Sir, – I am trying to finish several jobs today on a renovation project and need to call about seven different people. It has become almost impossible to speak to a real human being when dealing with companies or public services. One simple conversation with a real person could prevent minutes turning into hours, and hours into days, just to get a straightforward answer. We are told we have more ways than ever to contact companies, yet every path seems designed to avoid human contact entirely. A society that stops talking to its people risks losing more than efficiency; it risks losing trust, loyalty and common decency.

Source: The Irish Times November 24, 2025 15:16 UTC