Studio Press

READING the recent reports on SMS usage among young people made me wonder how this technology affects the way we communicate. I read the reports with feelings of sadness. It seems we are losing the art of face-to-face communication. Why do we put our SMS before our fellow human beings who are worth infinitely more? It almost implies that the common courtesy of giving your full attention to the person you are talking to is dying a sure death. Only in our generation are we gifted with the ability to communicate with friends separated by large distances for a mere 1 sen. A nagging feeling tells me that this so-called gift may also wind up being a curse. If this trend keeps up, we may produce future generations who live in their own little bubble of anti-social behaviour interspersed only by frequent beeps as an SMS comes in. What will happen to shared laughter, tears, emotions and feelings that speak volumes when experienced in person? We send thousands of SMS a month yet never speak a word to our neighbours. What sort of society are we becoming? To live in a country described as Malaysia – Truly Asia, let us not forsake our reputation of being a charismatic and friendly people. Let’s not reduce ourselves to cheap SMS that can in no way match the warmth of a smile, the twinkle of an eye or the joy in real laughter in a face-to-face conversation. -Evenmystt