Monday, November 17, 2008

Textspeak - are we losing ourselves with technology?






In reading the article Is textspeak sabotaging younger job seekers? written in the August 26, 2008 of the Virginian-Pilot, I found myself wondering if this is really true. Are we somehow losing ourselves as we advance? I never really thought that we have come so far in technology that we may actually be getting dumber. I do think that people are becoming lazy with all the advancements in technology. It has become too easy nowadays to do things without even having to get up off a chair. With that in mind, it seems that because of this we have lost our ability to show the proper respect that’s deserved. In this article it reflects on well educated people that just got their degrees in the field of their interest and go through the interview process just to mess it all up in a simple thank you note. It shows immaturity and questionable judgment on behalf of the applicant and is very inappropriate. I do agree with the lack of professionalism in sending a shorthanded email or worse yet, a text message. Some of those even include decorative symbols such as smiley faces. That is definitely the icing on top of the cake as if the shorthand wasn’t bad enough. If the thank you note is even needed at all then it should show the company, you are trying to seek employment with, your ability to correspond appropriately. After all, if you are hired, you will represent that company. Then again this is just my opinion but it seems that according to this article there are many companies that feel the same way. If I was in the hiring position, I would want to make sure that the person I had chosen for the position not only had the qualifications academically but also be able to carry themselves professionally.




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