《中英對照讀新聞》’You’re dumped’ : Texting makes life easier for cowards 「你被甩了」：簡訊讓懦夫的生活簡單一些

◎鄭寺音

Technology is making many of us cowards when it comes to breaking up with a partner or sacking staff, say researchers.

研究人員說，提到與另一半分手，或解僱員工時，科技讓我們許多人變成懦夫。

We opt to send email or text messages to keep a "digital distance" when relaying bad news to colleagues, friends or partners.

我們傳達壞消息給同事、朋友或伴侶時，選擇以電子郵件或簡訊傳送，保持「數位距離」。

More than seven out of ten of us admit delegating difficult tasks at work by email and text.

我們10個人之中有7個以上承認，會用電郵或簡訊，把工作上困難的任務分派出去。

More than half also use a text or email message to apologise for a workplace mistake.

一半以上的人也使用簡訊或電郵，為工作場合所犯的錯誤道歉。

One in eight workers has resigned via a text message or email while 2 per cent of bosses have fired someone with a digital communication.

8分之1的勞工，透過簡訊或電郵辭職，2%的老闆以數位訊息解僱員工。

It also reveals that 3 per cent of adults admit to ending a relationship by text message in the past 12 months.

研究也披露，3%的成年人坦承，過去12個月曾以簡訊傳送方式結束一段關係。

Stewart Fox-Mills, head of telecoms at the Post Office, said: "Each generation’s communication style can differ dramatically, sometimes leading to inappropriate behaviour or cultural insensitivity."

郵局電信部主任米爾斯說：「每個年代的通訊聯繫方式可能大大不同，有時會引發不當的行為或是文化上的遲鈍。」

新聞辭典

dump︰傾倒，拋棄。例句：If he’s so awful, why don’t you just dump him?（如果他這麼爛，幹嘛不甩了他就好？）

text︰此指「簡訊」（text message），可當名詞或動詞（傳送簡訊）用。

...out of...︰幾個裡面有幾個。例句：Nine out of ten people said they liked the product.（10個人裡有9個說他們喜歡這個產品。）

來源：自由時報

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