Communications

It was not long ago that our primary communications between individuals was letter writing. Then the telephone came onto the scene and it was just so convenient to pick up the phone and talk with someone, that letter-writing began to fade somewhat into the background, although for long distance communications it was still the least expensive avenue. With advent of internet and e-communications, email took over letter-writing almost completely, and even replaced much of our phone conversations since we could send emails anywhere in the world at no cost above that of our monthly internet access fees.

With my generation, baby boomers, there are some who have not adopted the e-communications means. However, the majority have, especially since so many of us now have family and friends all around the world. However, I have recently discovered that many of the younger generation, those who are now becoming adults and beginning families, that email is taking a backseat to “texting”. Texting is immediate; it gets the message to another individual almost instantly. It does not necessarily interrupt as a phone call might, but can be addressed by the receiver at their convenience and answered instantly or delayed at their discretion. Texting is a good way to exchange a quick, necessary message with someone locally or anywhere around the world.

As I think about this progression of communications: letter writing, telephone, email, to texting; I think about how more and more “impersonal” it seems to become. Not only impersonal, but almost a very superficial communication, seeking only to communicate basic facts, questions and answers. And, in the case of texting, a whole new vocabulary substituting strings of letters for phrases, abbreviating, short cutting the words to get the essence of the message across.

In the past, when one sat down to write a letter, one would THINK about, not only WHAT was to be said, but also HOW it would be said so that the reader might understand the message and the meaning in the way it was intended. One would seek to be understood, to share what was on the mind and what was in the heart. Compare that with texting of today. No time to THINK about what or how the message is to be formulated. Not really any time to think about the words used, if any real words are used at all. Certainly no intent to share what might be “on the heart” or matters of any deep significance. Although it may be a very efficient way of communicating some basic facts, it lacks the capability of communicating anything further. There is a danger of losing that very personal communication of thoughts, values, feelings. If one of the very basic and important needs of humans is to KNOW and to be KNOWN by someone, then our communication mechanisms must provide and means of doing that. When face-to-face communications is not possible, then maybe the next best thing is for one to set aside time, time to reflect, time to think, time to choose words appropriate for the emotions, time to design our words and our phrases so that the receiver of our communications may well understand our intent and may receive our message with the same impact as if we could deliver it in person.

Oh, we should take advantage of all the means of communications we have available today and others that we will have in the future. But we should use them in a way that fits our need to communicate. I hope we do not lose the ability, some say the art, of our written communication. By “written” I mean that which requires one to sit down and formulate thoughts, choose words expressing our feelings and emotions, and phrasing them to communicate our intent. There is something about the solitude of letter writing that allows us to open ourselves, perhaps even more so than is possible in a face to face communication.