The flight from conversation
-
date post
21-Oct-2014 -
Category
Sports
-
view
380 -
download
6
description
Transcript of The flight from conversation
The Flight From Conversation By: Mark Dimock
Photo by: Johan Larsson (flickr)
We live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating.
And yet we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection.
Photo by: Christopher Sullivan (flickr)
The little devices most of us carry around are so powerful that they change not only what we
do, but also who we are.
Photo by: Ed Yourdon (flickr)
Photo by: Susan Sermonetal (flickr)
Photo by: Jim Bumgardner (flickr)
In the silence of connection, people are comforted by
being in touch with a lot of people — carefully kept at
bay.
We are tempted to think that our little “sips” of online connection add up to a big gulp of real
conversation. But they don’t.
Photo by: Victor De la Rocha (flickr)
Connecting in sips may work for gathering discrete bits of information...
But connecting in sips doesn’t work as well when it comes to understanding and knowing
one another.
Photo by: Raissa Ruschel (flickr)
We think constant connection will make us feel less lonely. The opposite is true.
If we are unable to be alone, we are far more likely to be lonely.
Photo by: ores2k (flickr)
People can’t properly express emotion or
complete thoughts in a short text message
As we get used to being shortchanged on conversation and to getting by with less, we seem almost willing to dispense with people
altogether.
Photo by: Lance Robotson (flickr)
“Someday, someday, but
certainly not now, I’d like to learn how to have a conversation.”
–Sixteen Year Old
Photo by: Nomadic Lass (flickr)
Human relationships are rich; they’re messy and demanding.
Photo by: Gail (flickr)
Often, I will be somewhere, and see people my age who are supposed to be a “couple” who are barely able to
say hi to each other.
Photo Brandon Warren (flickr)
Photo by: Mauricio Balvanera (flickr)
I’m sure as soon as they go home, their iPhones will light up with little hearts and endearing expressions
of their undying love.
We don’t know how to actually deal with one another anymore, because real life doesn’t come with a delete button and little smiley
faces.
Photo by: Mixy Lorenzo (flickr)
Photo by: Collin Key (flickr)
We need to remember — in between texts and e-mails and Facebook posts — to listen to one another
Photo by: Jakub Hlavaty
People want most of all to be heard; to have others listen to them — really listen — and understand their needs and concerns.
Photo by: _nickd (flickr)
So I say, look up, look at one another, and let’s start the conversation.
References
• The Flight From Conversation. Sherry Turkle. The New York Times. April 2012. (Slides: 2-10, 12, 14, 18-20)
• Texting teens don’t know how to have real conversations, http://www.voxxi.com/texting-teens-conversations/#ixzz2TcBxe5Je (Slides: 11, 15, 16, 17)