My ear is still producing gooey stuff.
Woke up with an ear infection on Monday and headed to the doc who prescribed antibiotic drops.
Took him f-o-r-e-v-e-r to produce the all-electronic prescription — “It’s a new system…we’re trying it out for the first time today.” he said apologetically.
I told him not to worry — it was rather entertaining for me to see him squirm every time the computer auto-corrected the spelling of the medicine he was trying to prescribe.
“No. No. Cortisporin, not cortisone!” he’d mutter under his breath, tapping the screen with the stylus.
What would have taken him 30 seconds with pen and paper, took a grueling 300.
Wish I could say that for my work … I write a LOT, for work and on this blog, but even when I have to jot down quick notes or ideas, I reach for the notepad on my iPhone or iPad.
Electronic cataloging of thoughts allows for them to be easily e-mailed later; I know where to find them when I need them (no looking for scraps of paper under magazines strewn all over my work desk); and I can understand, for the most part, what I’ve written (you’ve all had that moment, right, where you couldn’t make any sense of your own handwritten scrawl?).
Plus typing on the virtual keyboard doesn’t hurt my hand the way writing does.
It’s a little sad to have lost that love — and ability, down the line — to write long-drawn prose with a fountain pen in a journal.
I remember the time I’d stay up late in bed with my little red notebook and a pen, pouring my heart out.
Even in my early 20s I wrote my column for a local daily first in my notebook and later typed it up on the computer. It allowed for pause and refinement. I’d self-edit in the transfer of thoughts from one medium to the next.
But a decade later it feels unnatural.
The only time I do handwritten notes now is when sending paper cards.
There was a time in the early 2000s when I wasn’t doing even that — e-cards were all the rage.
They were free, took only a couple of minutes to find the perfect one, and could be delivered whenever you wanted to any recipient all over the world.
As Hallmark started charging for these e-cards, I began feeling I needed something tangible in the hands of my recipients.
Funny how the mind works — you want something to hold when you actually pay money for it.
I guess that’s why there’s so much resistance to paid online content.
People are just used to everything being free on the internet.
Free journalism, free entertainment, free medical advice.
But sometimes, it’s just worth paying to see your doc.
If not for the medicine, for the entertainment. 
This has been another post in the Pleasantly Disturbed Thursday series started by Duane Scott.
While Duane is out of commission for a while as a result of an accident yesterday, I proudly bear the torch in his honor.
Do stop by and wish him a speedy recovery.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Mansi Bhatia
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“it was rather entertaining for me to see him squirm every time the computer auto-corrected the spelling of the medicine he was trying to prescribe.”
snorty! lol
cant type. sorry but was a fun read
Glad to have you stop by
Hope you feel better, soon!
I remember notebooks and fountain pens! Actually, I dont own a laptop, and I’ve taken to carrying a composition notebook (elementary school style!) around with me. On nice summer days I would sit out in Union Square and scribble in my little notebook.
I use both notebooks and my laptop. Sometimes on napkins and envelope also. Im stopping by from Lady Blogger. I hope your ear ache is better.
http://rwriterjourney.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-wish.html
Thanks for stopping by, Rave. The earache decided it had had enough of me on Friday
I need to start doing that … except I say it, but won’t really. I have flashes of ideas at the most random times and usually I have my iPhone handy. I’d be hardpressed to find a notebook or a pen…
Thanks for stopping by and also for your kind words on The Lady Bloggers Society forum.
I keep some notes on my blackberry, but I do still have a notebook for others. I gt more satisfaction in crossing things off on a paper list, rather than deleting them on a screen. Makes me feel like I’m getting more done- yes, I know, I’m only fooling myself.
I know what you’re saying — I had installed a to-do list app on my iPhone once which scratched stuff off when I checked the box next to it … it was “satisfying” to see the task crossed out with pixels. Funny how we let our brains get fooled like that
The virtual keyboard may not hurt your hand now, Mansi, but beware the consequences 20 years from now. I know from what I speak.
Who’s seen 20 years from now, Ronnie? We may well be dictating to our gadgets, losing our typing abilities as well…or perhaps, machines will intuitively know what we’re thinking and we won’t even need to talk!