For me, personally, I hate talking on the phone. I can’t even pinpoint where my hatred for phone calls started. When I was growing up, I used to love just chatting on the phone with my friends for hours and hours. But now that I’m older, I find it really annoying when my phone starts to ring out of the blue. I automatically think to myself: what do you need to tell me over a phone call that can’t be relayed in a text message? It pisses me off whenever people call me unexpectedly. I think of it as a complete hassle; having to pick up a phone and waste my breath on another human being. Nowadays, I feel like instant messaging is the way to go when it comes to communication over the phone.
Not to say that I’m that much of a texter either. It’s just that given the choice, I would much rather text with someone over being locked in a phone call with them. And I wonder why that is. I wonder why I’ve gotten so comfortable with text messages to the point where I prefer them over phone calls. And as it turns out, there are a few theories that have been posed by experts regarding the matter. It turns out that people who prefer text messaging over phone calls are people who are more prone to be antisocial and socially awkward – and I can’t say that that’s a wrong theory to pose.
I know that I’m not the most social being out there; and maybe this theory just affirms it. The study has posed that people who prefer phone calls are more sure of themselves; and they tend to be more easygoing whenever they are in social situations. I know for a fact that I have a tendency to be very high-strung; sometimes a little too much for most peoples’ tastes. And I need to be able to change that about myself. And I know that I’m going to have to start by being more comfortable with taking phone calls. I have to stop resorting to text messages to communicate with others. Here are a few reasons as to why that is:
1. Phone calls teach you to communicate in the moment.
You aren’t allowed to reply late. You aren’t allowed to think too long about what you’re going to say. When you’re in a phone call, you really have to think on your feet. You really have to be locked in. You have to practice being a more effective communicator. And that’s a skill that you’re going to need in this life.
2. Texting is a lot more robotic and impersonal.
You can’t really express tone, pitch, and emotions through text. It’s the exact reason why a lot of people can’t express sarcasm through a text message. There is just so much more context to be had when you’re really engaged in a vocal phone call with someone. You get to manipulate so many things about your delivery to make your point more clearly. You always want to make sure that you aren’t being misunderstood; and being more personal with a phone call is always going to give off a clearer message.
Being forced to engage in a real conversation that requires you to think on your feet and express your enthusiasm is going to equip you with social skills that are necessary in your growth as a human being. You already know that you are never going to be able to make it through this life on your own. And you have to make sure that you know how to play well with others. The more you text, the more impersonal an approach you’re going to take in communicating with people. And that’s bad because it doesn’t really help you form any real or significant connections with those who are around you.
When you are forced to use your own voice and express your own feelings through your intonation and stresses, then you are being a human being. You are being someone who is capable of interacting with another person. At the end of the day, having a phone is great. It is able to help you bridge the gaps brought about by time and distance. But nothing is ever going to replace the good old fashioned face-to-face conversation with another human being. Yes, technology has been great at making the world a little bit smaller; at bringing people within reach. But it also has the power to drive people further away from where they are. And you don’t want that. You always want to make sure that you nurture the connections with people who are worth keeping in your life. And that all starts with being able to have real conversations with them.
