After rereading the previous blog on this topic, I wondered if human interaction and face to face contact are necessary and if so why. I know speaking personally that when I have been by myself, 24/7 I have been less than happy. Having others around and interacting with them seems to fill a primary human need. Lonliness is a major cause of depression.
Think about the fact that isolation and solitary confinement are punishments for prisoners. Babies left unattended in orphanages suffer serious damage to their psyches. For most, continuous solitude can cause a decompensation that threatens the minds ability to remain stable. It seems a most natural behavior to seek out others for contact and communication ( except for some in the park in which I walk!).
But here is an interesting twist to the tale. Many find old friends on Face Book,My Space or whatever and then meet up with them in person. These reunions would not likely have happened if not facilitated by the internet. So, sometimes the impersonal leads to personal. That is a very healthy and positive outcome. I hope you enjoy that experience.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
BEYOND BELIEF!
If ever you doubt our economy or our country go directly to a Bed, Bath and Beyond store. Wander the aisles. You don't have to buy anything although you will be tempted. Let your eyes look from bottom to top or vice versa at all the amazing stuff available to you--all at reasonable prices.
Nowhere in the world can one find such diversity of available products at your finger tips. There is something to be said for a "brick and mortar" store. BB&B is a symbol of our strength.
Perhaps we have made a few missteps. Undeniably, greed temporarily replaced reason and rationality. At its weakest, America is the strongest country in the world. Don't believe me? Just go to BB&B, The Apple Store, Macys and a host of others that reflect our muscle.
It may take longer than we like,but America will find its way back to economic stability and growth. Mark my words. At that time the shelves of BB&B will be fuller than ever.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
Nowhere in the world can one find such diversity of available products at your finger tips. There is something to be said for a "brick and mortar" store. BB&B is a symbol of our strength.
Perhaps we have made a few missteps. Undeniably, greed temporarily replaced reason and rationality. At its weakest, America is the strongest country in the world. Don't believe me? Just go to BB&B, The Apple Store, Macys and a host of others that reflect our muscle.
It may take longer than we like,but America will find its way back to economic stability and growth. Mark my words. At that time the shelves of BB&B will be fuller than ever.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
NEGOTIATE
I have read many articles that say we are in times in which anything and everything is negotiable. They say that even in department stores one has haggle possibilities.
I have never been comfortable in that mode. I imagine many of you are not either. However, I think now more than ever we need to try. Worst they can say is no.
Who said this blog is not about the economy? Go for the best price you can get. Let me know when you succeed.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
I have never been comfortable in that mode. I imagine many of you are not either. However, I think now more than ever we need to try. Worst they can say is no.
Who said this blog is not about the economy? Go for the best price you can get. Let me know when you succeed.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
Monday, August 17, 2009
OUR LESS THAN PERSONAL WORLD:PART II
I hope you enjoyed some "face time" with other people this weekend.
Certainly, the world of work has been dramatically affected by the internet. In the old days, resumes were hand carried or mailed whereas now thay are emailed. There was always a letter responding to a resume even if it was a polite, "not suited to the job..." reply. Interviews were always face to face whereas now the first few are by phone for reasons I don't fully understand since the interviewer time is the same whether it is a phone or in person visit.
Training and orientation were always classroom based, whereas now the internet and DVD's dominate. In addition, computer literacy was not a prerequisite for any job whereas now it is hard to think of one where that is not required. Communications were in the form of memos, phone contacts and meetings whereas now the internet and intranet dominate. Finally, presentations were handlettered on "flip charts" and done face to face, whereas now there is Power Point and the possibility of cyber meetings--some with video conferencing-- engaging people who can literally be sitting all over the world.
From an efficiency point of view it is all a many splendid thing. From a humanistic point of view it all seems to lose something as we go from face to face to seclusion. Just ask anyone who works from home in their boxers or nighgown. It can be the best of worlds as well as the worst. The lesson we learn is that for everything positive there is a cost and a consequence. That is the ying and yang of our lives. The question that remains is how far will all this go and how remote and secluded will people feel in the year 2025 and beyond? I guess by then there will be virtual therapists readily available to salve your wounded minds in a matter of minutes.
More on this tommorow.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
Certainly, the world of work has been dramatically affected by the internet. In the old days, resumes were hand carried or mailed whereas now thay are emailed. There was always a letter responding to a resume even if it was a polite, "not suited to the job..." reply. Interviews were always face to face whereas now the first few are by phone for reasons I don't fully understand since the interviewer time is the same whether it is a phone or in person visit.
Training and orientation were always classroom based, whereas now the internet and DVD's dominate. In addition, computer literacy was not a prerequisite for any job whereas now it is hard to think of one where that is not required. Communications were in the form of memos, phone contacts and meetings whereas now the internet and intranet dominate. Finally, presentations were handlettered on "flip charts" and done face to face, whereas now there is Power Point and the possibility of cyber meetings--some with video conferencing-- engaging people who can literally be sitting all over the world.
From an efficiency point of view it is all a many splendid thing. From a humanistic point of view it all seems to lose something as we go from face to face to seclusion. Just ask anyone who works from home in their boxers or nighgown. It can be the best of worlds as well as the worst. The lesson we learn is that for everything positive there is a cost and a consequence. That is the ying and yang of our lives. The question that remains is how far will all this go and how remote and secluded will people feel in the year 2025 and beyond? I guess by then there will be virtual therapists readily available to salve your wounded minds in a matter of minutes.
