In the current time, do we really take the time to get to know people? Is this communication revolution revolting because of a lack of Human Closeness? Or do we know people more?
In 2005 at an Irish Public House called "The Hairy Monk", themed in Honour of my rather-beloved Boston Red Sox, an Irish Expatriate needed to contact a friend in Eire. SMS, also called Text Messaging, is a way for Irish Expatriates to contact one's Homeland, without paying exorbitant rates for a Mobile Telephone Call. The Irish Lass had a Verizon Wireless Phone, which could not be used for Cross Ocean Text Messaging. I had AT&T Wireless, so a "Cross Pond" Text was sent to a Mobile Phone in Ireland. Many Irish Expatriates have Mobiles From T-Mobile, which is well known in Europe. Many are only learning about AT&T.
I did receive a text, thanking me, from The Irish Lass, in regards to allowing her to text back home. I have not seen her since that time.
A passing amica called Nancy, originally from Maine, she like I, an Aficionado of the Boston Red Sox, had a real conversation with me about how Americans socialize, often by Pub visits on weekends, laced with over imbibing. She made an observation that a Pub is like the Town Gathering Place for socializing, often over a pint or two, the most being 3 Pints, of Ale, Stout, Porter or Beer, done moderately all during the week as well as on weekends. Perhaps, & I do concur with Nancy on this. Yanks, I do find, imbibe like the Hollywood Stereotypes, rather than like the people from the Ancestral Land who they purport to represent. It was a great conversation, something which FaceBook, Twitter, et cetera, cannot replicate.
I shall raise a Half Litre of my Favourite Adult Beverage to that.
An Irish Expatriate from Belfast, N. I., is not fond of the American Misinterpretation of St. Patrick's Day Celebrations, as an Exercise in Inebriation. He did mention to me that the Yanks do give a Bad Misrepresentation of the Holiday, by their excessive ingestion of beverages on the day, including those they usually do not partake of.
So much for "The Digital Revolution!" We need to meet & talk more.
M