If you could un-invent something, what would it be?

There are so many things I would un-invent, if I could. But I choose to err on the side of caution, in order to prevent being blackballed by “bots”.

So there, you have, item number one.

I am part of the generation of “control-apple-reset”, AOL, yahoo e-mail and mySPACE. If I could . . . I absolutely would!

The internet used to be a way to connect with family and friends with whom we could not afford to visit. But do you remember when we only had land lines and had to pay for “long-distance”? Not only did it cost us to visit those who were not our neighbors, there was a price tag for voice-to-voice connection. It was cheaper to write a letter, mail a photograph or make the decision that it either wasn’t that important what we were having for supper, or it could wait until we called to “catch up”.

So there, you have, item number two.

In the world we live in, progress is a double-edged sword. And I wholeheartedly believe that this adage can be applied to literally —

Every. Single. Thing.

For every GOOD thing, there is an equal and opposite BAD thing.

Think about that for a minute. Basic needs, first, of course —

Food: Sustenance turned into illness.

Clothing: Decency turned into social stigma.

Shelter: Protection turned into a competition [we used to call it “keeping up with the Jones’s”].

Believe it or not:

• doctors used to come to us,

• we did not have phones in our cars,

• we used to actually go to a store when we needed something, and

• holidays were family gatherings, not gift exchanges measured in value by a dollar sign!

If I could un-invent anything, it would be convenience and progress!