Our World

What is becoming of our world; do you not think that we’re always caught up in the latest trends of today? We often check out the latest computer model or mobile phone in the market and if you don’t keep up with technology, you’ll be lagging behind. Because technology is so advanced these days, the same can be said of our communication. Communication today has become advanced too. But why? Technology is the cause. Because technology has advanced, bringing us the internet and mobile communication, one is able to communicate across borders 24/7. But is that entirely good?

With such advances, i think our interpersonal relations have suffered a great deal. Many now hide behind technology while making interactions with society. No doubt it’s great news for the introverted, is that what interpersonal communication is all about? Relationships, family ties, friendships these days are all built on technology. Would we be communicating as efficiently without it? I doubt so. It has become such an integral part of our lives such that we can no longer live without technology. Tell a 18 year old school going teenager that you’re confiscating his mobile phone he might just turn round and tell you his world is going to fall apart.

But how has that affected us. Many of us now have the ability to put on false fronts, fake identities, or just be who we truly are if in person we’re so shy we always hide behind our mother’s skirts. How has that affected our face to face interpersonal communication.

We have now become so reserved, we do many things, that in the past used to be done face to face, through technology. For instance a boy asking a girl out through an SMS or a girl breaking up with her boyfriend over email. This no doubt makes life easier by saving us certain embarassments or akwardness, it’s part and parcel of life. Technology is making us loose our human touch in everything we do. No one writes pen and paper letters anymore they just turn on the internet and send out and email. Guys don’t send flowers to girl’s offices anymore, they just have to send virtual ones over facebook. Sooner or later people won’t have to go out on dates anymore… they can very well date online. The drawbacks of technology is much worse than we think it is.

BUT… would we give up our technology? I doubt it. I know of the many disadvantages but then again, the advantages far outweigh them. The conveniences they bring, the addiction to technology. I just hope we don’t one day end up like the girl in the video.

Relational Development in 5 mins

 

Hah! strange how she managed to sum up what people experience over lifetimes in just five minutes. Indirectly she’s explaning the entire process of formation, maintenence and dissolution of a realationship. It makes things sound so easy but in life, nothing is. Communication between people is essential in everything we do; and relationships too are built on communication. Why is it then that we constantly falter and go through the process of a breakup and heartache when all we need to do is communicate well. With imense practice and a lifetime of experience don’t we ever get better at it?

How Did a Face Unkown Become so Famous??

Most of us would know her. Not personally but at least have seen her face at least once in our lifetime. But how did this face of hers become so famous?

 What do you know about this picture? What can you tell about her? And again, why did she become so famous?

This Photograph was taken in 1984 when she was 12 or 13 years old. Some of us will not understand why this picture became so famous but only because we do not understand the essence of it; the story behind the eyes that were captured. This “National Geographic Afghan Girl” was made famous by the well acclaimed Steve McCurry. He once said: “Most of my images are grounded in people, and i try to convey what it is like to be that person, a person caught in a broader landscape, that i guess you’ll call the human condition.”

We learn from this that there is usually more to it then what we see on the surface, what we call non-verbal communication. It could sometimes be direct and at many other times, indirect. Just like in our everyday lives, we thrive on non-verbal communication. Be it in throwing a tantrum or going through an interview, we constantly are communicating to the people around us. Through our actions, body language, eye contact, physical appearance are some, but not limited to, of the ways people deciper information about us and vice versa.

Oculesics, the study of non-verbal meaning associated with the eyes, assume the major role of conveying this picture’s message.The picture shows us the intense emotions that the girl is going through. Without knowing her background or anything, her eyes penetrate such intense fear but yet we can see a glimer with hope; mysterious yet innocent, those eyes of hers speak a million words. Another aspect of the picture that tells us more of her less privilidged background would be her attire. This makes use of objectics to convey deeper meaning.

Its scary but true sometimes; the statement, “the eyes are the window to the soul.”

What Can You Tell From…

 

So what can you tell from the picture above? Can you tell what message it is trying to put across to the its target audience?

This is a very good example of Effective Verbal Communication paired with good use of imagery to convey a simple message.  This campaign as we all can see is an anti-drug abuse campaign. It makes use of simple terms and words that are well understood in our context and society. With the words “Imagine spending the next 10 years in this” it entices the audience to want to take the first step in opening the little match box. On the inside, the image of a small cell with just a bed and a urinal, the universal perceived image of a jail cell, it begins to intirgue the audience, wanting them to find out more about what they just saw. And as the matches of the box are fully removed, one will be able to see the text “DRUGS. THERE’S NO ESCAPE.” The text again simple and concise, does not use jargons or slangs that would draw distinction and single out certain groups withthin the community. The campaign is not just well understood in our context and society but will be equally well understood in many other developed countries.

This message is meant for all as drug abuse transcends all ages. Nevertheless there is a particular target group that is more susceptible to the temptation of drug abuse. The message is well placed, being printed on match boxes that are then distributed at pubs and clubs especially to people who smoke; it is the number 1 hotspot for drug abuse. This will enable them to effectively reach out to the intended target audience garnering greater awareness among the people.