Yesterday, as always, I was spending my time on the train obsessively checking Facebook on my phone, as were about half of my fellow passengers. Once in a while, I stop and realize it–I spend more time than ever following every little thing my friends say, and yet less time than ever in my life actually talking to friends face to face.
I’ve always been an introvert. I would get anxious about making a phone call, even if it was to a person I liked (sometimes especially if it was to a person I liked). I had to push myself to go out and meet people, and still have to. So our new “chatting with each other through tech gadgets” culture actually makes things easier for me. I feel much more comfortable commenting on someone’s status on my phone than I would be using that phone to speak to them. I’m more comfortable spouting my opinions in a blog than at a dinner party. So this feels fine to me, except for small moments of doubt when I wonder if I should be spending my time playing with real cats as opposed to viewing cat pictures. (Answer to that question: no, because I’m allergic to cats.)
But I can only imagine how difficult this new world might be for people who, unlike me, need human interaction. What would it be like to be a gregarious extrovert in a world in which all you get are virtual hugs and pokes on Facebook?
Then again, the extroverts are probably still doing those things that always made me nervous, making phone calls and meeting their friends. That’s why they’re out partying on a Friday night and I’m here blogging about modern modes of communication. Well, that and I’m working tomorrow, so I can’t stay up. Good night, everyone in online land.
01/13/2013 at 4:54 am
[…] eurobrat posted an interesting observation about electronic communication and how the experience of … It’s interesting because I also consider myself an introvert, but I don’t really like electronic communication via email, instant messaging or even blog comments that much. Mostly because I always worry when I’m not communicating face to face that what I say might be misinterpreted and accidentally cause offense. […]
01/16/2013 at 12:18 pm
I’m both introverted and shy; face-to-face interactions sometimes feel overwhelming and I’m more comfortable tamping down the bandwidth with phone or email. Likewise I keep Facebook chat turned off because it seems too intrusive; it annoys me that anybody can just pop in unannounced…
01/16/2013 at 7:05 pm
Ha, I *always* have Facebook chat turned off. I will admit it–I like to be in control of when I have my conversations, and which people I have them with.
01/17/2013 at 9:18 am
Thanks, I sometimes wonder what’s wrong with me because I’m not into interacting on FB the way (it seems) everybody else is…
01/17/2013 at 8:28 pm
Don’t feel bad. I’m on FB every day and I can tell you, you’re not missing out on much. Unless you just *love* seeing pics of what your friends ate for lunch and dinner 🙂