Communication Intimacy
Doing a Google image search for something completely different, I stumbled across this graphical representation of communication intimacy. The picture is a graphical representation of the level of intimacy required to communicate in today’s world. From what I can tell, the picture was created by Ji Lee from pleaseenjoy.com (if this is not correct, someone please correct me).
The image stuck me as surprisingly simple but quite profound in its wisdom. It simplifies modern communication down to ten different succinct forms: Twitter, Facebook status, Facebook message, email, text message, instant message, physical letter (or snail mail), phone, video chat and talking (face-to-face).
I regularly use all of these forms with the exception of video chat and twitter. Twitter just seems stupid to me. It is like blogging, but without any useful content. Video chatting just comes across as creepy. The eye contact is just all wrong with video chatting. The other person just seems to always be staring at the floor or off into space.
*** Click Here to see the full image ***
The original image lacked a few forms of communication. Here are some additional ways to communicate and where they should fit into the list:
0.5 – Graffiti – It is a valid form of communication but it reaches even more people than Twitter.
1.5 – Smoke Signals – Since the invention of the telegraph machine, not many people use smoke. But it is still more intimate and effective than Twitter.
2.5 – Yelling a Crowded Theater - Much like yelling fire in a theater or other large public place, you get your message across, but there isn’t much intimacy in the message.
3.5 – Reply to All emails – Not quite as intimate as the direct email, this digital blast is often misused and can get the sender into some serious hot water.
4.5 – Snoring - This is much more personal than Email, Facebook and Twitter. Not a lot of content gets communicated, but then neither does Facebook and Twitter. It takes a special person to share snoring with. Sometimes snoring is accompanied by mumbling and sleep talking. More intimacy!
5.5 – Flyers Under Wiper Blade – Much like Twitter and Facebook status, Flyers on car windows reach many people at once, but it can open up the opportunity for face to face confrontation. “Hey Asshole! Get your trash off my car! I don’t want to see your band play at Humpers!”
6.5 – Honking – Blasting the horn of your car is an intimate communication between the honker and those who’s attention is being alerted. Honk is sometimes accompanied by and/or responded to with hand gestures.
7.5 – Post-It Notes - More than a letter, less than a phone call. The post-it note is the kiss on the cheek of the memorandum world. Letters can be so long winded at times. The post-it cuts right to the point. “Call Mom!”
8.5 – Phone Sex – You may not know the other person’s real name, but by the end of that fifteen minute conversation, you know what they want and how they like it, all for the low price of $2.99 per minute.
9.5 – Organ Donation – Being an organ donor is one of the most intimate acts people can share. No words need be spoken, but two people instantly become intimate with each other (sometimes even from beyond the grave).
10.5 – Passionate Lamentations – Noises made during one-on-one sex are quite possibly the most intimate communications of all. There is no higher form of intimate communication. “Yes! Yes! Oh Baby! Yes!” (I picked lamentations mainly because I like the word lamentations…. Lamentations… ohhh!)
So, what level of communication are you operating at? Do you feel it is better to always communicate at a higher level of intimacy or are there more situation that a more public style is called for?
