Technology gets blamed for a lot of things. If it’s not the declining standards of the English language, it’s a basic lack of manners and common courtesy.
Most of us have in some way fallen foul of this. The rapid-fire email that could have been worded less abruptly, or the anonymous forum poster who could do with remembering that there are real people on the receiving end of their vitriol.

And of course, it gives people more inventive ways to end relationships.

I’m sure we’ve all been dumped in harsh ways. It used to be ending things over the phone was considered a no-no. Even worse was leaving a message on an answering machine. But thanks to the ever-developing world of technology, there are progressively worse ways to do the dirty deed.

Facebook, for example.

Ending a relationship by text message is possibly the most cowardly stunt you could pull. But ending your marriage in 160 characters or less is beyond harsh.

As several people in this office have already commented, the next step will be Twitter – 140 characters, and broadcast to all your friends at once.