The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.
- George Bernard Shaw -
When it comes to communication, interaction and connection with people I prefer to do it face to face...and coffee and cake helps that along quite nicely.
I find it's easier to connect in that way due to the additional information available: Body language, both overt and micro-expressions, voice tone and modulation, intonation and the ability to clarify or confirm easily if required to list a few. So much communication is done remotely these days, text message, email, video messages and social media and even business is conducted in this way - often time-efficient - but I prefer face to face interactions.
This preference is probably age related however I certainly use the other methods when required - unavoidable really - and make them work. It's situational; there's a time for the less-than-ideal remote or digital forms of communication and for the more effective in-person method.
I recently had a meeting conducted on Teams (Microsoft) via computer. Much rested on that meeting and yeah, the entire thing was a fucken dogs' breakfast - That means it went badly.
It was disjointed, awkward, disconnected and inefficient/ineffectual through poor connection at the other person's end, the lighting was poor so reading facial and body language was virtually impossible and at no time did we find synergy, rapport or a comfort zone; it was terrible and the result was sub-optimal because of it. That happens of course, and any of you who have had important meetings via Teams or other such means will attest to that I'm sure.
There was nothing I could do about it other than draw a line beneath it and move on knowing it was wasted time for both parties and probably a missed opportunity.
It made me think about communication in 2023 as opposed to the past...twenty five, fifty, even a hundred years ago.
A hundred years ago people didn't have google, social media or often the ability to know or understand much of what was occurring outside of their immediate area. These days, everyone's an expert on everything thanks to the internet and google. I think that's changed how communication happens; people talk at each other not with each other, is what I'm getting at, (I mean generally speaking of course), Aand the rise of the telephone, text messages, emails and internet has altered things dramatically. A good thing? Progress? Or is true and effective human to human communication in decline?
I think the latter, and I don't think it's a good thing, especially since a lot of the time AI technology is taking the place of human communication: Online chat responders, AI scanners to review job applicant's CV's, Google assistant, Alexa, Siri and so on...it opens communication up to failings; the distortion of information and communication and that gives rise to many others knock-on issues.
This post isn't really about AI though, it's more about my thoughts on the lack of connection and communication between humans and how I feel its ultimately to our detriment as individuals and a society. With that in mind I thought I'd pose the question to you folks.
Would you prefer face to face interactions in social or professional situations over digital interaction? Do you feel there's a benefit that comes from face to face communication over digital? Are your verbal and physical communication skills well-developed and effective or do they need work? Have you had awkward interactions in person or via digital methods and if so what went wrong and why and where do you see in-person interactions going in the future? Have you ever had bad digital communication, what happened and why and have you had a communication failure that cost you a job or promotion, a friendship or intimate relationship?
Feel free to comment on these things or generally on the topic if you're interested in doing so.
Electric communication will never be a substitute for the face of someone who with their soul encourages another person to be brave and true.
- Charles Dickens -
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own