The social constructionist perspective is very interesting to me. This perspective says that communication is not something that goes on between individuals but instead it surrounds the people and holds us together. In a way I do see this in our society a lot especially now of days. Our world is built on “media” communication when even just 20 years ago we weren’t as media driven. Everyone has a cell phone, computer, t.v, text messages, internet, emails, instant messages, ect. This is what is building our world and our culture today. Some older generations don’t understand our “new” way of communication though. For example my dad hates when people text message him, he always asks me why we don’t just pick up the phone and call people anymore and I just try to explain that this is how our world is emerging and it will only get worse, for him anyway. Our new generation of children only know this way of communication, you even have to sign a slip as parents stating whether or not your kindergarten student is going to be carrying a cell phone. Even look at this class, its online and in Aristotle’s day you would be lucky to go to school and learn in an actual class room and would even be accompanied by a paidagogos that made sure you got to school safely.
I am not saying that is a not a great advancement in our culture and a great way to get ideas and information out to people but at the same time there are many cultures who don’t even use telephone communication in their day to day lives and many of us wouldn’t know what to do if we didn’t have our phone for even a day (I know I am one of those people). Other cultures in other parts of the world find other ways of communication and don’t need the technology we do and they live a very happy life and I believe their communication skills within their families are a lot stronger. They don’t text message their every conversation.
I like how you went into detail to explain how our ways of communication not only help us communicate but that it actually holds us together. Also referring back to Aristotle was great as well. and throwing in the example of your father as well. He's right, sometimes it would be nice not to write back, and maybe send a phone call out every once in a while rather than texting.
ReplyDeleteThe 2nd paragraph is exactly the way I answered it. It's cool and all that were getting all this new advancement but it does suck to see others with aboslutley no electronic communicating and know they are happy living, yet we have all this new equipment and were not happily living.
I agree with your statement about this "text messaging" culture we have today. Personally, I have some older family members that get offended if one of texts them instead of calling.
ReplyDeleteAs a nanny, all 3 of my kids already have cell phones (7th grade and freshman) and even though its covenant for my job for them to have cell phones, I am kinda sadden that they don't know really how to communicate to friends without texting. At their age, I had pen pals I send letters to and then when emailing happen I remember that was huge deal for me!
I also think through this advancement of communication many people don't know or have lost the manners of how to communicate for certain situations. For example, confronting someone over text much less email is very inappropriate and causes so much more headache and problems then if they just went to the person face to face or even over the phone.
You gave great examples of social construction within our society. It is pretty amazing how fast our world is changing around us. My parents are completely out of the loop. My mom even needs help using her phone to text or view texts or do anything other than call someone on it.
ReplyDeleteWe also communicate with each other using social constructs such as fashion, and universal body language. When someone dresses a certain way, they do it in order to get a reaction out of the people around them. Everyone dresses to express themselves. We are indirectly communication with the people around us by the way we dress. Just the same, our body language is used as an indirect way to communicate.