Published: Thursday, 31st December, 2009 6:21pm
New year, old methods
by Alan Bunce
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ONE prediction for 2010 that's hard to dispute is that we will see increasing use of technology - but equally certain is the fact we will waste a lot of it too.
You must be on Facebook, you must be on LinkedIn, you must be on Twitter, we are told. I am on them all but I haven't a clue why.
Not a single story has come my way from these networks. It's been an education to see what others are doing but the main question - why? - remains unanswered.
A look on Facebook tells me my niece is preparing to party, an ex colleague has joined Blossom Tree Productions and another is coming to get me.
At other times Facebook friends have poked me and thrown fish at me along with a host of other strange activities. I have no idea what they are on about.
On Christmas Day, four people wished me a Merry Christmas by text. Fat bald men I argue with in pubs were wishing me a great day and every success for 2010. One bloke who never answers the text messages I send him, wished me a Merry Christmas, along with, no doubt, everyone else in his phone book.
The brains behind Vodafone, Microsoft etc have spawned an explosion of trivia.
Yet if you'll excuse me some self-indulgence, I feel I can look back on 2009 with some satisfaction without much technology. At the Reading Chronicle alone in the last few months, business exclusives included:
Thames Water moving to Green Park
Jamie Oliver to open new restaurant at The Oracle
Clas Ohlson taking the old Woolies store
Willmett solicitors going into administration
Ikea buying up land in Calcot
All these stories came from conversations. Telephones and the odd email came into it but that was as technical as it got. LinkedIn was no use while I was sweating over a call back from Ikea's press office before deadline.
A contact is now trying to get me Twittering to better effect. I genuinely wish her luck but she has an uphill task.
Meanwhile I will keep talking to people who know stuff. It's a lot simpler than social networking and it still seems to work.
