Should Texting Be the Middle Man in Relationships? « Clutch Magazine

Should Texting Be the Middle Man in Relationships? « Clutch Magazine

I ran across this Clutch article and it resonated with me because of something I've been encountering the past few years, much to my frustration: people's inability (or refusal) to verbally communicate in an engaging, reciprocal manner. With these tech advancements we enjoy, we are also losing touch more and more with face-to-face and mouth-to-ear phone interactions. Everyday, I see everyone looking down at their phones for hours each day, scrolling their thumbs across screens, checking out what's happening in other people's lives, replying with what's happening in theirs. All through text and symbols. These same people may say they're not "phone people"; yet, their phones keep their hands company for many hours each day. What they really mean is that they aren't comfortable actually talking to others. When you're texting and emailing, you can create a persona—funny, tough, extremely busy, sassy, whatever you want. But to speak in person or let someone hear your voice is to remove your cloak of invisibility in a way. You expose your eyes, your facial expressions, your intelligence, your true personality. You're expected to deliver in real time. And some of us simply aren't "good" at it.

For those of us who still prefer to communicate verbally and who enjoy stimulating conversations where each participant is inquisitive and engaging, yet are forced to write character-limited messages instead. Or forced to feel like an interviewer on the phone when someone refuses to reciprocate the interest or keep the momentum going....You're Not Alone.

There's a lot of us who remain. I'm not sure what will become of us, but for now, we are here.

Here's to voice-to-voice. The most amazing resource we humans have.