By ALY OWEN
In a time when new forms of communication arise as quickly as the latest trend becomes obsolete -- multitasking phones, online forums, video broadcasts -- personal interaction sounds more oxymoronic by the year.
Also in this system of information super-highway, a problem of any sort can be immediately classified and "dealt with," "taken care of," or "put on hold." Once the complication is identified, people can, as the standard states, "move on."
With the endless lines of communication available, it's strange that problems are rarely said to be "fixed."
Instead of confronting and accepting problems, some people distract themselves with another task rather than facing the adversary; any challenge, whether it occurs in a business or social setting, can be forgotten or ignored by way of an alternative coping method.
Take, for example, a simple iPod malfunction. Why fix it? It could take more time and money -- two of the most common motivations -- to fix than it would take to buy a new type of MP3 player or export the iPod's music collection to another database.
Problem solved, but not fixed.
In an argument between friends, the typical solution includes forgetting and forgiving whatever disagreement preceded the quarrel. Forgetting might be the easiest and fastest way to reach an accord (problem helped), but in some cases, forgetting prolongs the anger or hurt, but does not diminish it. Being able to accept the discrepancy while still being aware of it signifies complete reconciliation (problem fixed). Both concepts allow the friends to leave the fight in the past, but only one supports a clear conscience.
Of course there are situations where, in terms of economics, the risk is more than the gain.
If the iPod were thoroughly destroyed, finding a replacement would be better than moping over a lost cause, and if the friends' argument concerned something shallow, shrugging it off and laughing about it later would be preferable to a drawn-out debate and discussion.
However, sometimes people get lost in a plethora of easy-outs. A serious conversation can be a bunch of text messages, and a pint of Ben & Jerry's can "fix" any lingering discomfort. A frustration at the office can be "fixed" by a mind-occupying, busy schedule and acting like everything's OK.
There might be plenty of ways to avoid fully addressing an unpleasant situation, but that doesn't mean those alternatives are always ideal. If a car has an obvious nick, chances are a responsible owner won't just slap some paint over it and keep driving.
Unless the solution includes a trip to Staples, fixing a challenge doesn't always come with an easy button.
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