20 - 15 - 11

Hiking a football are we?  Not exactly.  Law & Order (20 years on air), ER (15) and Grey's Anatomy (11).

So what, you say.  I agree.  We live busy lives and although television is a distraction from our busyness, it's not all that important, right?

Here's another one.  I Love Lucy.  Can you name the 4 main characters?  You might even remember the names of the actors themselves.  The original series ran from October, 1951 to May, 1957.  Holy memory synapses, Batman!  I Love Lucy is still around today so it's not just us geezers that recall our favorite episodes.

Bruce Sallan Blog

Why am I talking about this!  Well, "back in the days" a family would sit around a this amazing box and get totally involved in the lives of television characters.  We could hardly wait to enjoy this exciting technology together as this "box" warmed up. Yes, it took a few minutes of watching 'television snow' in order to eventually be captivated with images of black, white and shades of grey.


We have continued to become very involved in some of our favorite TV shows. We seem to know our favorite characters better than we know people in RL (Real Life!).  Some of us cry when favorite characters leave the show.  Some people get very upset when these shows get cancelled. We're emotionally invested.

It does seem that that our attention span has shortened, however. Hollywood has noticed that we're less interested in long term story-lines.  Now our demand is, "give me a quick action packed plot resolution with an interesting character or two and be done with it already".

It's not just television.  Our methods for keeping in touch are convenient and quick.  We use Facebook, Twitter, Instant Messaging, Text, Voice mail and Email. It's a snap to find and communicate with almost anyone - even without exchanging a single word.

There are a great number of amazing things that can happen due to these immediate and world-wide instant communication tools.  Don't get me wrong, it is truly amazing!  But there is something wrong.

Taking a class a number of months ago, we discussed ways to best communicate with each other. Did you know that in face to face situations, only 7% of our communication experience is verbal? Tonality, pauses and inflections account for 38% and body language is more than half - 55%!

How much of the communication pie chart can you experience reading this blog?  How much do you experience when you text, email and or post to Facebook?  More "friends" but fewer connections are becoming commonplace.

We have a steadily increasing inclination to "tell". We have a steadily decreasing ability to "listen". How can it be otherwise when the mediums we use to communicate prohibit 93% of interaction experiences.

I will never again have an important 

discussion with another using electronic media. 

I recognize that in order to understand what another

person is trying to tell me, it's best to be engaged, 

listening and preferably, face to face. 

  

And let us remember how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting altogether, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see Day approaching.  Hebrews 10: 24-25








And, by the way, you can connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Email, Text Message or Voice mail.  Use the Contact form provided and I'll get back to you.  Thanks for being my friend. LOL?

A Blog by Bruce Sallen - The Evolution of Technology; Television Back in the Day