I've decided that communication is important. I've also decided it's aggravating! I'm sure you've all been there. You have something on your heart to convey, whether it's simple or complex, and you just can't make the person you're talking to understand what you're saying. Maybe I am the only inarticulate one in the group. If that's the case, y'all should help me out! Miscommunication doesn't happen with everyone. There are certain people - more than one – to whom I just cannot seem to make my point clear. It's there. It's all there. The thoughts are clear in my head, but somewhere along the line they get jumbled. So I guess what I'm saying is let's talk about communication. It fascinates me that there are so many different ways of telling and talking and hearing and listening and understanding! It's really complex, and it amazes me quite frequently that we are ever able to convey our points to anyone. Far more amazing than that, to me though, is that God understands every single beat of my heart… and Melanie's heart and Kayla's heart and Michelle's heart... So many different things being communicated, but He's big enough (and at the same time small enough) to hear and comprehend every thought more clearly than we can even imagine. Prayer, though, isn't exactly where I want to go with this post. How do we translate that understanding to our own heads? We are meant to be in community with each other and to do that we HAVE TO actively seek understanding (of one another). Surely the only way to really do this is through the understanding of God like I mentioned before. How do we do that everyday? Where's the switch? :) I'd like to know.
Another thing I've been pondering is what place sarcasm has in communication. This has been addressed some before, but maybe we could talk about it in depth. How does sarcasm build people up? How does it help us understand each other? I think this has quite a bit to do with communication because the obvious opposite to understanding people is making ourselves clearly understood. I'm not sure sarcasm cuts it here. At the same time... it's fun sometimes! It's witty. I, for one, like to be sarcastic (if you knew me before college you would know this to be even more true than it has been at college, really), but where's the line? That is all for now. I think I have more to say, but I'm anxious to hear what you guys have to say before I say more. Maybe y'all will say it for me...
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4 comments:
I think communicating, especially in our little group of friends, is a very tricky thing. Last semester in communication (retarded class) we were talking about how words have no inherent meaning; they mean something different to everyone based on context, life experiences, values, etc. And as stupid as that class was, I think the writers of the textbook were right when they said that. Words are what we make them. They don't exist on their own.
The problem of connotations aside, communication is also made difficult by the fact that we all have our own (very strong) opinions on a variety of subjects. Some people (no names) have a difficult time hearing someone out before they interject. It's a life skill, and it's hard. And... it's also difficult to express something when you feel strongly about it. I know that the things that I'm most passionate about are the same things that I have trouble articulating. It's not that I don't know how I feel, but feelings are usually a lot harder to explain than thoughts, and we usually have feelings associated with things we really care about.
Finally, as for sarcasm, I don't really know. On the one hand, it can definitely lighten the mood of a conversation. This is really nice sometimes. And I definitely have fun with sarcasm. But in general, I wouldn't say that it builds anyone up. However, I also wouldn't say that it is usually harmful. Obviously, if someone is sensitive, you should be careful what you say, but if you're in a group that you know is ok with sarcasm, and where everyone is going to catch it, I think it's ok. So those are all my thoughts. Sorry I rambled so much. But see, Laura, I do read and comment.
Communication is difficult. The English language, actually language in general is very limiting. I would like to say that I pride myself on my ability to analyze what I'm thinking and articulate that...but like x-phile said, your feelings are very difficult to express in words sometimes...well most of the time. I've just experienced this. You are most definitely not the only person who has issues with miscommuncation. This may not be very helpful, but you can only do so much. You can't be responsible for how you are interpreted. It may be that the person, whoever it is you're referring to, cannot wrap their minds around your 'point', not that your point is unclear. People can go on and on explaining eternity, but if you can't grasp it, you just can't at that moment, but not because the person talking is an inadequate explainer (I think i'm inventing new words). In any case, as far as sarcasm goes...I think it is beneficial in some instances because it is fun to be coy and witty...but if it is presented in a funny way. As someone who's split second reaction to things is to take them seriously, sometimes sarcasm hurts me because I am sometimes unable to tell if people are being sarcastic and when people never crack to show that they are sarcastic, I feel really stupid and so I think sarcasm needs to be used carefully...but that's just my opinion. I think the issue the only issue is if sarcasm is ever mixed up with coming across as superior. But I am one to enjoy employing sarcasm now and again :P
I just want to say that I wasn't refering to any one person secifically. I think we should prolly shy away from that in the blogging world (to say the least).
I agree with your comments on sarcasm, Melanie. I think it can be fun, but maybe there are times when things come across differently than they're meant. And I think there's something to the fact that sometimes sarcasm can be meant in a mean way. It's like we want to say something mean, but we try to make it sound like a joke by being sarcastic. I think that's wrong. I think that's being dishonest to a whole lot of people there.
That's probably the first time I've really thought to call the connotation thing connotation... Thanks, Sarah. I still don't like it. :)
Thanks for the comments, ladies.
As a JMC major, I hear entirely too much about communication. They teach us models and words for describing things. They test us over concepts and theories. Then, we, the poor bedraggled students of the JMC, are informed that there is no set pattern, all examples are flawed in some way, and that communication is too broad to master or understand. Why am I studying this again?
As far as sarcasm goes, it's such a hard thing. True, it's a great humorous devise, but is the pain that it can cause worth it? I know that I'm not going to give up being sarcastic any time soon, but please, if I ever hurt anyone's feelings from my words or actions, please tell me. I want to be able to make it right, and I can't do that in my ignorant, stupid state. I thought about repeating that point, but I think I've communicated more than enough for this post.
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