In a world booming with technology and innovation with tools, habits and solutions changing faster than ever before, there is a dying set of virtues that newer generations will miss out on. I believe writing is one of them.
When was the last time you wrote something? Today? Yesterday?
Wait… I’m talking about actually “writing” something on a piece of paper using a pen or pencil. I bet your answer just changed.
Computers and technology has made expressing oneself amazingly convenient and flexible. We can share our thoughts with someone else on the other side of the world in a few seconds. We can see and speak to anyone with a smartphone at any time. We can email, SMS or use messengers like iMessage / WhatsApp for luxury information sharing. All this has truly made the world a better place.
It is killing the concept of writing which is not the same as typing. And for no fault of anyone. The need itself has died. And along with it its virtues.
Earlier: Writing an essay on a topic for a school exam on an answer sheet
Now: Typing an essay in an editor and uploading the file on an answer portal
There was no scope of editing written content on paper before. Of course there was an eraser but it wasn’t as fiercely used as the Backspace key of the computer. Due to the ease of which content can be edited there is a lot of half-baked work that is done and discarded.
Do we have less clarity and completeness in our thoughts these days?
Earlier: Writing all our friends’ phone numbers in phone books
Now: Saving friends’ phone numbers in the phone’s contacts
We don’t need to remember phone numbers now. It is saved once and linked to a person’s name and thats it. Gone are the days when it was required to find/remember a phone number and dial it.
Is our memory weakening over time due to lack of practise?
Earlier: Just writing… anything and everything
Now: Typing, video-taping, messaging
We no longer make those finger and hand movements that massage certain muscles when we write. Lot of easier and other modes of communication are available that do even require the usage of the fingers.
Our the ability of our fingers deteriorating?
These are just a few examples of how habits have changed a lot over time. Most are advancements to make life better and easier but have certain side-effects.
Writing is dying. But if you believe in its virtues, spend one of those occasional lazy Sundays writing an article or penning down a letter or even scribbling down some thoughts.
