This topic has been brought up time and time again, the wall we deal with when conversing over the internet. So much can be lost in a message whether it be on an instant chat messenger or email. Instant messaging atleast has a factor of time within it, while email losses even that. We draw conclusions when a response takes longer, this we cannot easily draw conclusions from during email because we are not sure when the recipient will look at the mail sent.
I use AIM often but it bothers me in terms of the way messages can be interpreted. There is so much that goes into communication and it can warp the intent of the message. A very simple example is sarcasm, it can be much harder to interpret sarcasm when we are only working with words. We do not have the rest of the message being sent, such as tone of voice and facial expressions.
I feel it is much easier to have miscommunication in this format then face to face. Telephone is a middle ground where we do not get the visual but we atleast have the audio to interpret tone and intent within the message. I personally have had much higher miscommunication through instant messenger than any other communication format. Does anyone else feel the same way?
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I agree that the communication done over the internet can often be a miscommunication. When you communicate, there is a lot of facial expressions and changes in the tone of voice that make the communication what it is. All that is lost over the internet and all you have is words. Sure you can put a smiley face in every now and then, but those smiley faces can't capture all our emotions. The problem is electronic communication is taking over. How many times will you be with a group of friends, and ask someone to call another friend and they just say "I'll text them." Whatever happened to the phone call? Sometimes it is tough to have face to face conversations because now we are so used to electronically communicating.
ReplyDeleteI love these technologies to connect with folks across distances...it actually makes the connection MORE DIRECT than it had been--however, for folks down the hall or a town over, then i think you both bring up important points. Most certainly there are downsides to how the technology opens up miscommunication possibilities...
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