebook account. It allows me to keep in touch with my family & friends, some of which I lost track of many years ago. We have quite a few interest groups on Facebook as well, such as our Dakota Restoration site, our museum site & so forth. It is a very quick way of communicating.

Gone are the days of being stuck at home, waiting for the evening news, just in case.
We have become a global community, friends & family. For the better!!

[Fozzer]

This is what gripes me about the use of Mobile Phones....>>>>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37855713

...and the effect...>>>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37823457

I see them all the time on my travels on my Motorcycle!

Folks who have "Mobile Phones" embedded in their Psyche, and are mostly unaware of what is going on all around them!

Their lives are totally taken up in the use of them, throughout the whole of their day and night!

It terrifies me, when ever I see a motor vehicle in front of me, or behind me, whilst on my Motorcycle, and the thought that they may be using a Mobile Phone and are not concentrating of their view out in front of them!

Accidents waiting to happen, with death and injury (mine?) in their wake.

They are a curse when used in a moving motor vehicle.

I have a Mobile Phone, carried with me....and it is permanently switched OFF, unless I wish to contact the Vehicle Breakdown Service in an emergency.
Any incoming/outgoing phone and e-mail calls can be made on my Land Line Phone and computer when I get safely home!

Nothing is that important to risk life and limb using a Mobile Phone!

There is a time and a place for using the devices!

Paul.... ....!

[zswobbie1]

This is what gripes me about the use of Mobile Phones....>>>>

I have a Mobile Phone, carried with me....and it is permanently switched OFF, unless I wish to contact the Vehicle Breakdown Service in an emergency.
Any incoming/outgoing phone and e-mail calls can be made on my Land Line Phone and computer when I get safely home!

Nothing is that important to risk life and limb using a Mobile Phone!

There is a time and a place for using the devices!

Paul.... ....!

Mine is always ON! I very often use it as a GPS. You never know when you need it (when your vehicle breaks down) & when you do, the battery is flat, because it's off & you cannot see if it has juice.
WE actually do not have a personal landline phone at home anymore. Mobile costs have actually become cheaper than lineline calls.

Also, I use my mobile phone for reading. I have a Kindle app (application) on it, with about 100 books. Maybe that is why I do not feel like chatting in a waiting room.

Yes, I'm also very aware of drivers using their mobile whilst driving. We have very stringent rules here, often broken.

It also has a video feature, with which you can actually see & interact the person with whom you are chatting with.
It's a music player (great when you are on the motorway) & I also watch movies with it. (& play solitare & other games, when I'm bored)
I can take a picture (at an air show, for example), &, within seconds, my brother on the other side of the world, can see it, & reply.
As opposed to taking a picture with a camera, developing it, printing it & then posting it (when I get home) So, my brother will then probably get that picture in 10-14 days, compared to 10-14 seconds.

[Hagar]

I agree that mobile phones are useful but far too many people, mainly young women & girls, are completely obsessed with them. I often see young mums pushing buggies with a precious child in them with one hand & a phone held to an ear with the other, chatting away completely oblivious to the baby & the real world around them. This is an example of what can happen when not paying attention. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2200807/Peaches-Geldof-tips-baby-Astala-buggy-hitting-pothole-road.html
Note that she can't leave the phone alone for a second, even when rescuing & comforting her unfortunate child. She doesn't appear to realise how lucky they were that it wasn't more serious.

[zeus981]

There is a place for all new technology.. its just a question of working out what it is..
Mobile phones were invented when the younger generation knew nothing of a life prior to mass advertising everywhere, so they got sucked in very easily.
Its like the invention of the credit card.. a very useful invention if one realises that you still have to have cash in the savings account before you buy anything. Rather than living a life in debt, its merely a useful way of purchasing.

The art of writing is going to slowly (maybe quickly) disappear just as the art of scripting did when pens were invented.
What confuses me is why does everyone waste so much time punching the digital buttons on a small screen... why not just ring or leave a verbal message as most phone plans nowadays allow unlimited calls.. Furiously hitting the digital keyboard is just a left-over from the days of phone plans with limits on calls but unlimited sms capability. Everyones got so used to it, they haven't looked up from their screen to think about what they are doing.

PS Was driving my highly visible big white 4x4 last week-end in town and a woman walks out in front of me tapping away on her phone and got to the middle of the road without knowing it. I know that by the look on her face when she realised where she was. Definitely not the place to be using such technology.

[PhilFly]

Here in France the problem is the same. People are stuck to their smartphone day and night at any place (driving, eating, etc).
Last year I had an accident riding my motorbike with a lady phoning while driving and turning left as I was overtaking. I was fortunatly safe (not my motorbike) and she continued her way without any attention to me
Smartphones are useful, of course, but a calamity as well.
Cheers
Philippe

[Sprocket]

Watch the end..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Wpc9s35ZY[/youtube]

[Hagar]

Watch the end..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Wpc9s35ZY

Brilliant!

[ViperPilot]

It's simple, and one can use a simple Phrase to describe the phenomenon. It's how many in this age of Social Media, and the 'Dig me' crowd, look at things:

"I AIN'T GOT TIME FOR THAT S&*T!"

"Dig me's" don't have the time, inclination or wherewithal to sit down and write a Letter to someone; why spend the time, when it's easier to send an Ebonics laced, almost undecipherable Text Message or Tweet (Twit, Twett?)?

Too bad. Sit your arse down at the Desk, and scribble out a Letter to someone. Yes, you have to LICK the flap on the Envelope to seal it.

And... Don't forget the Postage!

Alan

[Canuck1955]

The day I retired, my cell went in the trashcan. I am no longer contactable 24/7 it is a release, believe me. If family friends want to contact me I have an Ansafone at home on which local calls are FREE. My landline costs me $25 pm not the $200 - $300 that my friends and family are paying. Plus I don't have to pay to receive a call which IMHO is an abomination.
I can also go to the supermarket and manage to purchase a loaf of bread or a can of soup without having to phone home. AAAAarrgh