As long as I’m attacking useless technologies as discussed in my last post, it’s appropriate for me to attack the ‘horrid’ and rude practice of multi-tasking.

Multi-tasking is roughly defined: as doing several activities at one time. It is another profane transition of our Techno Insane Age because it couldn’t and wouldn’t have existed in past historic periods.

Can you imagine, text-messaging, while being chased (on horseback) by a posse of yelping, scalp-hunting Indians incensed by your poaching for souvenirs on their sacred burial grounds!

Little-known trivia, but scalp-hunting was introduced to the American West by French trappers who fought in the French-Indian War, a Pre-American Revolution conflict conducted along the NE Canadian-American Frontier.

Removing a victim’s scalp, with a dull knife, while he or she was semi-conscious, must have been a painful and humiliating experience usually followed with a slow, horrific death.

Dangerous Times required vigilance of period participants and incidental distractions such as multi-tasking would certainly have brought many more lives to a premature end. Personally, I don’t know which is worse:

·        The woman in the car to the right of me on the Interstate adjusting her makeup in the visor mirror, while passing me at 65 mph; or,

·        A fellow eating, shouting into his cell phone; and weaving in and out of  lanes.

Both are endangering themselves and anyone in their vicinity as long as they retain control of their speeding vehicle.

Some who are reading my rant are probably deriding me as a relic from the distant past. I’ll never know unless you Comment, will I?  So, Comment!

Nor, are we limited to examples of multi-tasking in the privacy of one’s car.

A sales client who owns a growing distribution business in Tampa, told me how he quickly shuffled a sales candidate out of his office, when the ‘offender’ answered his cell phone during their job interview.

There was no: “Excuse me, this is my mother who is experiencing a seizure!” …….or, “My wife is in labor and I must answer this call.”

They just do it regardless of time, place and those present with a total lack of etiquette or disregard of respect for others’ conversations or privacy.

Back to the ‘horrid practice’ of multi-tasking. Is it possible to hold 2 separate thoughts in one’s conscious mind at the same time?  No, according to scientists who study the mechanics of the human brain.

While driving an automated 4,000 pound vehicle only requires one hand, answering one’s cell phone with the other is a distraction which can result in life-threatening issues.

Taking one’s eyes and mental concentration off the road ahead for a few seconds has fatal consequences as substantiated by mounting Department of Motor Vehicle statistics.

A ‘few seconds’ distraction has killed or maimed drivers, their passengers and victims of this callous loss of focus. Public Etiquette and Multi-Tasking are two opposing forces and when mixed make it impossible to practice both, simultaneously.

Time Management and Human Performance Experts, in growing numbers, agree: it is more efficient and effective to begin one activity and to concentrate on it until completion. Then, move on to the next task. It’s much less stressful and even enjoyable, to focus on one task or challenge. This enjoyment is described by psychologists as getting into the flow.

Try this experiment. Time an activity you normally multi-task and log your start to finish times. Repeat this singular activity and log your start to finish time. Compare both times. Now, answer the question: which of the two was completed with more dedication, fewer errors and thoroughness?

Multi-tasking is a convenient habit of our Times. Not necessarily a better use of time and, life-threatening in some dire instances.

Do you agree?

Just 3 months ago, an acquaintance, at a business networking function, asked me, “Do you Twitter?”  In true Toastmaster fashion, I replied, “Only when I drink too much caffeine!”

FACT: I didn’t know what she was talking about when she asked me about Twitter. In a true defense mechanism fashion: I delivered my humorous reply. Since this verbal exchange, I learned enough about Twitter to now, reply: “I don’t Twitter and with good reason!”

Unless, one of you will comment about the merits of Twitter and justify why I should become a card-carrying ‘Twitter-er’ I see no reason to invest precious time to become adept at using another useless, interruptive technology. I choose to avoid useless, time-intensive technologies which contribute little or nothing to my work day waking hours.

Abbreviated English ‘Text Messaging’ and ‘Twittering’ share the same appeal to me: None. Too often, I receive barely legible text messages laced with callous misspellings. Callous, because Spell-Checker is a built-in free program which only requires a sender to execute a few extra mouse-clicks.

There is no excuse for not taking a few extra minutes to Spell-Check my message before I transmit the contents. Why bother? Because each time I send an e-mail I am broadcasting how well or poorly I communicate. Like it or not, recipients will form an opinion about my educational credentials.

A speedy reply is no excuse for misspellings or abbreviated wording. Useless, interruptive technologies share the blame for these two alarming electronic communications trends. The second culprit is the decline in reading printed books. A habitual readership discipline enriches one’s vocabulary.

You only have to look at the lack of sentence structure to see we are becoming a society content to communicate in sound bytes rather than whole sentences which convey thoughts and meaning.

Laziness and acceptance are to blame! As long as the majority of readers condone sloppy word use, we are all doomed to mediocre prose. I say, enough, already. It’s time to re-focus and apply our God-given communications skills on what matters most: meaningful communications.

OK, it’s your turn Twitter Fans. Let’s see if you can communicate effectively!