In a recent letter to the Guardian, Nancy Mellor argues that voice notes are more polite and considerate of our time than traditional phone calls, contrary to claims that they exemplify a disconnected digital landscape. Mellor responds to Annabel Martin's article, which criticized voice notes as making a generation self-absorbed bores.
Mellor contends that voice notes actually combat digital isolation by allowing friends to share half-formed thoughts in a raw, uncurated manner. This, she says, is essential for sustaining relationships in an age where text messages have become overly refined, with the barrier of hitting enter protecting users from embarrassment. Voice notes, however, permit thinking mid-sentence and hearing friends in a genuine state.
While acknowledging that some may prefer phone calls, Mellor emphasizes that voice notes are more respectful of time. A phone call demands immediate attention, whereas a voice note can be listened to at the recipient's convenience, or even just pretended to have been heard. This flexibility makes voice notes a more conscious communication choice.
The letter concludes by inviting readers to share their opinions on the topic.
