Society for the Reestablishment of the Telegraph

[Stan]

John Markson announces

Society for the Reestablishment of the Telegraph

as Primary Means of Communication

Mr Markson, a Jewish/Norwegian clergyman deeply interested in the devastating effect of the fast pace of current lifestyle, believes that North America should take the lead in returning to a simpler way of living. He feels that the current trend toward proliferating cell phones and other technologies is also a problem of waste management. "Society has created a need for devices to fail so new items will sell" Markson says. "This concept of disposability as opposed to durability has contributed to our current economic disaster."

Long an admirer of elegant design, Markson feels that the simplicity and elegance of traditional instruments of telegraphy will be appreciated by those with sufficient background to enjoy the esthetic they offer. He also believes that reintroduction of telegraphy will bolster the economy. "Visualize neighborhood telegraph offices" he says. "People within the community will walk over to send a telegram. People will be employed as telegraphers, as runners to carry the messages to the individual homes, as line maintenance workers, etc. This will result in an immediate increase of jobs at all levels of skill."

Markson visualizes this beginning a new era of gentle living. He senses that in the aftermath of reintroduction of the telegraph, that other elements of a better life will reappear. He is particularly interested in the social effects of the wooden wheelbarrow. "It is hard to beat a well designed wheelbarrow," he says. Markson senses that this alone will increase exercise, lower stress and likely within a few years begin to adjust the alarming rates of heart disease and other health issues in North America.

Markson foresees the return of the fountain pen and even possibly the quill pen as the primary writing instrument in American homes. "Again it is a matter of a culture of disposable items which we need to combat. If placed end to end, the Bic pens alone discarded in North America would likely stretch to Uranus and back. That's unacceptable" he says.

[Dottie]

That's interesting, as I recently heard of a Manhattan couple who have decided that they want to live as "green" as possible. They did all that they could think of, then turned off their refrigerator.

That means going to the store every day, and cooking only fresh food, not refrigerated.

How do they get to the store? If it is any other way than walking, are they truly being environmentally conscious? What about the cooking of food? Why don't they just eat everything raw, so that they don't use the energy needed to run the stove?

Any good idea can be taken too far. . .

[Dr. Shane]

He might want to build himself a little vacation resort where no modern convenience are allowed. Some people would probably like to take a week or two vacation by stepping back in time.

[Morepork]

I was a telegraph girl for 5 years back in the late 60's. Telegrams generated all sorts of communications that have been lost with the demise of telegraphy.

Today, unless we can send an e-mail, how many of us sit down and write a letter?

Modern technology has not given us those extra moments we thought, it's only up'd the pace of life until we are too busy to even pick up the phone and ring home.

[John317]

Today, unless we can send an e-mail, how many of us sit down and write a letter?

Modern technology has not given us those extra moments we thought, it's only up'd the pace of life until we are too busy to even pick up the phone and ring home.

You're right.

Unlike the great letters of times past, I doubt very many e-mails are worth keeping. Few people take the time and effort to write well nowadays because everyone knows their messages will be deleted and forgotten in a few minutes, anyway.

That will almost certainly change how future generations view our lives and our times.

[phkrause]

Yea John I usually delete all my emails as I go through them. Only keep ones that have to do with something I've ordered, as soon as I've received item I print it out and delete.

pk