These days we are more and more connected to one another thanks to different forms of media such as Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr; just to name a few. We're aware of what we're all up to because of tweets and status updates and yet we're becoming less and less personal with each other.
How is it that we're less personal with each other when it's almost like we never stop talking with each other, thanks to all of the different media available. Ashton Kutcher (paragraph 1, in his article Has Texting Killed Romance?) claims that because we're so in touch with each other, we're losing touch. I take this to mean that because we're always on our phones so connected to each other through social media, (texting, tweeting, updating our Facebook status, and doing other things involving the media) we've become less social out here in the real world and it's effecting how our relationships turn out, not just romantic but also other relationships such as friendships or our relationship with our parents. Because of social media, we have become less personal with each other.
To receive a handwritten letter; which showcases so much emotion because you know that the person who wrote it to you took the time to sit down and thought about you and only you while they were writing the letter. In the letter they wrote things that they wouldn't normally share through text because with text you take the time to send the right response and you don't necessarily need to respond right away which makes things less personal. When you're texting or communicating with someone through social media you make yourself seem flawless and don't always show anything deep with meaning when compared to a handwritten letter. "And vulnerability is the essence of romance. It's the art of being uncalculated, the willingness to look foolish, the courage to say, 'This is me, and I'm interested in you enough to show you my flaws with the hope that you may embrace me for all that I am but, more important, all that I am not.'" When working on a letter you don't think about all the punctuation mistakes you're making, at that moment it's just you, your emotion, and what you want that person to know. You can't say the same about the media; when sending a text it could be you, the person you're texting, that person you're messaging on Facebook, and whoever you're tweeting with.
When someone we care about is hurt, in some way, it's not the same thing to communicate with them compared to actually talking to them in person (as stated in Ashton Kutcher's article, paragraph 7). In person, you can comfort your loved one and just be there for them in ways you can't be through Facebook, Twitter, or a text. It's understandable if they're in Illinois while you're in Iowa because they know you can't be there, physically, so a nice little message shows that you care. But what shows that you really care, is taking the time to actually go to them and be there for them; whether it's because they need help or just someone to talk to. That really tells your loved one that you care and it's real personal.
Because of the media, you can see that we don't take the time with each other to actually talk in person instead of texting. The art of a handwritten letter is rarely used these days because of the convenience of email. Though social media is s useful tool to stay in touch with each other, we shouldn't forget that there is a world outside of Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, text, and any other forms of social media.
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