Communication Gone South

Experiences part 3

I was texting a friend I've known for years a couple of days ago. I asked him how his trip to a Royal Navy vessel for some work had gone, basically attempting to see if he had enjoyed the day trip.

The reply was: Have a look at FB photos then ask the question.

So in a huff and fed up with social networking and how it consumes everybody. I realised it has turned into some information source, what we call "A Commons Source", therefore the information can be inaccurate because anybody can adjust it, neither is it backed up by evidence.

I wrote back a text: "Digital Age. One day no one will talk because everyone will be all seeing all knowing through fb. There will never be pleasantries in the future because our technology psychologists will have put our thoughts typed and in images on our foreheads all to see what were thinking. This is not 1984 but 2024." and signed off with some sarcastic comment about how I will look at the photos at some point.

The basic point is, I like to find out from you, not from some third party that you may have uploaded your life on to. I would like to know what your doing, I would like to talk to you. But I do not expect to have to follow your every move to then ask a question that may not need to be asked.

By asking a question of how some is or if they had a good day, I am trying to be nice and trying to make some concious effort to be a good friend. To make an connection with the person. To suggest our lives have been consumed by social networking sites is probably an understatement.

In future, I can research and get in depth knowledge from places like facebook, but I have no knowing if it is real, or just as good or bad as the photos and comments suggest. Whilst many people will find looking at photos a thing of the past or something done with the grandparents, why are we still taking them? Because we like to remember. They are good to show people, but not everyone wants to see every photo you own, and no one should be expected to know everything about you. Otherwise life will get very boring very quickly and communnication between people will degrade. Technology is not always the best way forward. Some of the things from years gone by do just as good a job as new modern technology does. We should attempt to mingle and enjoy each others company not hide away fearing for another human being talking to us.

The truth is harboured and reassured in the human body by direct contact and conversation with a person. There is nothing worse than feeling alone; to not have anybody to hold on to at all. Although some may argue otherwise: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00q3gjq
John Ronson On Being Alone

We can assess our own impression of some one through conversation. Social networking and instant chat do not necessarily help our language skills or gain an impression of some one because we value not just the words, but the voice and the facial expressions. So next time you make direct contact with someone in person be happy to see them.