I recently began looking into some new technology that is sure to change the way people communicate. But then I ran across this article in Wired. I decided maybe I shouldn’t always be on the cutting edge of technology. Maybe I’ll wait a little longer before I buy one of those cellular phones.

The Wired article, however, didn’t address my main reason for not owning a cell phone. I simply dislike phones. They’re interruptive. You usually have to hold one to your ear. Some people talk loudly into them. Others too softly. I prefer face-to-face communication. Failing that, my second choice is IM, third email, fourth phone.

I choose IM over phone because you advertise that you are online, ready to communicate. The phone defaults to voicemail if you don’t want to be bothered, which itself becomes a problem. Too many people leave me voicemail that is not specific about why they’re calling. Or they ramble. Or you get into a phone tag loop.

When people write an IM or an email, the act of writing typically, but not always, makes them get to the point. And sending an IM or email from a cafe is a little less disturbing than calling someone. And did you ever notice how some people are always playing with their phone? Or looking at their phone while you’re talking to them?

I have a phone at home and one in my office. Perhaps five or six times a year, I find myself in a situation where I wish I had a cell phone, usually when a problem comes up. But those are situations in which a cell phone would not solve the problem but only alert others that a problem exists. I always find that better communication beforehand would have solved the problem, not having a cell phone.

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