I'm posting this primarily to beat those punks at the New York Times, before they make another HUGE thing out of a simple question I asked:

At a recent symposium of portable electronics, a few new services were brought to my attention that are actually kinda cool. Things like Grandcentral.com, Some VOIP cellphones, other things like the damn iPhone, et al.

At the end of the talk, I asked a question: "With all of these services you've shown us, voicemail controls that mean we'll always be available. Cellular and travel phoning that means we'll always be around. My question for you is 'What will this do to the word 'goodbye'" ?


Well apparently I launched a thousand ships with this one.

In the 30's, long distance visits were possible, for the first time, for most people to accomplish. Car rides, train rides, centralized towns on paths of trade and communication - No longer meant being strong of body to do weeks long horse journeys facing elements and dangers. During times of these travels, visits were 1 or more weeks, where a guest would take the time to telegram ahead, warn you of their plans, arrive "within a few days of the september frosts" and then stay with you for as long as necessary,possibly a season. When you finally parted ways, "Goodbye" and a handshake meant something. If things went well you may never see that person again. If someone you knew lived across town it may take an hour or more to go and visit them, and people rarely stopped in for a cup of coffee and a crumpet.

Unless you were to live in the cities. Then getting around and meeting people was a different thing, and Goodbyes, also different.

But in most of modern america we see a grand use of telephones and phone tech that keep people in touch "Pretty much whenever". And when these technologies grew, so shrunk the formal goodbyes that we waved on departure.

"Good bye" became "Bye". Becoming "See you later" or "See ya" or a simple "Later". More and more people are now just starting to grunt or nod in parting, knowing that their situations will put them in contact regardless of efforts to counter it.

in 2003 a friend of mine got into a nasty bike accident. It was one of those things that no one saw coming. After a funeral people tend to promise themselves that they will "pay more attention to those around them" while they are still there. This is quickly forgotten, and life moves on. But if you're involved in a life threatening situation, it may stay with you a little longer. When my friend leaves, he demands a handshake and a real acknowledgement that "Things were fun, I hope to see you later. Stay safe".

Now that people are more accessible than ever, The word "Hello" has changed, but should remain as a way of initiating a conversation (Outside of cool drug dealers that just pick up and say "yo!") But Goodbye is something that is taking it's final breaths.