Today in Sabbath School Class

[Neil D]

The teacher commented briefly on communications between the human specie......

It was of interest, to me, that in the course of discussion, certain types of communication was sub-standard...for example, email, texting, twittering, MySpace, Facebook, were all held as sub-standard communication.

However, letter writing was concidered good, in that, you had to think about what you were saying in writing to your friends/relatives ect.

I put this connundrum out on facebook and got a few comments...And I wanted your thoughts on this subject.....

[GreatLakesGramma]

I don't completely agree with your teacher. Email is no different than a letter when you take the same time and effort writing it. But when you don't have time, the simplicity of email can allow you to write shorter messages more frequently, and thus keep in touch better than if you waited until you have time to write a letter, and it never happens.

I belong to an Adventist women's Yahoo group. We have gotten to know each other very well there, because being a private group, we share everything with each other. That is the first place I send prayer requests, even before my church, because I know them. I know that I can trust them, and I know they will pray. I ask them for prayer about situations I won't tell at church.

As far as Facebook goes, I joined to keep in touch with far-flung family and friends, who I would not otherwise be able to keep in touch with at all, because I simply do not have time to write letters to everyone, and they probably wouldn't take the time to write back anyway. Even short messages are better than none.

I think it's basically all about HOW you use it. The teacher is probably correct about the way all of those are used on average. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Another example: one of the Daily Guideposts Devotional writers told about getting a text message from his son in college that said "I was thinking of U and wanted to say hi." It made his day, knowing that his son was thinking of him and took a few minutes to tell him so. I am not a texter, but maybe I should use my cell phone to send my far away kids messages like that now and then. I hardly use my cell phone at all, so I might as well put it to a little more regular use & use up some of that balance that keeps growing just so I can keep it active.

[Gerr]

I don't completely agree with your teacher. Email is no different than a letter when you take the same time and effort writing it. But when you don't have time, the simplicity of email can allow you to write shorter messages more frequently, and thus keep in touch better than if you waited until you have time to write a letter, and it never happens....

Agreed.

[SivartM]

A similar discussion happened in my youth class. I was the only person there who used Twitter.

[olger]

Many people today are talking more and - saying less.

[Dr. Shane]

We have talked about this in business a lot. In business, we are very interested in the best way to communicate so that we can effectively accomplish the tasks we are trying to complete. It seems there is a rub in each form of communication. We can call someone on the phone, meet them in person, send them a letter via postal mail, send them a fax, send them email or text someone. It seems each has their advantages and disadvantages. A big disadvantages of verbal communication is that people don't always accurately remember what was said. When it is written, there is a record to reflect back on. We are using email more and more often although we are still using all the other forms of communication depending on the circumstance.

[aldona]

Many people today are talking more and - saying less.

True...and it reminds me of a story told about the time when Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.

He was trying to "sell" his new gadget to a potential financial backer and said, "With this device, the man in Chicago can talk directly to the man in New York!"

The other man asked, "But what if the man in Chicago has nothing to say to the man in New York?"

AJ

[Bravus]

Shane has it right, I reckon: every mode of communication - including face-to-face! - has its costs and benefits. It's not about valuing one to the exclusion of all others, but about using each mode for what it does best.

As I said on Neil's Facebook page, without electronic communication I wouldn't know any of you, and my life would be much poorer for that. (Yes, even you, olger )

[Outta Here]

The teacher commented briefly on communications between the human specie......

It was of interest, to me, that in the course of discussion, certain types of communication was sub-standard...for example, email, texting, twittering, MySpace, Facebook, were all held as sub-standard communication.

However, letter writing was concidered good, in that, you had to think about what you were saying in writing to your friends/relatives ect.

I put this connundrum out on facebook and got a few comments...And I wanted your thoughts on this subject.....

I'll write you a letter with my opinion. You'll get it in 3-5 business days assuming I have your correct address.

[GreatLakesGramma]

As I said on Neil's Facebook page, without electronic communication I wouldn't know any of you, and my life would be much poorer for that. (Yes, even you, olger )

I agree totally. And I have some truly dear friends I met in other online places.

Also, there have been prolonged periods of my life in recent years when physical infirmities of one kind or another have prevented me from getting out for social interaction. At those times, I have been thankful to be able to socialize online rather than not at all.