Well, that was worth reading and I agree with some of it as I understand it from some friends and co-workers (and strangers at the mall) and disagree with part of it.
I am happy to report that I still send Christmas cards; yes I take the time and make the effort. I don't have social media linked to my iPhone; I use the phone as a phone (WHAT? Yes) and sometimes to help me navigate my way to an unfamiliar stop on the road map so I don't have to worry so much about street signs and guessing how many feet or kilometers I have to go before I make a turn.
I have witnessed the signs of over-use of phones, tablets and gaming devices by children and adults alike to the point that they're missing out on an opportunity to connect with the people who are "PRESENT" in their lives with those that they barely know on the off-chance they'll be an overnight VIRAL social success or beat their sibling with a higher score on a game.
I recall visits with the grandchildren and during the visit, they would be checking their phones or playing games while the adults were conversing. Other times they were playing on their iPads or video games. As absorbed as they appeared to be, it's no different than when we first experienced Atari or black and white TV and the use of the old PCs that were as large as a picture frame. I got "hooked on Christmas forums" much in the same way that they engage in "Super Mario Cart", "Star Wars Wii", status updates, etc.
Flashback to my childhood ... my brothers and I would often watch Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse cartoons or Star Trek until we heard the "dinner bell".
When it was time to sit down as a family to enjoy a meal, we ignored the phone, etc. and made good use of our time together to catch up and be together. It's like that with the grandchildren as well. No phones are allowed during the gift opening either.
Holiday gatherings are somewhat different simply in the types of games we play together; when I was little it was Stratego, Trouble, Battleship or Knock-em-sock-em Robots. We still make time to play outdoors.
I continue to send Christmas cards because I believe they bring smiles to the faces of the recipients. I don't have time to write family updates in them the way I used to when I was in my youth and didn't work or care for ill family members during my "off time". There are only so many hours in a day and I need a few to recharge my internal batteries.
So, while we may think social media is killing the Christmas card tradition, I think it also has to do with time slipping away and for that reason media can help us connect. My parents "Skype" their friends out West and overseas during the holidays.
I like to phone people over the holidays to talk to them to hear each others voices and exchange glad tidings and catch up, but that's with people I won't see and who I miss being with during the holidays and it's in lieu of writing everything down and missing the chance to exchange questions or comments.
When we grew up most of our relatives lived within walking or driving distance from each other so Christmas cards weren't exchanged until the many miles made them necessary.
I don't see anything wrong with sending text messages or ugly Christmas sweater photos to friends and family; making no effort to extend the season's best wishes would certainly put a damper on a traditional feeling.
I guess you could say the Christmas card tradition is declining and I and others like me could be the exception these days, but it's not social media that's to blame; it's TIME.
Extend a greeting to someone you haven't thought about in a few years. Send a card; it's not too late. What could it hurt?
Keep a merry thought in your head,
