Are we chatting or 'typing'?

Are we chatting or typing?

I watched my 27 IMAC screen intently for several minutesscanning the lines of text scrolling down the page. The varied avatars and individuals each adding their own take on the days activities and comments posted thereupon. As my perusal continued I was looking for an entry into an exchange or perhaps to start my own. After several foiled or parried attempts, I adjourned to the sidebar and watched. It was almost a surreal foiled again, Charlie Brown moment. There was even a good candidate for a, somewhat rough, Lucy present. Hmmm, whats a nudist to do?

Ive posted this not as a harsh criticism, but as an attempt to bring attention and, gasp, possibly start a small movement to reclaim real chat, i.e. conversation. I typed in conversation on the Google screen and found this interesting article, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/01/the-eavesdropper/355727/ that gave credence to a number of my observations. Perhaps the best summation was The conclusion shes arrived at while researching her new book is not, technically, that were not talking to each other. Were talking all the time all of this talk can come at the expense of conversation. Were talking at each other rather than with each other. This is not to say that real conversation is not present in the chat room, but it is not as common as it should be either. I have noticed several comments on individuals profiles aboutdont ask about the weather and seen the same rebuff attempts at chatting in the room. Its got to start somewhere. Give it a rest, glance at the posters profile and make a reasonable reply. As the author also notes, You cant always tell, in a conversation, when the interesting bit is going to come, Turkle says. Its like dancing: slow, slow, quick-quick, slow. You know? It seems boring, but all of a sudden theres something, and whoa.

I do hope this is not perceived as too much of a bombastic outpour, but as an attempt to point out the obvious. Be patient, remember we all have diverse backgrounds, and say hello to someone in the chat room and just chat. You never know where it might lead

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