This past year has taken me up another rung on the technological ladder. Sure, I could work a desktop with reasonable talent, but now I can use my iPad and iPhone 6 with the best of them (“them” being those of us 65 and older). Although I have not as yet downloaded the “Periodic Table Element Quiz” (it’s a free one), my head is about to explode with pseudo-wisdom.

A couple of weeks ago, I learned the definition of “emoticon” and took this knowledge to coffee with my usual group. I felt smugly superior, but for some reason, the utilization of these emoticons unsettled me, and I had a sense of foreboding. I wasn’t sure why, but now I think I have a reasonably good idea. Read on. As of yet, there is no YouTube video on this subject for you to watch.

I’m guessing that archaeologists still agree that the first recorded communication between humans began with cave paintings and moved on to hieroglyphics, right?

Close enough. Over time, the spoken language developed, and in time, tribal storytellers gave way to the printing press, which led to books and newspapers.

We’ve moved from the Model T to the e-reader (the Nook and the Kindle and so on). I have one, but these “advancements” diminish or even negate the need to learn to write and/or spell. With emoticons and emojis, we have advanced all the way back to … hieroglyphics. But there is more.

Just to be clear, an emoticon is a typographic display of a facial representation to convey emotion in a text only medium. Like so: 😉

Emoticons were invented to portray emotion where only text is available. Emoji are actual pictures or drawings.

Still with me?

Welcome back the GIF (graphics interchange format actually developed in 1987) that sends animated images to represent complex feelings and thoughts without using words or photos or drawings.

I have to admit all these are fun, but in times when electronic communication is overused or when applied to serious topics where we aren’t even responsible for conveying our human emotions.

There are situations in which it is imperative that people stand face to face with the other party. There are moments when there must be a personal emphasis, anger, passion or a measuring of words.

Symbols are convenient, but they are just symbols. Perhaps in the future, when we purchase electronic communication devices online from Amazon or Best Buy, they will offer us a “Buyers also bought these” feature adding hoodies and dark glasses so that people can completely avoid making eye contact or interacting with any other humans around them.

Our world does not seem to be improving in the area of interpersonal relationships, does it? As we insulate (isolate?) ourselves more and more with personal technology, I think we are drifting away from knowing what empathy and sensitivity really are. We are easy to anger.

Isolation with diminished self-esteem does not develop good citizens.

As I write this piece, I am aware that the universe is changing and that evolution (good and bad) happens. Schools no longer teach cursive, and spelling and writing are emphasized less and less. This evolution in the way we communicate could well be a good thing. Time will tell.

If you haven’t already guessed it, I’m in the twilight of my journey here on Earth. I’m certainly not ready to leave, but I’m somewhat comforted that (hopefully) at my memorial a family member or good friend will stand up and tell stories about my life, my accomplishments and my foibles rather than posting a frowning face on Facebook. “Please sign the guest book with the emoticon or emoji of your choosing to comfort the family.”

Humor me, OK? I know there is no returning to patience and sensibility. I just had to vent.

Where’s that emoji for cranky old poop?

— Herm Meister lives in Sunriver.