by Dave Williams<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving was the day before yesterday. My son and his family called CarolAnn and me as sons and daughters have always been obligated to do on holidays.<\/p>\n
That’s a time-honored tradition that must never die, by the way.<\/p>\n
We loved talking with them. As a special treat, they called again yesterday because it was CarolAnn’s birthday. Neither call was made via Zoom or Facetime.<\/p>\n
A week or so ago I set up a call with my doctor. It was so insignificant I don’t even remember why I called but the fact that it was easy and super-efficient was a big motivator. I wouldn’t have made an office appointment for this particular issue, whatever it was, but now I can consult with my doctor face-to-face without leaving my La-Z-Boy or even having to put on pants.<\/p>\n
What a world.<\/p>\n
Doc Friendman and I have never met in person. Seriously. CarolAnn and I have been his patients for more than a year but in his office, we always met with Physician Assistants never with the guy whose name is on the door until last week when I met his lovely face on my phone.<\/p>\n
The P.A. must have called in sick that day.<\/p>\n
I’m fine with all of this. As I said, I love the convenience and the fact that so far my online medical consultations haven’t required that I open my mouth, lift my shirt or drop my drawers in front of my phone.<\/p>\n
I just wonder why we have to see each other’s faces? Wouldn’t a simple voice call be just as effective?<\/p>\n
When my kids phone I’m constantly aware of how Zoom and Facetime make me look like some sort of fat cadaver in bad lighting. I don’t like that.<\/p>\n
When I call the doctor for a face-to-face I don’t much care about my appearance. Seeing sick, fat, dying people is his job. But I wonder if Facetime, Zoom and Android Duo aren’t just an excuse to charge my insurance company for a regular office visit.<\/p>\n
Sometimes technology has to explain to us why we need these “improvements”.<\/p>\n
I’m reminded of a recent Tweet I saw:<\/p>\n
Last night my friend asked to use a USB port to charge his cigarette, but I was using it to charge my book. The future is stupid.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"