Warm Blooded Life

I've noticed a rather depressing trend in the last several years, and a conversation with some friends I had recently brought the issue to the forefront of my mind again. It seems these days that, as often as not, people tend to try to do the socially difficult things in their lives through impersonal means. The biggest mediums I've noticed are texting and Facebook messaging(or any other form of e-mail). Whether they're making up, breaking up, or breaking down, people seem to stray towards these mediums as often as not.

I understand that it's easier to type out words on a screen and press send than it is to confront a person with an issue you're having with them or to deliver some bad news in the flesh. However, it's also a huge cop out. People should be willing and prepared to talk things out in actual-space instead of relying on cyberspace as a crutch because they're scared or nervous to say what they have to say. Lightweight forms of communication like texting and Facebook are great for lightweight communication, like inviting people to hang out, but if you have something heavy to say, you'd better be willing to actually say it.

Some people aren't good at this sort of thing. I should know; I'm one of them. I am vastly more eloquent and clear in writing than I am in speaking. I tend to get tongue tied and have never considered myself any kind of orator. That said, I make a point not to cop out and discuss things with people using text when said things should be discussed using sounds. Being willing to actually talk things out is more important that not letting people see you stutter.

Even as I write this, I wonder whether this post is slightly hypocritical. I don't think it is, though, for a couple of reasons. One is that I'm just discussing a pet peeve of mine, not substituting this post for a conversation I would otherwise have to have. The other is that, if anyone were to ask me this, I would say the exact same thing in the exact same words (or possibly stronger ones). I'm not blogging this because I'm nervous to say it in real life.

Bottom line, say what you have to say in real, tangled, unclear, emotional, flesh and bone, face to face life. It's harder, but it's worth the effort.