What options do we have? Gosh. How about… not peppering our documents with infantile smiley-frowny-whatever emoticons?

Then we could keep business communications short and business-like, and for personal communications we could actually talk to people in real time, saving texts for those occasions when we’re running late: “Running late. See you in 5.”

Do not use email or texting for: breaking up with your partner, offering condolences to the bereaved; lining up five options for Saturday night then choosing the one that appeals to you most at the last minute and simply dumping the other four.

It used to be the case that children aspired to be grown-ups. This created demand for symphony concerts, plays by Arthur Miller, conversations.

What is wrong with people?

DR