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By MICHAEL BATTEY The media theorist Marshall McLuhan, who made his cultural mark in the 60’s, was probably best known for his proclamation that “the medium is the message.”
And, looking back, how spot on was McLuhan with such prescience in the face of the potpourri of communication options that folks numbingly choose from today?
If anything, the sheer number and variety of choices that exist now is mind-boggling, thus actually requiring people to peremptorily think about which specific communication medium they might wish to use for their desired message, and with sad irony leaving those who elect to physically meet, and talk face to face, possibly feeling even out of touch.
Is such an observation important?
I would argue that it is. As technologically derived alternatives continue to flourish, the prospect of face-to-face talks diminish, as does a potentially meaningful, personal experience, with a unique and insightful appreciation of the other person, that isn’t otherwise often available.
As parents and adults, I think that we know this to be true.
However, most children, given their young age, and single minded focus on personal wants, needs, and stream of thoughts, haven’t yet had their opportunity for the depth and breadth that face-to-face conversations can offer.
Truly caring about the other person’s thoughts, mature discussion topics, relationship building, and the use of conversational helpmates such as pauses, inflection, and facial language don’t really start occurring until the teenage years.
Unfortunately though, for this generation, they are now being exposed to a surfeit of alternative communication options, and as such, this critical socialization stage of their growth when they need to develop their speaking and listening skills has become shortchanged.
Sadly, for many teens, the refinement and comfort with spoken communication seems to be going through a devolutionary trend-that is akin to the way of the horse and buggy. For, while today’s teens and young adults are maturing normally in other ways, they are doing so within a changing social construct that facilitates if not supports the demise of old-fashioned face-to-face talking
What is the result?
Well, for some it is a stunting of the ability to hold meaningful conversations, defaulting instead to what could be called phatic discourse.
Even cell phone experience, having already eclipsed old-fashioned telephonic communication, which mundanely required two people, both stationary and tethered to buildings, is almost out of vogue, despite its’ ability to facilitate seamless and itinerant two-way conversation whenever and wherever.
Amazingly enough, it might be on an eventual descent into antiquity due to a tail waging the dog paradigm of kids increasingly searching for new and different ways to communicate but only on their own terms.
And, there’s the rub.
The terms.
Those all-important terms, which have become attainable due to the vast array of communication venues available, and which might appear to reside under the umbrella of communication, but are really avenues of expression.
And, the important distinction is that expression is not really communication.
At least it is not two-way communication.
Now, where and when did all this start?
To my mind, it started with the seemingly harmless, but insidious telephonic voice mail option.
How many folks today don’t pick up when the phone rings-but instead-listen to who is calling and what they have to say-and then decide when to call back (that is, on their terms)?
Personally, it’s not something I allow in my home as I want my children to learn that the caller deserves the courtesy of the call being answered-live, and not put off until they’re in the mood or best situated to return it.
From voice mail, we have moved at warp speed into e-mail, texting, and now all of the Internet options ranging from Twitter, and My Space, to You Tube and Facebook.
Personally, I have never visited any of those sites. And, perhaps for some, that is enough for a discrediting. But, I am pretty fair with sitting down, listening, and talking-a facility I fear that might become a lost art for our current teens.
Already, it is not unusual for young people out for the night to meet and converse with each other first through texting, and then to use that as a primary form of communication while dating.
Is that really progress?
I hope not.
So, while communication might appear to be improved through this technological morphing, it is only the breadth of communication that has exponentially grown.
The depth has shrunk.
In the meanwhile, see you soon. Please don’t have your machine call my machine.
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