Telephones, fax machines, cell-phones, instant messaging, e-mail, text messaging.. not to mention the mail. It seems as if everyone these days has fifty ways to get ahold of them. Long gone are the times when someone could just utter "call me" at the end of a business meeting or a date. Now it's almost an insult if you don't grovel before the person and commit to emailing, faxing, sending a hard copy in the mail, and doing a follow-up call on the phone.

When did it become normal civil discourse to engage in harassing your fellow human beings? Cell phones are usually singled out as the worst offender, and probably rightly so. After all, despite the availability of hands free devices, people are still too lazy to use them and persist in distracting themselves from driving. It's not even that part that bothers me the most. It's the guy with the phone hanging off his belt and when it rings, it blares at an outrageous volume. The reason for the call? The person on the other end telling him they'll be there in five minutes. Why is it necessary to call and tell him this? Why not just be there in five minutes?

The bottom line is in seeking to be more in touch with each other, we've given up a freedom in a sense. We've spoiled ourselves to the point where we want to pick up a phone and if the other person doesn't answer, they have to have some excuse or note from home.

It's not changing any time soon. I own a cell phone, and the high speed internet access at home which has enabled me to ditch the land line. Email allows me to communicate with friends overseas in an instant which is great. Sometimes though, it really is better to turn the phone off and enjoy the freedom to be left alone.