Over-Communication?

Scott and I were talking the other day about the possibility that we as a culture may be over-communicating. The expression TMI (too much information) has been around for a while, but that's only part of it. [I must confess, posting a blog about linoleum -- that's symptomatic as well. Who cares what I think of linoleum? I hardly care myself!]

So how did we get to this place as a society where we dial home to ask which brand name of canned vegetables to buy? What would happen if we bought the wrong brand, or even the wrong type of vegetable, or if we forgot to buy vegetables altogether? And how did previous generations survive without being able place calls from the grocery aisle or the stoplight or the public restroom? It boggles the mind how interdependent we have made ourselves as people.

I remember an uncle of mine back in the 70s who, in an act of daring independence, let his telephone ring. It was shocking to me then, even more shocking now. He simply didn't answer the phone if he didn't feel like answering it. Caller ID and voice mail had not been invented yet to satisfy his curiosity about who had called. And it wasn't like he was doing something important -- just sitting in his recliner with the phone ringing in the kitchen. Ah, let it ring! He was content.

A few years ago, two television stations in our area switched national affiliation from CBS to NBC and vice versa. This event was promo-ed months in advance with television ads featuring a 1-800 number to dial if viewers needed further assistance. Scott and I found this hilarious! Even today when we are momentarily confused about which station something is on we turn to each other and ask, 'What's that 800 number again?'

A more recent phenomenon is the switch from analog to digital television and the number of corresponding PSAs they've made about it. If one day in February you turn your television on and it doesn't work, the world will not come to an end. You may decide to investigate why it doesn't work and if you do you'll find out that you need a digital receiver. On the other hand, you may give up on television altogether and that wouldn't be such a terrible thing either.

Blogs themselves are a growing part of the problem. Does anyone really need to know half of the information presented online? Of course not. People survived for thousands of years without knowing much about anything that happened outside their own four walls.

We are being barraged with superfluous information and unsolicitied opinions on everything from how to prepare a succulent turkey to how not to dress to how to be happy...on and on and on. It may come to the point where in order to remain human beings and not become automatons we will have to turn off all electronic devices (the cell phones, the computers, the radios and TVs, DVRs, CDs -- the whole alphabet) and just BREATHE.

The Six Levels of Morality

I've been reading a book called "Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire" about a fifth grade teacher in an inner city school in California. He's won lots of awards for elevating his students artistically with Shakespeare, Vivaldi...etc. His students improve by leaps and bounds in his classroom, which is really a sanctuary.

Anyway, on the first day of class he reviews with them these Six Levels of Morality:

I behave morally because...

Level 1 - I don't want to get in trouble.

Level 2 - I want a reward.

Level 3 - I want to please someone (a teacher or a parent, usually)

Level 4 - I obey the rules.

Level 5 - I am considerate of others.

Level 6 - I have high moral standards and live by a personal code.

He points out that behaving morally is always a good thing, but it is better to be motivated by the higher levels than the lower levels.

Anyway, this has me thinking about my own personal motivations -- why I do the things I do. I've always been good at staying out of trouble, jumping through hoops to earn rewards, trying to please others (even people who are impossible to please.) [He points out that people who live at Level 3 are generally miserable.] I have always been a bit of a stickler for obeying the rules, so I'm covered on Level 4. In general, I strive diligently to be considerate of others (see Level 3). But I'd really like to live at Level 6. That's something to think about with each decision I make.

After the Unibomber published his personal manifesto in the New York Times, Scott joked that if I ever found him writing his, I should have him psychologically evaluated. The writing of a personal manifesto seems to portend bad behavior with the manifesto itself written to justify it.

A personal code does not have to be written in a manifesto -- in fact, I don't really think it can be. A personal code is 'manifest' in one's attitude and behavior.

In Praise of Linoleum

I know this is an odd topic for Christmas time (maybe it's the stress...?), and I know it's un-cool to say this, but I LOVE LINOLEUM. (You know, vinyl floor covering as opposed to wood laminate and tile floors.) I suppose I like true wood floors the best, weathered and waxed, -- but what is so wonderful about cold, breakable tile and grout and so awful about shiny, clean linoleum?

When we built our house twelve years ago, we could only afford to upgrade the carpeting and add some bay windows. The entryway, kitchen and two finished baths had to have vinyl flooring -- we couldn't afford to upgrade those areas then. Several years ago we finished five additional rooms in our house and went with 12" travertine tile and granite, which looks very nice, but I could not bring myself to rip out the linoleum in our older areas. Why?

* Because it still looks good -- 12 years later! (Maybe I am delusional about this. That's a possibility.)
* Because it's easy to clean and feels clean when it is clean.
* Because it's hypoallergenic.
* Because it's anti-static. It actually repels dust, unlike grout which becomes imbedded with it.
* Because dishes are less likely to break when they crash on a linoleum floor.
* Because tile cracks and grout blackens, but linoleum endures (apparently forever).
* Because linoleum absorbs the temperature of the home better than stone tile, which is always too cold.
* Because linoleum cushions your feet and as an added bonus -- it's quiet!

I think ugly linoleum gave it a bad name. There have been dog-ugly linoleum patters for decades! (Think 1970s).

I don't follow home decorating trends enough to know what ruined linoleum's reputation, but I just Googled "flooring trends 2008" and learned that linoleum is making a resurgence in the marketplace (they called it a 'Renaissance'), proving once again that if you're out of style long enough, eventually you'll be in style again. (The "even-broken-clocks-are-right-twice-a-day" theory.) Turns out that linoleum is the environmentally friendly choice.

Until I can bring myself to install weathered, waxed hard wood floors, which, admittedly, are more aesthetically pleasing, I will continue to enjoy my four patches of linoleum. It's my little rebellion.