What do you guys think? Is the way we communicate through new media and how that effects our other means of communication a positive thing, negative thing or perhaps a neutral progression into the future? I found a lot of the idea’s around the pro’s and con’s of new media communication and the future to be particularly interesting, especially those presented by Naomi Baron in her book. The “domestication” of new media communications in our society clearly has some very tangible effects on modern human interaction.

I won’t list all the consideration because I’m assuming you’ve all thoroughly read through the readings, ;) but here are a couple that strike me as particularly interesting. New media gives equal opportunity for people to have their opinions, the degree to which each of those opinions is actually heard is another matter, but we can agree there are forums for everyone to have their say. This sounds like a good thing and in many ways it is. The unfortunate downside to this double edged sword is that now EVERYONE wants to have their say on EVERY matter. Just roll with the hyperbole. As an example: A 12 year old might decide he disagrees with some new theory in science presented on youtube and we’ll see his opinion right alongside the professor of physics at Cambridge. Now you’d think that wouldn’t be a legit problem considering that most people can distinguish between an informed opinion and an idiotic… *cough* I mean, uninformed opinion. It becomes serious when all the twelvies speak up together and drown out those people who actually have something worthwhile to contribute. That may seem a bit pessimistic, intolerant and unfair to 12 year olds, who I am sure are not all spreading BS all over the internet. You can most likely at the very least agree that opinions on the internet reach saturation point very quickly and so those opinions worth hearing will often become lost under a pile of digital swag, so to speak. Apart from my concerns about whose opinions get heard I also fear how new media communications are impacting other forms of human interaction.

On the internet we use a lot of abbreviations, shorthand, symbols, emoticons, hashtags et cetera. Why? Actually there are various reasons but I am running out of words to let’s go with… #yolo #swag. But seriously, it makes sense to me how this new language arose and why is it so popular, but I am a little annoyed when this language spills over into face to face interactions. Like, seriously, who, like, needs to, like, say “lol”… just laugh or don’t. Furthermore if your response to my question begins with the word “hashtag” I am already holding back the urge to slap you. These are clear degradations of the English language. When was the last time you heard something profound, intelligent and worth your while (as more than just amusement) proceeded by a ‘#’ ESPECIALLY in verbal communication. While I’m ranting on the internet about my personal opinions I should mention how much I hate the fact that people are constantly using new media to rant about their personal opinions. Rant over. I’m done, I’m so done. This. #intentionalhypocrite #Ipromise

References:

Baron, Naomi. 2008. “Ch 1: Email to Your Brain: Language in an Online and Mobile World.” In Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World, 3-10. Oxford: Oxford University Press.