The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / Quick Technology breeds laziness

Quick Technology breeds laziness

September 17, 2006 by Kelsi Peace

By Kelsi Peace, Features Editor

I discovered in my Sociology class Thursday that Radio Shack has taken to laying off their employees via e-mail. According to an article in USA Today, Radio Shack headquarters in Fort Worth e-mailed about 400 employees to dismiss them, using what is obviously a mass-produced (and insulting) message: “The workforce reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated.”

The article said Radio Shack did notify their employees ahead of time about the electronic layoffs and allowed them to ask questions; however, questions were also submitted electronically.

While this is inarguably the most cost and time-efficient method for lay-offs, at some point one has to wonder when a little common courtesy overrides the need for efficiency. The few minutes it takes per employee to lay him or her off is certainly worth the cost and time it takes to communicate that he or she is respected enough to be addressed face-to-face. A cold mass e-mail shamelessly dehumanizes the employee and reeks of tackiness.

An article by Katie Fretland that appeared in USA Today reported Katy Tanner, an employee at a body-piercing parlor in Cardiff, Wales, was fired via text message.

Her employer’s excuse: couldn’t reach Fretland by phone.

The temptation to abuse texts and e-mails to escape responsibility is prevalent outside the professional arena as well.

While browsing through text-messaging-related articles online, I found examples of engagements, long-term relationships and dates that were all called off through text messages.

Aside from the fact this is reminiscent of a junior high note, a text message essentially slaps its receiver in the face, saying, “You do not merit the courtesy of a personal conversation.” This allows the sender to slink off with no personal discomfort or inconvenience, creating a whole new level of cowardly break ups.

Yes, we are a busy society, but I argue that sometimes, our readiness to e-mail, text or instant message is not done in an effort to conserve a few precious extra moments but to save ourselves discomfort. And that is cold.

I think we are abusing technology and allowing ourselves to find acceptable a practice is both impersonal and cowardly; in fact, it suggest we are giving ourselves permission to practice sloppy social skills and avoid those situations in which we are most uncomfortable.

I’m not interested in hearing tired excuses about the crushing demands on everyone’s time, the wonderful advantages technology has to offer or that this is obviously the direction society is moving toward. Those excuses are ridiculous.

When we become so impersonal and non-confrontational that we can justify taking such an easy road out, we have taken these conveniences too far.

So let’s make a deal: offer people the courtesy of face-to-face interaction when their lives are affected, and save the e-mails and texts for lesser issues.

Filed Under: Columns

Other Opinion:

  • Tariffs are the last thing struggling students need

  • Gen Z won the election for Donald Trump

  • A Swift rebuke: When it comes to politics, celebrities just do not get it

About Kelsi Peace

You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / Quick Technology breeds laziness

Other Opinion:

  • Tariffs are the last thing struggling students need

  • Gen Z won the election for Donald Trump

  • A Swift rebuke: When it comes to politics, celebrities just do not get it

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
optimistsports Optimist Sports @optimistsports ·
26 Jun

The United Athletic Conference is officially taking the place of the Western Athletic Conference in the 2026-2027 athletic year. The UAC is a joint football effort between the WAC and the ASUN but will now extend to all sports. #acuoptimist #acuathletics #wac #uac

Reply on Twitter 1938240320854008109 Retweet on Twitter 1938240320854008109 2 Like on Twitter 1938240320854008109 7 Twitter 1938240320854008109
Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
ashleyh1607 Ashley Henderson @ashleyh1607 ·
3 Jun

My second year at ACU was full of opportunities that grew me as an individual and a journalist.

In my first year as editor in chief of @acuoptimist, we published six print issues, filmed a 3-hour live election show, and revamped our newscast, all while producing news weekly.

Reply on Twitter 1929734328445178254 Retweet on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Like on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Twitter 1929734328445178254

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

1 years ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #privatechristianuniversity #collegestudentopinion #acuopinion ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved