Email, instant messaging, and cell phones give us fabulous communication ability, but because we live and work in our own little worlds, that communication is totally disorganized.

Vos Savant contrasts the unprecedented speed and reach of modern tools (email, IM, mobile phones) with the human and organizational habits that determine whether communication is actually effective. The “fabulous ability” to transmit messages does not automatically produce shared understanding, coordination, or coherent priorities; instead, when people operate in siloed “little worlds” (separate schedules, teams, inboxes, and attention streams), the result can be fragmentation—too many channels, unclear norms, and constant interruption. The quote anticipates a familiar modern paradox: more connectivity can yield less clarity, as communication becomes abundant but poorly structured, making it harder to decide what matters and to act collectively.