I wonder if people have forgotten the true meaning of having a conversation because email, twitter, foursquare, You Tube or texting. To me, these forms of communication have taken the spotlight off the interaction between people and have made it about the clever stylings of one person.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a person who can be clever or convey a situation in 140 characters, but sometimes these individuals have forgotten how to put on their listening ears and fall flat with other human beings.
I know everyone is not a good listener, BUT, if you stop over talking others, OR, actually listen to another human being, I wouldn't have to constantly remind or re-educate you on topics we've discussed many times before. I'm not sure if the electronics' age has led to the downfall to the art of conversation, but I believe it may just exacerbate it. I wonder if people are more concerned having their voice heard instead of interacting with others because the new forms of communication force into us a role of stating something poignant.
I don't know.
What I do know is this: If you ask me a question, don't pretend to listen to me, actually listen.
I just hope the electronics' age hasn't replaced the two-way street of conversation with one-way alleys of the soliloquy (yes, I am aware of the irony in writing about this in a blog, but I do allow people to comment and often comment on people's remarks).
8 comments:
i hear you...and will be honest, there are times i fail at this, i really do try to listen but...so i will say yes, good point for sure and i will try to do better...
Another problem with the electronic age is that people don't know how to have a two way conversation. I'm sick and tired of people not taking an interest in me when I just spent the past half hour asking about them.
People don't even "listen" on blogs. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten a comment on a blog post where someone will say something like, "I can't believe you didn't mention X in this post," when X was mentioned in, like, the 3rd sentence.
I've actually said this to people when I talking, such as my wife, "when I'm talking to you, don't think about what you're going to say next, or you're not really listening to what I'm saying".
Check this link LMB, you can get a full scholarship to Univ of Iowa with an essay to Twitter, crazy: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-07-12-university-iowa-tweet-scholarship_n.html
Brian - I think everyone falls short of this at one point or another. But, I'm talking about a person who doesn't even try.
Maria - ouch. I know I sometimes put aside an email when I'm rushed and want to take time to answer the person -- unfortunately, I sometimes forget to go back and properly answer the email.
BeckEye - I completely understand what you're talking about & find it incredibly annoying.
Matty - Ya know what's interesting is that men are typically accused of being bad listeners.
Maria - the link didn't work :-(
I have been having a situation of late with my recent ex where he asks me how I am (or on one occasion emailed me to ask if i was okay and had I gone home sick - I'd gone to the doctor) and when I actually TELL him what is wrong, he doesn't reply. I almost wonder why he's bothered asking sometimes. There doesn't seem any point.
Hmm?
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