The Shorthorn - Communication falls prey to technology’s dominance

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Communication falls prey to technology’s dominance

Written by Brooke Cureton, The Shorthorn columnist

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 06:06 PM

It’s not like The Little House on the Prairie anymore, where someone would send their lover a letter and hope for a response in a month.

We find ourselves annoyed when the computer takes 30 seconds to load an e-mail account. I wonder what our ancestors would say if we told them how technology has progressed.

Are today’s forms of communication and social networking better, or just more convenient?

We can talk to anyone, anywhere within minutes, but are our relationships suffering?

You get to know a person by their MySpace or Facebook pages. In some cases, you are able to see all past partners, family members, social activities and just about anything imaginable.

We could be learning these details from the person, by seeing them face-to-face and knowing their emotions and thoughts versus through the context of photographs.

Some would argue that Facebook searches make dating or getting to know someone a safer process.

You can get a feel for who they are without actually interacting, but you may end up with a false perception.

For instance, they may have been tagged in 200 drinking photos. You first assume they party a lot, until you take a closer look and find that the photographs were taken in 2007.

Without getting to know the individual, you also may not be aware that they’re a recovering alcoholic.

We could all start posting pictures and updates on the hour, as some do, and make ourselves completely accessible to the world. It would perhaps eliminate doubts as to who we are.

However, it would also be a great resource to Facebook stalkers, and we could misrepresent ourselves in some way.

Perhaps text messaging is really the answer with minute-by-minute contact.

No voice is needed. You can say whatever you like.

I’ve heard many wish there were a Breathalyzer on their phone to limit drunk texting mishaps. Texts are sent so quickly that messages aren’t always thought out. The process may be a little too fast.

Communication suffers without context, and texting does not naturally allow for it. There are no background noises or voice tones.

Even if you really know someone, it becomes a guessing game of reading between the lines. You could text something sarcastic and the recipient might interpret it incorrectly. A texting voice and a real voice are not the same.

I can’t think of anyone who would want to completely do away with technology and become a caveman. But we need to consider the implications of using the technology we have.

Facebooking and texting are great resources, but they shouldn’t be primary forms of contact. They are not a healthy means for creating relationships.