The Dangers of Texting
How Texting Dehumanizes Us
"I can look into someone's eyes and feel like I know her better, versus a phone call, where you can't get that same type of emotion. That's why text messaging gets you in trouble: You can't bond."
— Apolo Ohno
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Hello AWMS subscriber :
The first Noble Truth in Buddhist philosophy is: "Life is suffering" — chiefly, heartache, anger, depression, disappointment, grief, and anxiety. Until the last century, people relied on alcohol to numb their pain. Now we have countless pharmaceutical and recreational drugs to abuse.
Yet, our need for pain control goes beyond drugs to social media and, particularly, our reliance on digital text messaging. Brief, simple text messages are effective and, in many situations, superior to phone calls. But too often, we use these digital shout-outs as a way to avoid the meaningful back-and-forth of real-time conversation.
We've known for years that a phone call lacks the qualities of conversation available in body language and facial cues, especially from the eyes. The absence of emotion and immediate response in texting leads the recipient to unconsciously infer and project their own emotional biases.
An SMS text message, and to some extent an email, is a notification — like a bulletin board. There's no real-time engagement, much less a commitment to listening to understand and acknowledge.
I can't begin to tell you how often this problem comes up in my counseling. At home and at work, false assumptions generated by the arrow-like sting of a text or email can easily destroy relationships and careers. In one instance, I saw an entire business collapse under the weight of anger caused by a misunderstood inter-office email.
Digital communication is convenient, but a risky substitute for a commitment to meaningful conversation. Use it only when appropriate and handle with care. Think and feel before you text.
I value your feedback, so here's an fitting use of email — MB@TheAgelessWisdom.com.
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Monitor our Ageless Wisdom Mystery School podcast stream for our next episode. We'll feature one of Dr. Timothy Leary's last interviews when I sit beside him on his living room sofa in the Hollywood Hills in 1993 and talk about LSD, learning, and psychology. See the links below.
Happy Springtime. Peace and Love,
— Michael
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Personal Development Strategies
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