Lori, I definitely think being so reliant on electronic means of communication affect listening skills. We already know we scan instead of reading. When was the last time we went off (even internally) over something we thought we read, only to discover we misread it. Is it any wonder, we mess up listening – something we don’t do as much as we used to anyway. 🙂

Thanks for your thoughts, Lori.

It’s rare that I ask someone how they are or what they do that I get the question, or any question, back to me. I don’t even expect anyone to show an interest anymore. When they do, they intrigue me enough to want to spend more time talking with them!

We’re losing basic courtesies in our communications.

I think that’s more than reasonable, Devon. I figure if you’re still conscious, you can get a quick message out that you’re running late.

Thanks for sharing your M.O., Devon. 🙂

Actually, I can’t.

I wait 15 minutes. Then, I leave, unless the person had the courtesy to explain they’re running late & are on the way.

When it’s a business appointment, I charge for the waiting time.

Make that three. 😉

Yes, it does, Anne-paraphrased in Maya Angelou’s inimitable style. 🙂

I hope it’s not that we don’t care, Darnell. Although you will find I have Pollyanna tendencies. 🙂 There are so many reasons for not listening (in my humble opinion) – distractions, insecurities, and as you say short attention spans.

I do agree, it’s sad that for all of our tools, we suffer so much in the communications department. Thanks for sharing your view, Darnell.

Love the phrase ‘terminally punctual’, Lori – it describes me too. 🙂

Everyone is talking about how short our attention spans have become.

The real problem is people don’t CARE what anyone else has to say. We just want to talk talk talk and stare at our little screens endlessly like we’re under a spell or something.

it’s sad.