| momden |
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| Joined: 28 Jan 2007 |
| Posts: 24 |
| Location: UK |
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By Denis Menton
Using your computer constantly and avoiding general daily interaction with the real world can lead to isolation and being unable to communicate properly when you do encounter people on the street or in every-day life. Sociologists have studied what has been termed a cocooning very carefully since the explosion of the World Wide Web. Cocooning is the process of social isolation where a society withdraws from physical interaction with each other.
This reclusive behaviour can lead to the decline of many cultural and social traditions. Cocooning also affects the way we interact with other when do finally leave the house and meet face to face. Some people actually develop a Walter Mitty like attitude when communicating with others online and the fantasy world they occupy can become more realistic to them than their actual life. One little exaggeration leads to a whole web of deceit to convey a positive image of what the person assumes that others on the other end of the online conversation would like to hear.
The availability and popularity of the internet, combined with cheap broadband and falling Internet prices has changed the way that people communicate and interact. People spend hours in chat rooms pretending to be beautiful, successful and brilliant when in fact they are probably average looking, overweight and unemployed. The person at the other end of the keyboard has no way of verifying our claims or disproving them and if they are gullible enough will play along with the pretence.
Communicating over the internet removes a vital aspect of communication, which is body language. Posturing, fidgeting and eye contact all are unconscious transmitters of our true intentions, but the recipient at the other end of the Internet conversation has no way to evaluate these things unless a video is being used. As small children we learn not to make eye contact when telling a lie and to become defensive by crossing our arms to distance ourselves from unpleasant people or situations.
Currently, the computer screen has no way of converting these communication skills into data that can be observed as overtones in the written text of a conversation. The younger generation in particular are more vulnerable to this sort of behaviour and as time goes by they are becoming more withdrawn and retreating into their virtual world. This behaviour may affect the communication skills of future generations and produce a society of virtual Walter Mitty's whose self esteem will be at an all time low.
While excelling at expressing themselves through the written word, our children may lack the skills to give a convincing public speech or have a comfortable conversation while waiting in line at the grocery store. Some youth even use text messaging to communicate when they are in the same room. Children alone are not the only ones that are becoming reclusive and isolated and parents may have a lot more to do with this than they would like to admit.
The prevalence of home based businesses may be in part due to this preference for cocooning and digital communication. It is perfectly normal to teach your children at home instead of sending them to school, run a business from your home, email your family and fax your clients. You can even order a home delivery, shop for gifts for special occasions and have your groceries delivered; all without any verbal communication.
Before it is too late there needs to be a line drawn under this constant digital communication to prevent any further deterioration in communication skills. As in everything else in life a balance is needed. If you email your family today, then make an effort to call them tomorrow and visit them on the weekend. If you work from home, take some time out to visit your local park or go for a pleasant walk along the riverbank.
Join social groups rather that internet message forums and develop your natural skills of communicating with your fellow human beings. Curb the amount of time that your children use the internet and cell phone for text messaging, and make sure the family sit around the table at meal times instead of everyone staring at the TV with their food on a tray. Try to encourage teenagers to take a speech or debate class along with that computer programming class when signing up for college courses to broaden their communication skills.
Mankind is in danger of forgetting how to be human and becoming more like robots with digital interaction being normal. Some of our great social traditions like wedding rituals, parties, and back yard barbeques may someday soon be in danger of extinction. We all must play our role in keeping the spark of social interaction alive for future generations. Mankind is destroying the natural world all around us so let us now make a better effort to preserve our humanity and actually speak to each other more face to face.
This article may be reprinted as long as the by line and authors details and all links in it are included.
About The Author
Denis Menton is an Internet marketer who has helped many newcomers to Internet marketing to start an Internet home business.
Authors recommendation for an Internet home business> http://tinyurl.com/2ywt44
Take advantage of his insights and experiences by subscribing to his informative course on Internet and Email Marketing at: 129003-2@inforeply.com
Visit his blog > http://bargainprices4all.blogspot.com |
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