Face to Face Communication
I am now in my fourth week of my internship at Juice Inc. Since my introduction to the science of branding back in first semester (my formal introduction, that is) I have become undeniably attached to the idea of a personal brand. Perhaps it is my attraction to the different, the unique, that has fostered this attachement. I knew from the moment the word branding was attached with this notion that I have been attracted to my entire life that any company I chose to work for must have a fresh corporate culture. Luckily, I have found my place at Juice.
My unswerving loyalty (or stubbornness– call it what you want) to facebook avoidance stems from one absolute truth: As a communications professional, I cannot buy into a website that is destroying our societies most crucial form of communication, face to face conversation. Granted, blog spots like wordpress and professional networking websites like linkedin and myragan– all of which I belong to– are doing much the same thing. I suppose I have been able to avoid dissonance by telling myself that these endeavours are in the name of ‘professional development.’
At Juice, we strive to “change the way the world does conversation.” It is undeniable that the way the world does conversation IS being changed by web 2.0– for the worse. At no point in history has it been so easy to reach someone instantaneously; and so difficult to speak with them face to face. The benefits of face to face conversation are plenty:
- Increased trust
- Mental/hormonal stimulation that lead to a deeper sense of connection
- Non-verbal cues being read= less chance of confusion and misunderstanding
Try it. Put down that phone, close that lap top and break the finger that gives the next facebook poke. It’s time to start seeing eachother speak.
Good for you! Although I am linked in and on Facebook, I know there is nothing like F2F conversation in “shared space”. You are on target about the missing cues, tone and being mis-read.
I read a cartoon on a site that said, “There is no such thing as sharing a virtual beer”… or cup of coffee! I wrote the trilogy on the subject of connecting/communicating (How To Work a Room, What Do I Say Next? and forthcoming, Face to FAce and still believe that so much more happens in “real” time that we must embrace face to face time. CHEERS to you!