Lately, I've upset several friends by not replying to an email or text quickly enough. I have a practice that I don't respond to email for twenty four hours, though with texting I do respond fast if I'm not busy, hear the ping and have my cell phone nearby. It's not exactly wrong speech I'm practicing, it's slow speech. I don't carry my cell phone on my person unless I'm out and might need to be available, and if I'm driving, it has to wait. At home my phone may be upstairs in my bedroom, and I'm downstairs or outside or in my studio. I can't even hear it. When I got the IPhone, I swore not to be chained to it. And I only check my email once a day unless I'm expecting some communication.
This detachment annoys some friends, and then there are the friends who are offended I'm not on Facebook. I feel like I'm fighting for meaningful communication. To them it feels like I'm hostile, uninterested in them or feeling superior. I've tried explaining my point of view. I would rather have a phone conversation or be in the same room at least some of the time. Virtual reality doesn't do anything for me. I'm sure they're grumbling about what a Luddite I am, and so old fashioned. I can only pray they hang in there with me. I respond to everything, just not instantly. I do have fears that I will lose friends because of my stance, but if all I'll have otherwise is a Facebook page to read, I feel like I've lost any connection already.
I wonder if others are having this struggle. Slow speech is more careful, but maybe I become less spontaneous. My language may be duller. Even I doubt at times I'm worth the effort. But at least I don't have 500 "friends" that look good on paper, but I barely know. I prefer deep to wide. It probably is just a matter of taste. But it's a real divide.
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