Whether it's text messaging, e-mailing, facebook chatting, Snapchatting, or actually sending a letter; there's a lot of weight put on the written word when the conversation is taking place over hundreds of miles. (I'm aware of skype and the actual use of the telephone... I'll get to that). That being said, I'm realizing that I've developed a pattern of conversational communication that almost relies on face-to-face interaction.
I'm sarcastic is what I'm saying.
And when most conversation now relies on a common understanding of black words on a white background, I find myself getting into trouble. So I find myself in a conundrum. Do I forgo sarcasm for fear of offending or angering people? Is that even possible? Am I sentenced to end every message with (sarcasm). (Because nothing makes sarcasm more sarcastic than pointing it out.) I guess the most I can do at the moment is apologize when necessary and try to find some sort of balance.
Alright, can we discuss talking on the phone and the paradigm it presents? Those of us who are twenty-somethings (or younger) keeping hearing that we text too much, phones used to be used for actual spoken conversation, etc. Here's my problem with that; we now have phones that are always with us, so society has had to create new rules deciding when it is and isn't appropriate to use phones out and about. And I don't know about you, but one of my pet peeves is people who use their phones when it's rude to. For instance; if you're at the dinner table, ordering at the coffee shop/restaurant counter, going through the checkout at the store... And then depending on the conversation content, some phone conversations just shouldn't take place in a public place, am I right? Personally, 90% of my phone conversations happen while I'm walking (by myself), while I'm driving, or while I'm in my apartment. But at the same time, I want to have conversations with people outside of those times. I guess this is my obnoxious way of saying, telephone conversations have their place... there just aren't enough of those places.
There are definitely reasons why proximity has a lot to do with relationships; because without it, they take a lot more work. On the positive end, I have really great, understanding, and consistently forgiving friends. What challenges in maintaining long distance relationships have you experienced? Any tips on overcoming them? Because seriously, I could use all the help I can get.
super exciting news!
You can find Elizabeth's blog at vancamplife.blogspot.com.
Super exciting news item #2: I'm now the proud owner of an actual domain! I know that most of you find me via facebook, so this doesn't really matter to you, but if you do follow my site via the URL at the top of the screen; it's changed. However, the old URL will lead you to the new one for the next month while I transition all of the website data, and if you're a subscriber, you don't have to subscribe again.
So, as some of the first visitors; may I welcome you to emilythebrave.net!