Saturday, October 8, 2016

A Real Connection

So one of the conversations that I have had a lot recently is what kind of relationship you can with the use of technology. With many of us being so far from friends and family, we use technology to connect with people. We had discussions on what technology was best for each situation of communication. I broke down the main forms of communications that we use and the conversations we have when using them.

Text- Text is best for short conversations and not very deep conversations. For example, talking about someone's dog or planning a time to set up a video call. It has been mine experience that having deep and meaningful conversations over text aren't the same as when I had those conversation with them in person or even over video call and I feel empty afterwards like something is missing. You don't get the same body clues and voice influxes over text. Actually, it is very easy to misinterpret what a person means over text, and you can add things that may not have been the original intent of the sender. Texting is also short and choppy and it is easy to get distracted from the conversation by other things going on. I have also realized that the people who I have the best conversations with are the worst texters. But to be honest I would rather have bad texts and good conversations than good texters and awkward conversation in real life.

Email/Letters- Emails and letters still limits the verbal and non-verbal cues, but one thing about them is that they typically are longer than texts, allowing you to explain more of what is happening to make up for the lack of verbal and non-verbal cues. You can explain things better, but emails and letters take longer to communicate. Letters just take longer because of the distant they have to travel, but it is nice to have something physical to hold on while you wait for the next letter. Emails are faster, but they are not as easily accessible, at least for me, as text, so it might take some time for a response.

Phone Calls- Phone calls gives you the verbal cues, and it allows you to have an actual conversation. Phone calls are also easy to make if you have a signal. However, I find that many people are not comfortable talking on the phone so that might make the conversations more awkward, but it just take some getting use to.

Video Calls- Video calls are probably the best way to have those deep and meaningful conversations. You can see the person and hear their voice. I know that my family is important to me so we try to video call every once and a while. They are inconvenient at sometimes, especially if you don't have WIFI, but they are worth it when you can see the other person's face.

Now depending on what you want to talk about and who you are talking to, you can decide which form of technology you would like to use. There is not one right form of technology to use, but it up to you and the person you are talking with to decide with form you like best, and it is hard to determine what the best way is. Just know that no matter what way you are using to communicate, watch what you say, because once you say something, you can not take it back.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the friends you have placed in my life. Help me to effectively communicate with them to strengthen our relationship not only with each other but with you. Amen.

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