![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
threemonkeysThis follows on from the drop-by visit post a while back. It goes via the fact that I got woken up by a phone call last night - grr. And it hits a trigger point with this little piece, found via Boing Boing which says that The telephone was an aberration in human development. It says that the popularity of texting is because it is not as intrusive as a phone call which demands immediate attention. I would extend the argument to also include the popularity of email and discussion forums. Come to think of it, blogs and comment threads fit that model too.
There are a lot of us who are not always up for a discussion. Asynchronous mechanisms like texting and email allow us the luxury of holding a conversation at the time and pace of our choosing rather then when some other party demands it. Nor is it generally socially easy to say "I don't want to talk right now", even if that is how you feel.
Of course, there are some people who don't ever feel like this. By nature or upbringing, they are always up for a conversation. The telephone is their friend. Social gatherings are made for them too. If you go into a social situation, you are signaling your availability for conversation. But at least you have some control over that situation. You aren't subjected to the same intrusiveness that the phone suddenly ringing presents.
I suppose you could argue that its all about controlling your life. I'm not convinced that is the case though. Interesting times eh?
There are a lot of us who are not always up for a discussion. Asynchronous mechanisms like texting and email allow us the luxury of holding a conversation at the time and pace of our choosing rather then when some other party demands it. Nor is it generally socially easy to say "I don't want to talk right now", even if that is how you feel.
Of course, there are some people who don't ever feel like this. By nature or upbringing, they are always up for a conversation. The telephone is their friend. Social gatherings are made for them too. If you go into a social situation, you are signaling your availability for conversation. But at least you have some control over that situation. You aren't subjected to the same intrusiveness that the phone suddenly ringing presents.
I suppose you could argue that its all about controlling your life. I'm not convinced that is the case though. Interesting times eh?