Means of Communication
My G-g-g-generation
Being, as I am, from the digital generation I have found that our methods of communication (not to mention my usage of them) is quite different than that of the previous generations. Of course, this is pretty obvious. Since I’m not some kind of researcher I’d like to mostly talk about how I communicate, and if by some mysterious reason you are reading this, I’d also like to know how you communicate. I have a strange kind of fascination for how people use the internet.
For the purposes of this post I will be focusing on one-to-one conversations. So no “social interweb” stuff like Twitter will be discussed.
I will try and go through them from most informal/most preferable to the most formal/least preferable. Yes, you can surmise from that statement that I prefer informal, quick-style conversations than overly long and formal dialogues.
Instant Messaging
Instant Messaging is my most preferred means of communication (except for some good ol’ fashioned face-to-face of course) because it is real-time, immediate and yet the person you are talking to has the ability to reply at his own pace.
You can discuss a wide range of topics in this form, from personal to business. The difference often relying on how skilled you are in relaying sarcasm in a textual form.
IM also allows you to talk to people that you might not know in real life. While IRC-rooms have gotten a real stigma attached to them through the years, they can be incredibly interesting places to converse. As long as you have a stomach for ridicule and disgusting links.
On my contact page you can find all my instant messaging accounts available for the public and really wouldn’t mind talking to you. Unless you’re a crazy Russian spambot.
SMS
SMS messages are so much better than a phone-call. While you are limited in message length (Which can be a boon for some people on the receiving end) you are contacting people on a pretty private device (their cellphone), but you allow them to decide the time and place for them to read your message.
While this might not be the most ideal thing for critical messages, you are allowing the receiving person to handle their “inbox” as they see fit. On the other hand, SMS messages may lead to horrible youth-related slang which renders anyone who attempts to read it insane.
E-mail is the perfect middle ground between formal and informal communication. To a previous generation E-mail is what instant messaging is to this generation.
Most of my job application letters have been through e-mail. I have contacted weblebrities via e-mail (And they e-mailed back! Running count of weblebrities that have e-mailed me: Merlin Mann, Ethan Schoonover and Robert Scoble.) which is the modern equivalent of a fan letter. E-mail is versatile.
I get excited anytime I see that little red badge appear in my Dock. It’s often only BACN, though.
Phone
Now we’re reaching the point where my crippling social skills are showing. I don’t like to talk on the phone. I don’t really liked to be called. It interrupts me from whatever I’m doing and I have to switch mental modes quickly. Not that I can’t, I just prefer not to.
Phone calls I like to use for small official inquiries and nothing else. Maybe notifying someone I’m running late. I’m not a teenaged girl so I don’t like long conversations on the phone.
Letters
I only write letters if there’s money involved. And then it’s probably just forms.