"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." - Marilyn Monroe
ttyl. lol. jk! Texting, IM, Facebook, & Myspace. These days, technology has become a huge part of how we communicate. A much smaller part is done face to face, or even voice to voice. Don't get me wrong - I think technology is awesome. We can talk ot whoever whenever about everything and anything. But sometimes, this way of communicating can have its downfalls.
The tricky part is that a lot is lost when you aren't seeing or hearing someone speak. Body language and tone of voice give us cues about what a person means. Of course, it's hard to mix messages when the conversation is about something straightforward, like making plans for the weekend or what's on the next test. But if you're trying to deal with bigger issues via the internet or texting, it's bound to get sticky.
I've known people who use e-mails or texting to deal with conflict, because they feel like they won't be able to say what they want to say if they try to do it in person. To be honest, I've done it myself. Once, I was so mad at one of my friends because I heard that he had lied to me. I wasn't sure how I could deal with him the next morning at school, so I sent him a message saying how hurt and angry I was. I thought it was well-written enough, but we got nowhere. We both kept repeating ourselves, and nothing got resolved. Looking back, I think all of that confusion might have been avoided had we just decided to have a real talk.
While saying things out loud isn't always easy, it's usually better. It's easier to be clear about what you mean, and it will save you from misunderstandings or accidentaly stepping on someone's toes - and it's way quicker. Plus, you won't have to worry about someone clicking "forward" on a message you regret. Most of all, people will respect you for being open, even when it's difficult. That's the FG way.
