Internet Time

I'm not a twenty-something but have worked in enough design shops and development departments to have become acclimated to the Internet Time that many of these young web professionals are on. Everything is quick, information is available at one's fingertips and everyone is always connected.

The problem I have is transitioning from the Web Generation to social or business situations with people my age. For example, what I think of as a normal time frame for a greeting, response and other traditional interactions with the Web Gen, the older generation tends to regard as brusque, almost rude.

This is an issue that more and more of us are facing as we make the switch from dealing with folks who are on Internet Time, where everything happens quickly and almost chaotically, to the more leisurely pace of interactions with our real-world friends, associates and business partners. The way I have come to deal with this is simply by taking a few deep breaths when I am going from one context to the other. Much like moving from dry land into the ocean, or from a darkened room into sunlight, the change in timing takes a few seconds and a little thought to get used to.

"So say I."
"So say we all."