His white, often-tousled hair symbolizes wisdom he has gained over the years. The character lines running across his face represent the joys, pains and changes he has probably experienced. Helpful and kind, but never harsh, words have parted his lips in my presence. Although he is my co-worker, he is more like a model grandfather.

One dreary drizzly day, he approached me. Instead of asking me about my future or commenting on one of my columns, or even discussing an aspect of the cable television media as we often do, he posed to me a very simple question. "Why don't people speak to each other when they are walking down the street?"

I snickered at first, not really thinking about the question. However, as he explained the incident that had just taken place, I thought more about his question.

I finally answered, "I really don't know. Maybe it's because at Penn State, we come from such different backgrounds."

I explained that many of the students at Penn State are from more urban areas where it is not customary to talk to people when walking down the street. In cities like New York or Philadelphia, often it is best to avoid making eye contact with passers-by. By not speaking to strangers, people do not make themselves vulnerable to attack.

Maybe people's unwillingness to communicate is a habit they have formed in their hometowns and, knowingly or unknowingly, continue to practice here in less-threatening State College.

My co-worker agreed my explanation was plausible, but responded, "Well it's really too bad because we need each other." He half-heartedly suggested I write a column on the subject, and then seemingly dismissed the conversation.

I didn't dismiss the conversation from my mind quite as readily as it seemed he had. The question my older co-worker asked me is not as simplistic as it may seem.

Although my explanation of an inability to break hometown habits could be a valid explanation for some people, this entire subject of interpersonal communication can be viewed in a larger context.

The lack of interpersonal communication is a reflection of both societal changes and individuals' changing mores.

Our nation, as well as Penn State, is different than it was years ago when my co-worker taught speech communication. Now most cities are fast-paced and many rural areas are becoming smaller carbon copies of them.

Time in today's society is not something people consider, but something that essentially dictates lives. For campus visitors, Old Main is mainly a melodious landmark; but for those of us who call State College home, Old Main is unconsciously a time monster. Every 15 minutes it reminds us how close or how far we are to actually being perfect -- on time.

Increased automation and technology have spawned a decrease in communication. In the work place, where most adults spend more than half their waking hours, it is possible to not speak to a co-worker nearly all day.

Electronic mail and computer terminals allow people to communicate without moving their lips or even being in the same office building or city. If one is able to sit at a job all day long without talking to someone who may be only yards away, then it is conceivable that the same person would not speak to a passer-by.

Similarly, during my four years at Penn State, students have often criticized foreign teaching assistants for not speaking English well enough. In light of my co-worker's question, the criticism is ironic.

Apparently communication is only needed for success in the classroom; it is not as important for friendly passers-by.

Last summer, some friends and I spent a fun-filled weekend in Philadelphia. On our way back to State College, my car decided it did not wish to finish the trip, and stopped just outside of Harrisburg. Smoke billowed out of the tailpipe and when I steered the car to the side of the road, it died.

Luckily a man, a stranger to me, was following us and had seen the whole incident. Although he could not fix the car, he waited with us on the side of the road until the policeman came.

As I reflect on this incident, I understand what my co-worker means when he says "We need each other."

The world has changed since my co-worker was my age. However, all of the automation and fast-paced living is not a substitute for communication with another human being.