"Numbing Ourselves to Social Interaction"

Iphone4, Blackberry, Android Phones, MacAir, HP, Skype, Facebook, Twitter, BBM, LiveProfile, SMS Texting, Conference Calls.

The more intertwined society becomes with technological adavances the more anxious we become in our anticipation for the next big, new thing. The more we await a new form of technology to accesorize our rarely-satisfied selves, the more we completely disregard what we have in the present moment: ourselves and those around us.

As new forms of communication become the norm, we are simply blown away by their efficiency and performance. Like kids in candy stores, we cannot get enough. Once mommy allows us one we want another and another and another and another.

But what about in the meantime? What about that friend that you text on a day-to-day basis, when was the last time you went out for coffee? What about your colleague that works on the 14th floor that you'd like to get to know, when was the last time you talked face-to-face? And what about your old highschool friends--if it weren't for Facebook or Twitter, would you ever plan any lunch dates?

Most likely not.

And the strange thing is, these media forms aid in forming a sense of interconnectedness between people. If you have a medium with which you can keep tabs on, but not relationships with, those you know, why not? How great is it to be able message a cousin that lives overseas to congratulate them on their recent marriage engagement? How convenient is being able to Skype with your parents as you go to school aboad? But how long would these cyber relationships be able to keep one completely satisfied?

There is something about the authenticity of face-to-face interaction. Not only are you given the opportunity to listen to what one says, you are able to decipher for yourself every facial expression and body gesture. If you want to reach out and hug that person you can. If you feel the need to gently brush the hair out of their face you may do so.

It is the physicality of interaction that is lacking among those who become completely absorbred with technological communication and social networking. This is not to say that while in a conference call with your colleagues and boss you should really be thinking about ways to touch one another, I merely mean that there is so much more that goes on in a conversation held in person, than through a mechanical device.

We need to take it back to basics. That's how I feel. We need to be able to look one another in the eye and say exactly what we mean to say, instead of heading back to our desk to email each other about we wish we could've said in person. Enough of this "sexting" and "twirting". Let's get raw, let's get dirty, and let's have a bloody good conversation.

That is all.