The best connection
And now “this?”
I will get to “this” in a moment, but first, allow me to reveal that I’m a technological dope and often struggle in the digital revolution.
I’m even behind in texting and common jargon used today, but maybe I’m in good company.
A few years ago, I recall the gang at Good Morning America (GMA) having a hearty laugh at the expense of George Stephanopoulos, the longtime co-anchor there. Mind you, he’s well-traveled and very bright, with an Ivy League and Rhodes Scholar background.
One moment before a commercial break, his coanchor Robin Roberts was teasing the viewers about a new segment on GMA called YOLO. And that’s when George chimed in: “What is YOLO?” he innocently asked.
The entire crew guffawed, and Robin told George he needed to get it together and that YOLO meant “You only live once.”
I didn’t know what YOLO meant, either, my Greek brother, and this leads me to my next annoyance.
Starting on Oct. 24, folks in the Granite State will have to dial “603” before every local or in-state call, yup, 10-digit dialing. How irksome is “this?”
Here’s one more thing to mess with your hightech devices, and I haven’t already updated my smartphone contacts to include the 10-digit numbers, either. Call me lazy.
Don’t get me wrong; the reason for the change is important, but I wish there were another way to accomplish this in such a high-tech, highly advanced nation. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is in charge of the order.
The National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline is adding a new number “988” nationwide. Three digits are simple to remember and would enable callers in crisis to reach the lifeline easier, instead of dialing the current 1-800-273TALK.
The new code will take effect nationwide on July 16, 2022.
Portsmouth just happens to have the exchange of “988,” and that’s why we have to go to a 10-digit dialing routine from now
on. By the way, the change will apply to landlines, cellphones and VoIP systems.
Not a big deal, just something to get used to. I know that my late mother Effie and her two sisters, my
Aunts Mary and “Suds” (Sophie) wouldn’t complain. They’d just follow suit.
They grew up in Manchester with a lot less than what many of us enjoy today. They were also from the World’s Greatest Generation, and I know that many of you admired friends and/or family from this time long ago.
My mom and aunts were strong, smart, sensible women with moral fiber. They believed in the Good Book and were thoughtful, kind, hardworking and generous to others. These ladies were dressed beautifully, took pride in their families and always tried to do the right thing. And they were true survivors.
Nope, they didn’t want anything to do with hightech gadgets. A computer? No way, they’d say, not at this age. And yet, my mom and Aunt Suds played the stock market impressively and didn’t need digital devices to
access information immediately as many of us do and take for granted.
Technology can sometimes cause more problems than it can solve, say experts like Jonathan Grudin, principal researcher at Microsoft: “Digital media are eroding a sense of community everywhere we look. Can our fundamental human need for close community be restored, or will we become more isolated, anxious and susceptible to manipulation?”
My cousins once asked their newly widowed mom “Suds” about carrying a cellphone because she enjoyed driving her car around and living independently in her 80s (and managing quite nicely). The conversation went something like this: “What do I need that for?” she asked.
“What if you get into a car accident or become stranded or just need help?” they advised her.
My aunt bluntly replied, “I don’t want a cellphone. If I need help, I’ll ask someone. That’s how I’ve always done it.”
Relying on the kindness of strangers. I believe it’s still available, and the human spirit is something that even technology can never compete with.