Opinion

Communication overload

I know it hasn't been overnight but the momentous change in communication does seem to have happened over precious few nights. One day, it seems, we communicated with each other when we had something to communicate, and therefore we communicated occasionally and as the result of a considered decision. The next day, it seems, we were besieged by a storm of communication that had even less purpose than platitudes. The vehicle, of course, is the mobile phone, SMS, email, MSN, chat, such social network sites as Facebook and, for many but not me, Twitter.

My work-based communication has exploded - this blog is a factor in that - and in as much as this allows me to interact with this paper's readers, it is a great result. The problem is that my personal communication has also exploded, and I can't see a single advantage in that! Interestingly, communication patterns have undergone similar changes in my professional and personal life - where phone calls on a fixed line were the major form of communication other than, of course, face-to-face speech, they are now a tiny fraction of their former number. Letters have suffered as big a drop. And the rest is email, a massive growth. My mobile us used only for personal communication, and its SMS facility has become the major form of communication, with mobile calls second.

Personal communications must have multiplied 100 times in 20 years, meaning that for every phone call or letter (or telegram) I received 20 years ago I receive 100 text messages, mobile calls and emails today. Possibly more than 100 times.

Much, even most, of this communication serves only to clog my day. Communication is so easy it might as well be about nothing, and I wonder if the real purpose is an urge to find security in networks. Are we better off for this storm of communication? How?

Has this connectivity improved my life?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 3/03/2010 5:09:00 PM | Comments (26)

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yes I too sometimes yearn for the old days of not being able to be contacted and not having the constant flow of information washing over me - yes you can turn all communication devices off but some things do need immediate attention, or so our employers, friends and family would have us believe. I have Facebook and have among my friends a number of young people - my sons and some of their friends as well as some past students of mine - occasionally I look at their wall pages and am amazed at the trivia that appears there. It is as if they don't exist if they don't post something about their lives every hour or so. Some post pictures of nights out/events they have participated in - up to 200 images for one person of a night out - when did they have time to have fun? They must have been so busy taking pics - most of which look the same. Some have up to 40 pics - mostly "selfies" as their profile pics!

Posted by zuluclayman, 4/03/2010 9:10:58 AM, on The Herald

Jeff you ask-Are we better off for this storm of communication? How? Has this connectivity improved my life? unfortunately for me the answer is no. nowadays i feel compelled to read and reply to most any idiotic musings on any subject. this being the case in point.

Posted by unfortunately, 4/03/2010 9:12:51 AM, on The Herald

All this connectivity and 'communication' has not improved life at all, in my view. It's background noise, embraced by the masses to salve their increasing anxiety in the modern world. Their insecurity is somehow eased by the activity of sending or receiving a text. How often do you hear people (usually idle dullards) making or receiving a call on a mobile, and saying "What are you doing?"..."oh, nothing..."..."me neither". Many people have nothing of any worth to do, so they do whatever makes them feel like they are participating in life. The meaningless texts, obsession with body piercings, tattoos, smoking, their pet pit bull (which requires the owner to strut up and down the street, appearing busy and tough), the preoccupation with the inequity of (their) lot in life, the important activity associated with blaming everyone else for where they find themselves. Of updating their 'posts' on Facebook or Twit-ter or MySpace. It's all meaningless, time wasting noise. Like this blog entry.

Posted by Abundance, 4/03/2010 9:38:14 AM, on The Herald

whats the etiquette at a wedding these days, does the best man read out SMS from friends and relatives who could not attend ?

Posted by catl, 4/03/2010 9:56:30 AM, on The Herald

For a couple of the most recent weddings I've been involved in the best man composed a few bawdy telegrams to satisfy tradition. SMS not a bad idea!

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 4/03/2010 10:05:40 AM

Twitter = haiku for ritalin-riddled morons.

Posted by Scott Hillard, 4/03/2010 10:17:13 AM, on The Herald

You need 2 email accounts, one for important emails from family, financial, and real friends (5 a day at most). The second email account is for mailing lists and subscriptions from everyone else (25 a day). I have found gmail has the most features. Those who use accounts linked to their isp provider or employer are just asking for trouble when things change.

Posted by Jackson, 4/03/2010 11:02:19 AM, on The Herald

My working life always has revolved around customers, i.e people and meeting these people ,developing a rapport with them and developing a working relationship with them has been a most enjoyable experience.I no longer have the same level of contact with these people and it is something i find difficult and miss.Communicating in person is certainly the most affable way of conversation.So instead of us blogging with Jeff we should join him for morning tea at the Herald every thursday and enjoy the home made scones and jam for which Jeff is renowned.Intouch could once again pick us all up in the motorhome.Do you know where to go intouch ?

Posted by chaff and oats, 4/03/2010 11:16:30 AM, on The Herald

I guess for you Jeff it lets you run this talk back blog section of the NH. Other than that it is over-done, over-used and over-rated. Some people have 500 friends on facebook, do you need to find out every bit of their mundane lives? Work e-mails are the worst, they tell you to watch your head on the ninth floor carpark airconditioner pipe. And guess what if you hit your head, you have been warned. Most I delete without reading. I was in the back hills of Thailand very remote, in a village bartering for some fruit, but breaking the silence a mobile phone goes off, the fruit guy's misses checking on him. What can you do?

Posted by Buell, 4/03/2010 11:44:59 AM, on The Herald

I wonder where personal communication will be in a couple of decades, Buell? And will we one day soon be able to call up onto our phone screen the precise of location of family and friends at any time? Mobile phone signals or GPS linked to the phone may pinpoint our whereabouts for the appreciation of those we choose. Can you imagine! "Hey, what are you doing in Steel St?"

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 4/03/2010 12:08:50 PM

Jeff - the more tech savvy may correct me - but the GSP via phone thing already exists. If one links their GSP capable phone to Google, and their "friends" permit access, you can see on an updated map where your friends are. You could get one that confirms your phone (and of course you) are only in the waiting room drinking beer at Cloud Nine, waiting for your friends to finish. (just in case anyone checking up on you). And to think - 100 years ago, the air was completely free of all this ... INTERFERENCE!!

Posted by Jaded, 4/03/2010 12:18:20 PM, on The Herald

JC, relating to catlicker's post, i think the bawdy telegrams represent the very worst of traditions. I loathe them, and they were banned from my wedding. I can't see how it shows any respect to my wife to have her the subject of filthy innuendo on her wedding day. It makes brides, parents, and many older folk very uncomfortable at what should be a celebration. Sorry, but i just don't get the joke and never did. Clever or witty ones i can tolerate, but pure smut in that context just doesn't float my boat.

Posted by Perspective, 4/03/2010 12:25:48 PM, on The Herald

They don't have to be ribald, Perspective, and I do agree I've squirmed at more than a few weddings. A bit of a ribbing of the groom can be fun.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 4/03/2010 12:43:48 PM

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