Now you might be thinking...."Oh god, not another thing about communication" and you'd be right to think so. I already did about dialects, and that was an odd spur of the moment even for me.
Ironically, this idea even came from the same setting as the last one.... in a zoom call lesson,
Now I don't know why, but it's always the same lesson that gets me thinking (and from posting this, knowing very well the teacher who does these lessons might be looking at this), which is oddly amusing, but very confusing to me.
If you are said teacher who is currently looking at this, then hi. I promise, I was focusing at the time, I just needed to get one or two things down before it left my head. 100% engaging content you create...please don't bring this up in lesson
So, with my attempt to say "I promise I'm here" done, back to the topic.
Lessons nowadays are all online, which makes communicating a funny thing to do. You have those who refuse to switch on their cameras, those who can't, those who want to if someone else is, etc etc. Being able to see people, let alone communicate in this day and age during a lesson is a funny thing to see.
Now, to at least bracket myself, I'm in the category of "Can turn it on, but usually doesn't in case of unforeseen circumstances". What are those circumstances? I'll make a blog post explaining about it one day (trust me, it'd be more useful than doing it in brief)
Due to these reasons, while I can turn on my camera, I tend not to because either: A) It's not mandatory B) No one else has/will C) There might be a sudden emergency that I am the only person "available" to sort
If C is the case (luckily, it has yet to be while at home), I will either take my work with me, or email to warn said teacher.
But again, not the point of this thought process.
With the world we live in today, keeping in touch with people has never been both so easy, yet so difficult at the same time. We have technology, platforms to chat on, a multitude of methods from messaging, to calls, to videos, even sending both real and electronic post. We conveniently have the time to do it (thanks to COVID and it's mysterious ways).
So what's stopping us? Well, the simple answer is...us. The longer answer is, there's a lot of factors, but it's mainly down to us.
There's wifi issues, technology problems, social media newness, that new programme you wanted to watch, the games that you've left in a pile that you have to complete (don't judge me, it's either play casual, or play 100%), the work that you can do, the fact you still have a job, exercising is your new hobby, or simply, you're not up for chatting.
All of these are valid excuses, and all of them have been used by people for at least half the lockdowns. All the options, the opportunities to catch up with people you haven't seen in years, or just days, But, with the fact that we want to be "productive" so we stop being "bored" and "useless", we decide to fill up our time with things that don't involve socialising with others.
Single player games, books for leisure, binge watching television, crafts and art, even going on a walk. While we do this to preoccupy, we don't notice how we're isolating ourselves from others.
Sure, we have our family to talk to, but what if you live alone? Of course, I'm not saying that you can't survive without socialising, and someone can indeed be able to function without it. It's just laughable to see how close, yet distant everyone is at the moment.
An odd thing to admit on my end is that I chat more to the people on discord than I do to the friends that I've made for years, but I even have moments where I just stop chatting properly for a bit. It's just who I am. I don't care about my friends old and new any less, I simply just have those moments where not being able to hear or see them face to face is the biggest killjoy.
Both extroverts and introverts alike can struggle during this, even when it's through a screen. Being able to see each other is quite nice, simply because it means you exist. Both you and the person you're chatting to know you're there. Voice makes it even better, as it means you can hear them.
There's limitations to everything, sure, but it's just topsy turvy how a generation that's more connected than ever can still be anti-social, yet the most sociable beans on the planet.
Making content for others, reaching out to new people, even getting stuck in to new apps and online dating (can't relate), always trying to find strangers and potentially making their day that little bit better.
It's not much, just a hello and an odd chat, but it's nice to see. Even now, I'm trying to perfect how I write and produce these posts, so you don't feel as though it's simply "just another blog"
Well, it might be, but that's not the point.
The point is, if it makes a difference to someone, even a little, it's worth it.
So while you and me might not be chatting to people we regularly do, or show our faces to those that we know (yes, the lessons count), make sure to do something that still makes you happy. While you can socialise in your own time, a simple "hi" to someone might make both your day's a little more entertaining.
I'll follow my own advice...once I get back into the right mind frame.
-R (25/01/2021)