Rebuttal to Letters (R)

Dear Garrison Keillor,

In your short essay “How to Write a Letter” I agree with your reasoning why writing a letter is expressive and important. A letter is a great way to communicate and write to a loved one; however, talking on the phone is better. Telephone is more technologically advanced, it becomes easier and faster to keep in touch with friends and family. Phone conversations allow people who enjoy talking, like me, to portray their enthusiastic personalities aurally with emotion. It is also easier to visualize the recipient of my phone call because I can hear their voice. While a letter is a nice gesture to send to a friend if you are shy, a phone call is more effective because it is faster, shows more character, and makes it easier to “see” the friend you are calling.
Talking on the phone makes communication easier and faster. Sending a letter may take 2 or more days to reach your loved one using “snail mail”, but with a telephone I can reach my friend instantly, or at least leave a voicemail. If I feel the need to talk to someone or have an urgent message to give, a cell phone would get the job done much quicker than a letter because all I have to do is pick up a phone and dial the number. This new millennium is all about technology and upgrades to have better means of communication. Using telephones are more effective than writing letters because they create more balanced conversations. When writing a letter I can ask as many questions as I like but I will not receive an answer until a couple days later. With a telephone, if I ask a question the response will come immediately and lead to more successful conversations.
A letter appeals to shy people, but telephone conversations appeal to people who talk a lot, like me, and it allows my personality and feelings to shine. When having a discussion on the phone I bring more enthusiasm and emphasis to the stories I tell about my day than if I would write a letter. Talking on the phone is helpful to those that are shy because they learn how to express themselves verbally and become more outgoing. You are able to show more style on a telephone with tone and diction. The simple tone of voice can identify whether I am feeling outrageous, exuberant, solemn, or sarcastic; it is easier to convey my actual mood with a phone call than a letter. Hearing someone say “I love you” is a lot more effective than writing it because I feel the other person’s emotion and sincerity when I listen. The tone and diction also help in imagining the person you are talking to.
In your essay you explained that it is necessary to visualize the person you are writing to. Well, the same applies to phone conversation except it is much easier because their voice helps with your mental picture of the person. You are able to visualize the person you are talking to by their voice tone and pitch. If someone with a high squeaky voice answers the phone, your mind would probably picture a young girl that is short and sweet with small facial features. If you hear a deep raspy voice on the other line, then you would assume that it is an adult male, large and hefty that probably shops at the big and tall store. The voice affects the overall visualization of the person you are talking to and adds to the effect of communication.
Although letters are eloquent and expressive, phone calls are just as grand, maybe even better. Cell phones are more technologically advanced and provide easier access to communicate with someone. I can add more personality and feeling when talking on the phone. Also, it is much easier to picture your friend’s face if there is a voice that goes with it. The tone of my voice and diction conveys my mood and adds to my personality for clarity. These are just some of the reasons why telephone conversations appeal to me more than letters.

Sincerely,
Symone Simmons