Every time I think I’m getting a handle on this whole technology thing, something pops up to remind me that, no, I am not a tech-savvy member of Gen Y.
Case in point: Last weekend, my family decided to order in instead of cooking dinner. My 24-year-old brother was going to be the one to call the restaurant so we told him what to get. But instead of grabbing a pen and paper to write everything down, he instinctively pulled out his Blackberry to type it all out. That’s just beyond me.
Maybe it’s because I just recently jumped on the QWERTY bandwagon. Or maybe it’s because I’m one of the dinosaurs who truly appreciates the hand written word. I have decent penmanship. I write in an actual journal, not an online one. I even handwrite all of my Christmas cards (envelopes and return addresses, too) but perhaps that’s an indication of having too much free time.
Anyhow, I really don’t understand how typing on a Blackberry can possibly be easier or more convenient than jotting something down on paper. My brother’s only explanation when I voiced my indignation was, “Well, I don’t want to get up!”
So I ask: Is it laziness or just a part of the digital evolution? Will notepads and pens — or learning to handwrite in the first place — become obsolete in the coming years?