I found myself the other day being rude, yes, downright impolite, to Alexa.  When asked if I wanted to reorder shampoo, I curtly said “No.”  Not even, “No thank you.”  Is this the new norm?  Is it okay to omit “please” and “thank you”? I think it all started with the mobile phone messaging, when you didn’t say “Hello” or “good-bye”. You just wrote or said your message and then pressed “send”. No “Love, Mom” or “Dear Somebody.” My daughter does end her messages with oxox, which at first glance would appear to be an upper respiratory gagging reflex, but I now take it as a sign of affection.

So along with cursive writing and clocks with hands, do we say goodbye to spelling  out “thanks”  and “you” and why bother when you are given options by your phone or watch and pretty soon you won’t have to think at all.

Stop! Slow down.  No more improvements please.