In today's world we have at our disposal several vehicles of communication. We no longer must rely on face to face encounters or the time wasting delivery of hand written letters. As technology has progressed our need for formal communication has declined.
Don't misunderstand the nature of this blog. I'm all for informal messages and quick communication, however, I do feel we need to step back and evaluate our expectations in these regards. Namely the use of text and internet messaging (i.e. Myspace comments or messages, Facebook, ect.)
The convenience in which internet messaging provides is that an individual can inform a friend, relative, or co-worker of an event, thought, or comment without the immediate need for conversation to take place. If the goal is only to inform, than the information is all that is needed. Why do we feel the need to end a message indicating the desire for continued conversation?
"I'll talk to you later"Do we live under the assumption that the people we communicate with are so insecure that they fear the message they just finished reading is the last they will hear from us?
It is my desire to end the useless endings, to say goodbye to goodbye.
A text or message that includes a question indicates a desire for response. If an opinion is stated, a story told, or any simple thought given and you wish to know what the other thinks; simply ask or state that you wish to discuss the issue further.
If you have a Myspace, or other friend networking account, take this into consideration:
* You're are mostly likely addicted to the site and check your account regularly.
* Your friends are probably the same.
* If you leave a message to a friend, there's a 99.9% chance they will respond eventually for no other reason than they are your friend.
* Half of these people you see or talk to you in real life.
* If your comments are interesting enough, they will get a response.
In conclusion most people already expect
"to talk to you later," so it's a statement not needed to be verbalized or typed.
Outside the realm of simple comments or messages is the land of the
Never-Ending Conversation
(NEC). I am a huge, personal fan of this sort of internet communication.
Once upon a time someone messaged you and you responded, thus starting the NEC. What makes
NEC's so wonderful is the unspoken format of communication. A message can be as long or short as desired. You answer questions, ask questions, share news...each message building off the last. The key to the
NEC is that there is
no goodbye. Once a '
goodbye' is stated or a '
talk to you later' typed, it kills the beauty of the
NEC.
This is a no drama convo. So sorry to all the drama queens out there. These type of conversations can have dry spells, sometimes a new message created, but still, the key is
no 'goodbye'.
"Talk to you later" implies an ending to what is being said and putting off communication until the undefined time of
'later'. With a
NEC you are free to stop when you have nothing more to say and pick up again at anytime without any expectations. These only work when both parties don't worry about why the other hasn't responded and are ok with short responses and casual remarks.
When it all comes down to it, I just don't see the need to say goodbye to a message that i have all intentions of responding to the next time i hear back from that person. I enjoy internet messaging to keep in touch. Long, dragged out
goodbyes are bad enough in real life (including phone conversations... another topic, another time). There just isn't a place for it in the fast-paced world of the internet.
