I am awash in information…Facebook requests, emails, television, texting, a daily newspaper, news magazines, many books, snailmail, and more. I am awash in information, but I crave communication. 90% of communication is non-verbal, that’s a proven fact. Eyes, movements of the body, facial cues, touch, the way words are shaped, tone and volume, posture, the way breath is taken in and metered out, the speed of words and expressions…all these and more combine to express emotional content, intention, sincerity, availability and so much more.
With the ubiquity of computers it is information up, communication down. Our young people are especially affected by this electronic imitation of life. As they enter the ocean of information they are slow to develop the skills of intimate communication and lagging in learning the intricate interplay of social etiquette by which we acknowledge the value of another’s expressions, needs, and worth.
I know, I am expressing the bias of my age as well as the concern I feel. Yet and all, at the end of the day, facing a full queue of email messages, I would much rather hear the voice, see the face, and experience the sensations of communication. A screen is just a screen, but a face is a feast.
What do you think?
Hi Taft, Debra here. Glad you told me about this blog. Like your church purpose!
I agree with your communication note. I work on the computer all the time and most of my communication is on it, but I'm finding that because I always have time to think about my response on the computer, that I'm not as quick in my answers when facing another eye to eye. My speaking skills have actually gone down hill, even though my writing skills have gone way up. Go figure! LOL...
Posted by: Debra Holliday | June 04, 2009 at 10:47 AM
You know, my husband and I were just discussing this the other day, how our young people are losing the ability to interpret subtleties in human communication through tone of voice and body language because so much communication is done through texting and the Internet. It's convenient to send a message and feel you're not "interrupting" another person's life, but maybe we all need a few more interruptions to remind us that our interactions with people are more important than those with our computers.
PS I'm glad I found you here and glad it sounds like you're doing great. Please give my love to Bobbie.
Posted by: Irene White Abbey | August 12, 2009 at 06:30 AM