Change Versus Improvement

The other day we were browsing at one of the Best Buy stores in our neighborhood only to learn that it was in the process of shutting down. The reason: it is not getting the foot traffic needed to survive. This, of course, is not the only example of a well-known store that is closing its doors due to the evolving purchasing habits of customers. For several years now, more and more folks have been doing much of their shopping on-line. While I recognize and understand that change, I confess to feeling regret at the consequences of that reality. Whether it is our local Best Buy outlet, Sears, Radio Shack or the numerous familiar long-standing entities that have closed down, our retail landscape is now in the process of becoming something different that what it was.

In his famous book, "Origin of the Species," Charles Darwin observed that survival is based on how well one adapts to their ever-changing environment. Those that can't or don't cease to exist. This is why dinosaurs, though often big and scary, are no longer around. Communication, obviously, is still very much with us. The obvious reason is because people still roam the planet and as social creatures, we communicate non-stop. In numerous ways, however, how we communicate is different than how we used to. One quick example is the still-rising popularity of social media. Nobody tweeted during the administration of either President Roosevelt, to state one easy (and perhaps silly) example.

As an aside, it is worth noting that evolution does not automatically mean one is getting better. The Earth's environment is change due to climate change or global warming. I do not know anyone who is pleased with that reality. Nevertheless, it is forcing mankind to begin making adjustments to how it lives. Much continues to be written by scholars as to how all of us communicate nowadays versus how we used to. Our environment is changing. While it is good that we are adjusting, what remains in-question is whether the changes we are making are improvements. This continues to be a topic worth exploring.