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I agree some points. I tend to question the effect of technology on a person's patience, attention span, and learning curve, especially in the workplace. But it makes a great point how those non-verbal clues in social setting are being lost as well.
I agree 100% with this article. Anytime I'm in a restaurant, I'll see a couple where one or both people feel the need to answer every text message they get. Like this article mentioned, these people figure there's no harm in sending a quick text. After all, it only takes a minute or less and if it's important, like a babysitter sending a quick message to a parent, then of course you have to answer. But I doubt most of the messages people get require an immediate response. And I doubt these people realize that not everyone appreciates it when they do respond.
What's also true is in communicating with these tools, a lot of the meaning is lost. I sent a girl I was seeing flowers one time and she texted me a thank you. I understand she was at work and maybe couldn't talk on the phone. But it would've been nice to actually hear her voice. You can tell how thankful someone is by hearing their voice or seeing it on their face. A message on a screen is a lot colder.
I can't help but wonder how Generation Y will be as adults. For most people, learning good communication skills takes time and practice. Maybe as teenagers, you were awkward but as an adult, you're very good at expressing yourself. But it was something you learned with practice. These kids who rely heavily on text messaging and Facebook to communicate with others may have trouble adjusting. In the workplace, I can IM my coworkers. But if I can, I just go talk to them in person. And one thing I never do is take my phone into a meeting. Why do people have such a hard time resisting the need to grab their phones every 5 minutes? A short attention span is a huge turn-off.
I can totally see that. I think a lot of people who spend so much time online have developed their online personas so much that when they get out in the "real world" they have some difficulties. Oftentimes, I think the online personas are so vastly different than who they are in real life, it really adds to the difficulties of relating to people in the real world.
I can see future generations now. When one says "Honey, we need to talk", that means both will go to their computers and start talking to each other through facebook, twitter or whatever the new fan dangled social networking site is out there.
I've met people who have fights with their SO over email and text rather than in person. I guess it's easier for them to type how they feel instead of say it in person.
Mark Bauerlien is a douchebag. He needs to start writing articles about something he understands; perhaps he should start with his own generation, and not mine.
It's not just the young. I have friends who are in their 30's and 40's who act like idiots with their gadgets. Constantly texting or checking their phone every ten minutes. It's annoying. I think it's more about how you were brought up than anything else. If your parents taught you manners and raised you with a degree of class, you'll act appropriately. So who are the parents of these young networking kids? It's the older generation who are failing to teach them proper social ettiquette. The theory that we are dumbing down with each generation doesn't hold much water. I can walk into any Barnes & Noble and the parking lot is packed. People young and old standing on long lines with books in their hands. I'm not ready to start screaming that the sky is falling just yet, or at least I'm not ready to blame Generation Y for it anyway.
Last edited by Coolhand68; 10-01-2009 at 03:19 PM..
Reason: Spelling error
It's not just the young. I have friends who are in their 30's and 40's who act like idiots with their gadgets.
Ditto. My coworkers go to happy hour the Friday after payday (which is tomorrow.) I can tell you right now that one of the guys will be texting on his phone the entire time. I've asked him, "why are you even here if you don't want to talk to any of us?" to which he says, "huh?" without looking up from his phone.
This has touched a nerve. I'll go in a room to see a patient and they'll be texting away as I'm asking them questions. They answer me, but don't look up from their keyboard. Not only rude but it really does them a disservice. Sometimes they'll say something or have a look on their face (the ones that pay attention) that prompt me to ask a question that maybe they hadn't considered part of their issue. I can't get at the subcontext when they don't allow for it. Nonverbal communication is a HUGE part of my diagnostic reasoning.
Now I just knock on the door, open and introduce myself. If they don't IMMEDIATELY get off the phone/stop texting/playing Sudoku I say "Oh, I see you're busy, I'll see my next patient and come back."
I agree 100%, the face to face social skills necessary for development,
will be stunted or nonexistant. As a result, we'll have a new set of social skills evolving.
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