I wrote this post for an online course I’m taking a couple weeks ago. It got so many comments I thought I’d post it here as well.

Remember when people used to phone each other when they wanted to make plans or catch up? Even I get nervous when my Google machine (iPhone) rings, assuming it’s a political campaign or a bill collector. It seems as though picking up the phone is taboo now; you’re supposed to send a Facebook message if you want to make plans, or tweet when you see something you know a friend would like.

How about  when you’d receive a hand written letter from a loved one just wanting to say hello? I remember those days. I miss handwritten letters, and sometimes write them just to remember doing it. Plus, I find my handwriting has suffered greatly from lack of practice.

What about email? Aside from Facebook, it seems to be the preferred method of communication. But it’s gone in a downward spiral as well! I deal with a LOT of email at work, and at the risk of sounding snobby or like some stuffy old opinion columnist, I’m appalled at the etiquette of most people. One line emails, no hello, bad grammar and worse punctuation drive me crazy. My favourites are the ones where people don’t bother to use your name or, if they do, spell it incorrectly. I can’t count the amount of emails I’ve received addressed to Linda, Lesley and Lindy. I can, however, count the amount of replies they’ve gotten – on one hand.

So, why are people too lazy to use proper grammar? Is it because they’re so used to condensing everything into 140 characters? Because they’re used to clicking a “like” button to show approval without bothering to make a comment? Because texting is now the norm of communication? I don’t understand what makes syllables that hard. and words too complicated to type. At the risk of sounding like my mother, the English language is going to hell!

Manners seem to have disappeared in the real world, but online it’s a little different. Manners are very much real online, especially in the world of social media, it’s just a different kind of etiquette. There’s a whole list of manners for correct Twitter use and even a Facebook page on etiquette, but it seems people have forgotten the importance of simple social graces.

I’m guilty of many of these things myself, but am making a concerted effort to put the human touch back into communication with friends and family. I’ll start now. Today, I will not cut off other drivers on the way home, and I will keep my middle finger to myself. When I stop at the grocery store, I will hold a door open for an old person, and when I get home I will phone my elderly aunt to let her know I care.