Face - to - Face Communication

Nothing beats one to one, face-to-face conversation. Digital ways of communicating are only an alternative to direct communication, used for convenience and when ‘in person’ is not possible. Treat texting as 'an instead of' rather than your normal way of communication because it is not the normal - OK, it may have become our 'new normal', but let's just back up the lorry and regain some quality and heartfelt sentiments in how we consciously choose to communicate with one another.

We drove cars once without SEAT BELTS until so many people died from being flung threw the windscreens on impact - I remember seeing dummies being ejected by the force of impact through the glass screen in experiments to prove this fact in slow motion on television programmes such as Tomorrow's World - did we need this concrete evidence back then to tell us what was already going on around us? Why were we slow to allow our common sense to kick in?  The advertisements then took up the cause and kicked in with the 'Clunk Click every trip!' campaign until the Law was passed and lives began to be saved from the necessary slaughter that we knew was happening. The question is: At what point do we adapt and put in safeguards? New scientific evidence is now being published - Phonegate has gone global with international legal teams joining together to make mobile phone companies become accountable for the safety of their devices- finally.

It was the norm for people to have sex without condoms - really, there was a time, before Aids bought the health issues into sharp focus and people began to die from this deadly virus. It took the kindness, bravery and foresightedness of people such as Princess Diana, Sir Elton John and Dame Liz Taylor to shed light on this devastating disease. When I bought up the subject a few years ago with my own teenagers they replied to my relief and amusement 'Guys always wear their socks in bed Mum!' That was me taught - sorted.

No one likes to be hood winked - no one likes to be lied to - and yet we are human and so easy targets as we'll readily buy into dreams and aspirational lives.  Is this part of the problem as to why we absolutely need to have these smartphones? 

To be one of the crowd, to find our tribe, to learn about things we don't even need to know about (like Robbie Williams identified and sang about regarding his feelings towards some Daytime TV programmes) to find fellow lost souls and compare notes on how to self-harm and worse, so you can normalise your illness or low self-worth?  The Apps are endless and now there are a plethora to choose from for good too - such as daily ones to help you stay calm and to fit in meditations in your busy lives - it's not all bad I know, but guys, really think…wouldn't you just love a break from this brain drain, this emotional digital vampire? If this maybe even a tenth of how you feel, then how about how your children may feel too?  Get your parental safeguards in place, hand over the gadgets only when you feel, as their parent, it is safe to do so - become digitally savvy. Jim Steyer of Common Sense has been at the forefront of parental guidance for children covering all their digital devices for a decade, read too Digital Age Magazine or look the Digital Sister website to get on top of this virtual life to ensure you are handing your youngsters a handset and not in fact a fully loaded digital weapon, in disguise as 'a friend' or a perceived safety net which seems to be the most common reason given for having one.

Staying connected to family, friends and business colleagues is important and there are other ways to do this. We don't all need to write our own manual on how to connect with us, but we do need to take the time to consider how you would like to receive this deluge of digital information so it becomes a manageable stream.  There's a huge misconception that if you don't have a mobile that you will somehow lose touch with family and friends - I've found the opposite in fact. This year, so far, I have had more quality interaction with my family and friends than before as we value our time together now, rather than sending each other half-arsed sentiment in grammatically poor texts. We now make the time to see each other - not as often it has to be admitted, but it's been far more life enhancing as we've shared in person the gamut from sad tears to belly laughter. I'm sure if our pets could read these constant text messages they'd get the gist and translate your well-meant texts along the lines, ‘Yer, you are thinking of me a bit, but you're not bothered enough to write a letter (now that you know I can read!), but you certainly ain't moved enough to come home early and give me a cuddle - I only really need one of your wonderful hugs and I'd feel your love.  A walk would be appreciated too…P.S. What does 'WTF' stand for anyway?' #yourdoghasfeelings.

PHOTO: Karen Kestrel at Wellington College with students.