7/9/25
Elsewhere Today
… replying, whether to a message, a comment, or an invitation, is no longer just a communication act. It becomes a micro-performance of care, kindness or presence. We reply to show we are good friends, good partners, good people. And not replying becomes a moral failure, a small social sin.
Amazing how ingrained this is for me. I’m a notorious I’ll-reply-later-oops-forgot-now-I’m-ashamed-so-I’ll-ignore-you-longer type of guy. I feel guilty every time. But communication isn’t transactional, no matter what modern socializing might try to have me believe. Sometimes I simply do not want to be reachable. I’m not on. Being able to say so shouldn’t be a social faux pas.