There was a time in our society where use of acronyms as a preferred method of communication was reserved for big business and the military, but alas here in the 21st century we find ourselves communicating through these abbreviated methods almost exclusively. With the evolution of mobile communication and the rapid pace at which we all live, it becomes easier and easier to make as little personal contact with our fellow man as possible. I remember as a young child being so proud when Mom’s pager would go off while we were in line at the grocery store. To me, that shrill “Bebeep, Bebeep. Bebeep, Bebeep. Bebeep, Bebeep” told everyone within ear shot my mom was important. She would take it off her belt and see a numerical code that indicated to her the urgency with which to handle this alert. Shuffling out of the store and loading the bags with haste, we would either drive to the nearest pay phone or just go home. And so began my introduction to electronic communication anytime anywhere…
I was maybe 14 or 15 when I got my first pager. My friends and I would send numerical codes, that when the pager was tipped on its side, spelled out words. This primitive method of E-communication was the precursor to our modern day text messaging. Today we have mainstream acronyms for our more commonly used phrases. BFF, IDK, OMG, LOL, ROFL, and many others that do not need an explanation or to be defined for most of us- we know what they mean. We use these at work and in our personal lives. Have we really gotten that busy OR that lazy that we can not find the time to type out the whole phrase? Better yet, is it really all that cumbersome a task to pick up the phone to find out what your best friend forever is doing on Friday? I hear some people say that they hate talking on the phone, and that they would much rather text or email. Have we really lost all desire for personal contact with others? I work in a large office, but it isn’t so large I can’t get up and go ask my coworker a question. I find myself using our IM to chat him/her instead of looking away from my PC and making eye contact.
I have seen people develop entire relationships over text messaging. I mean not just friendships, but loving and intimate relationships. I can see the appeal, but when we actually lose the ability to verbally communicate with our fellow man we lose much of what makes humanity so wonderful, and, in the instance of relationships, we lose the ability to read tone and body language. The benefits associated with human to human contact are vastly under-rated by the general public. Let me use my personal experience to illustrate. Last week I was working on a project at work that required me to work with people outside my office. I happened upon an issue that I hadn’t seen before, and I wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed. I IM’ed my remote support person and explained the situation I had come upon. They gave me an answer that indicated to me I had not been clear in my explanation so I reiterated my problem. Still not getting an answer that could help, I picked up the phone and through this personal communication I was able to gain the resolution I needed.
I challenge everyone reading this to give personal communication a try. It really won’t take any time at all to get up and go ask Peter two rows over if he has that “TPS report”, or to personally inquire of Nina if you have had any calls. When you get home instead of catching up with a local friend via email give them a call and set up a luncheon. You will be glad you did. Don’t fill the void from lack of personal interactions with more impersonal communication. No one likes to feel like a number. Together we can combat this “number-osis” of humanity by reaching out and letting someone know you care enough to take the time to personally communicate with them. The possibilities are endless when we communicate with one another personally and effectively to resolve our problems and offer respect for our fellow man.
