Evolutionary Regression

There is a famous chart of the evolution of man that probably everyone above the age of elementary or middle school science has seen. It depicts how man has evolved from walking with his knuckles dragging along the ground to how we currently walk today: straight up. It is simple enough yet does a good job of illustrating our beginning days as living creatures to current times. Perhaps in the grand scheme of things, we are still at the start of our evolution. If that is true, then maybe we are destined to eventually travel on our own accord by flying. (Author's note: That last sentence may actually depict my own personal wish than anything close to reality.)

If a similar chart were made depicting how mankind has evolved in the area of communication, my sense is it would be much simpler than the one of us going from walking bent over to walking straight up. It would begin with us hearing sound, go to making sound, interacting via some sort of language, and conclude by showing how we are able communicate via both making and hearing sound (speaking and listening). I concede others may include another step or two in that evolution, but I believe my depiction, at the very least, touches on the basics. In essence, our physical ability to communicate has changed little.

One question, then, in the time we have existed, revolves around whether have actually gotten any better. I will say "yes," but confess that to wondering nowadays if actually we are not regressing. Specifically, despite our intellectual growth, it seems as if we are moving backward in the area of listening. I base that concern on the amount of conflict and repetition of message that occurs. Would all that be happening if we listened better than we seem to? Perhaps, but I doubt it. Further, perhaps having the abiliy to listen and the willingness to listen are two different things. Maybe it is our nature to live more comfortably making sound rather than hearing it, too? I hope not.