Beat Journal 1- Distant Communication

Although I belong to Generation Y, the way we communicate nowadays seems to be something that I am still getting used to. Gone are the days of personal and intimate communication between individuals, as we now often receive information and communicate through the Internet, via e-mail, texting or by talking to a computerized system. Rather than the traditional sending of invitations for birthdays or events, we are now reverting to the convenience of Facebook, the popular social networking site. Similarly, instead of meeting our lecturers and speaking face to face, we are more inclined to distance the level of communication and ask questions via e-mail with the hope that in a class of 100 students, we will remain anonymous.

What is the reason for all of this? Perhaps it is because we have all grown so impatient and demand information in a variety of ways twenty- four hours a day, seven days a week. Even television stations have catered to the need for the constant availability of content and information. A program like CNN manages to multi- task by reporting breaking news stories, keeping us updated on various happenings around the world, as well as telling us the weather forecast simultaneously. For instance, while we are shown graphic footage of a natural disaster in Asia, across the bottom of the screen are updates of the upcoming election as well as sport and weather reports. Thus, by watching CNN for just ten minutes it is possible to find out the latest information and updates on current affairs. TV however is just one of the many ways that we can access this information as we also have our cell phones, the Internet, the radio as well as extensive daily coverage in newspapers.

Whilst electronic ways of communicating are somewhat convenient as a result of the busy lives we lead, it could be argued that we are losing touch with the real world, which can be damaging to our level of social skills. Talking to a computer every time we want to book a plane or bus ticket or check movie schedules may be efficient and favourable for some, but we must consider how this will effect the communication skills of the next generation. How will they cope in “offline” situations with fellow students and professors? The routine of “communicating” via the Internet may be problematic for the next generation in the long-term if they are required to apply for a job interview or speak to customers. Perhaps I am too pessimistic about the influence of technology, but I feel that the rapid and ever-changing ways that we communicate in the modern world need to be addressed, if we are to progress and learn from each other in the future.