Civilization in Danger Again

When did we stop listening to one another? In the first hour I returned to work today, I was cut off, disregarded, and interrupted nine times. I don’t think I made a single statement that actually went from start to finish.

OK, so nobody wants to listen to me. So what? If that is the case generally, if we no longer want to listen to another, then what happens to communication? What happens to the idea of socialization? What happens to knowing someone, or is knowing self all that really matters? Or is it just me?

At the risk of seeming paranoid, which I always think of as twice annoyed, I realize that everyone has an agenda, a point of view, a list of important matters that need an attentive ear once in a while. It might seem insignificant to a listener at the time, but the truth is, everyone needs that ear once in a while just to appear to be a valued friend, and in today’s world, that’s simply not happening.

People don’t ask each other questions any more. Asking questions in today’s shallow formless, civilization is about as “Meepsorpian” as it gets. “Nice weather we’re having?” seems to be about as invasive as it gets. Is the failure a failure of interest? Are we simply not interested any more in someone else’s life?

I have dozens of interests that could strike up a conversation at about any level, and yet I find more and more that those interests are simply never touched. It makes me believe that I am simply a dull and uninteresting person with nothing or little to say, and if I feel that way, what are other people thinking or feeling and does it matter?

I think it does. I think people are important and not only need friendship that is based on friendship, but an ear and interest when they speak.

There was a wonderful scene from “Our Town” where the actors were supposed to be dead, and they asked more questions than the normal fifteen people would in a stuck elevator, an office, a school or a class reunion.

Exchange was the basis of simple economics that changed the world. Perhaps we need the same simple exchange again.