More on this tommorow.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
Friday, August 14, 2009
OUR LESS THAN PERSONAL WORLD: PART I
Thinking about my park experiences last week let me to focus on how different our world is from the one in which I grew up. The 50' thru the 80's were highly personal and people based. Interaction dominated our culture in every way. Person to person contact was essential.
The virtual society that has been created lessens those contacts in almost every way. Richard Corliss, Time Magazine movie reviewer, speaking about Netflix,but quickly generalizing to our world recently said, " ....the lack of human interaction is the big problem with Netflix and its ciber-ilk. Thanks to the internet,we can now do nearly everything--working, shopping,movie-going,social networking,having sex--on one machine at home. We're becoming a society of shut-ins. We deprive ourselves of exercise...And we deny ourselves the random epiphanies of human contact." (8/10/09 p. 63)
As you travel through your weekend observe your social patterns. As you text and twitter away or check your face book postings or email enjoy all the efficient benefits and mourn all the lost human to human contact, so important to nourishing our psyches and our souls.
More on this subject next week.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
The virtual society that has been created lessens those contacts in almost every way. Richard Corliss, Time Magazine movie reviewer, speaking about Netflix,but quickly generalizing to our world recently said, " ....the lack of human interaction is the big problem with Netflix and its ciber-ilk. Thanks to the internet,we can now do nearly everything--working, shopping,movie-going,social networking,having sex--on one machine at home. We're becoming a society of shut-ins. We deprive ourselves of exercise...And we deny ourselves the random epiphanies of human contact." (8/10/09 p. 63)
As you travel through your weekend observe your social patterns. As you text and twitter away or check your face book postings or email enjoy all the efficient benefits and mourn all the lost human to human contact, so important to nourishing our psyches and our souls.
More on this subject next week.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
Thursday, August 13, 2009
A WALK IN THE PARK: PART VIII
So I followed my own advice from yesterdays blog. I said hello to everyone who walked by me who didn't look as far away from me as possible. I termed those folks, "elevator rider walkers".
The responses from the rest of the people varied. There are "grunters", "head noders","thumbs uppers" and "groaners." There are also a minority who say, "Good Morning" or "Hello/Hi".
The winner was a tall African American man who said hello to me first. When I said, "Hi, How are you today?" he said, "Doing Great Thank you. How are you doing?" He must be from Georgia or California(if you don't get that you didn't read yesterdays blog).
The cool thing was that nomatter what the response I felt good trying to reach out and be friendly. I chose not to take nonresponses personally. There is definitely something to be said for trying to be a little friendlier in our standoffish community.
Try it and you might just like it and the responses you receive. Spread the work, "HELLO" and pass it on. Who knows what might come of it? We might start a whole new trend! F'in A right! (if you don't get that you didn't read Tuesdays blog). Get with the program people. HELLO!
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals.
The responses from the rest of the people varied. There are "grunters", "head noders","thumbs uppers" and "groaners." There are also a minority who say, "Good Morning" or "Hello/Hi".
The winner was a tall African American man who said hello to me first. When I said, "Hi, How are you today?" he said, "Doing Great Thank you. How are you doing?" He must be from Georgia or California(if you don't get that you didn't read yesterdays blog).
The cool thing was that nomatter what the response I felt good trying to reach out and be friendly. I chose not to take nonresponses personally. There is definitely something to be said for trying to be a little friendlier in our standoffish community.
Try it and you might just like it and the responses you receive. Spread the work, "HELLO" and pass it on. Who knows what might come of it? We might start a whole new trend! F'in A right! (if you don't get that you didn't read Tuesdays blog). Get with the program people. HELLO!
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A WALK IN THE PARK: PART VII
Not all walks in the park are the same. Not all parks are the same. The one thing that is strange in my park here is that few people passing by the other way say hello, good morning or any other greeting. I told you yesterday what the basketballers were saying, but they weren't talking to me.
When I first starting walking there many years ago, I would say good morning or hello or something. I stopped when I noticed it made others feel uncomfortable. A small proportion responded, but many just walked on by. I started to feel as if I was viewed as a pervert for just saying good morning. Now I wait to see if the passer-by looks my way and says anything. If they do I respond. If not, I just walk on by. I guess that is how "pass on byers" are born.
This is a sad commentary on South Floridians. I don't know why we are so unfriendly,but this phenonmena is undeniable in a variety of settings.
It doesn't happen when I walk in the park in Georgia or California. Total strangers say, "Good Morning, Beautify Day, Have a Good Walk, Great Day to be Outside," etc. Sometimes, one person says all that.
We could take a lesson from their playbook. In fact, I will.I hope you have a great day. Try saying hello to a stranger and see if you can start a social virus of friendly interaction. I will do the same today and report back. Let me know what happens as well.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
When I first starting walking there many years ago, I would say good morning or hello or something. I stopped when I noticed it made others feel uncomfortable. A small proportion responded, but many just walked on by. I started to feel as if I was viewed as a pervert for just saying good morning. Now I wait to see if the passer-by looks my way and says anything. If they do I respond. If not, I just walk on by. I guess that is how "pass on byers" are born.
This is a sad commentary on South Floridians. I don't know why we are so unfriendly,but this phenonmena is undeniable in a variety of settings.
It doesn't happen when I walk in the park in Georgia or California. Total strangers say, "Good Morning, Beautify Day, Have a Good Walk, Great Day to be Outside," etc. Sometimes, one person says all that.
We could take a lesson from their playbook. In fact, I will.I hope you have a great day. Try saying hello to a stranger and see if you can start a social virus of friendly interaction. I will do the same today and report back. Let me know what happens as well.
Bye For Now,
Bill
www.williampenzerphd.com
954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1
check 3/17 blog to know our goals
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