Nancy Jim

When people share ideas and intellectually connect with friends, their modes and models of communication change (Discourse Theory - Deborah Tannen).

A one to one, or directly experienced (physical) conversation requires a degree of social construction, that is to say time needs to be set aside, an appropriate location found and some control over external factors such as temperature, work, family or other social distractions. Telephone conversations require less commitment than that of a physical conversation but still demand a degree of commitment in terms of time and engagement.

However, research is showing that people now choose to text message in preference to engaging in a telephone conversation.

The question is – why do people seem prepared to forsake the perceived richness of one to one or group physical social conversation in favour of increasingly ‘convenient’ though remote communication; does this reflect a change in society or a deep human drive towards isolation?

Could it be that though we say we value human society the reality may be that we equally seek a resolved isolation within our own consciousness – perhaps like most other species our need for social interaction is reserved only for those with whom we share DNA, until other species enter our social order as friends, pets and slaves. Could it be that technology is a means to focus upon and better understand our constantly changing ‘species condition’?