the problem with texting, the beauty of a voice message, and a public speaker turned writer
1. The Problem with Texting
I think our generation is conditioned to prefer texts over calls. We have the option to delay important conversations via text messages, and a lot of us are terrified of receiving a call from someone without prior notice, including me.
Maybe this is a part of the reason why I think having the emotional safety to send someone a voice message when you have the choice to send a text, is a testament to a strong relationship.
A text can deliver a lot of content, but it fails to deliver emotions, hiccups, silence, or in the worst case, authenticity - all great components of a natural conversation. When these components are left out, misunderstandings are bound to happen.
Instead of being completely transparent, we hide behind our texts, emojis, and gifs.
I’ve always preferred calling to texting (even though I’m terrified when someone calls me) because I don’t want my message to be lost in delivery. “Yes, I can send you a document outlining this plan later, but we have to talk first.”
2. A public speaker turned writer
There’s beauty in the art of written words - one that I’ve been learning and practicing for the past 3 years. I am, as many people call, “a blogger”.
But tonight, I was reminded of where I came from. I came from the art of spoken words.
I came from the art of spoken words.
I spoke my thoughts in conversations with my mom, then my friends, then strangers. Unlike writing where the only lever is fast and slow, controlled by your punctuation (1D), speaking has so many more dimensions. From conversation to oration, I learned to use the diverse toolbox of communication: pace, volume, intonation, pauses, body language, facial expression...
Tonight, I was reminded that I’ve always been a public speaker turned writer, not the other way around.
Similar to how I took all of my courage to explore writing 3 years ago, I decided that my purpose is NOT going to be bounded by a few formats. It will be encompassing every aspect of communication: writing, speaking, questioning, listening, creating subcultures…
Am I a writer? Yes, I’m a writer.
Am I a speaker? Yes, I’m a speaker.
Am I a listener? Yes, I’m a listener.
Am I a cultural builder? Yes, I’m a cultural builder.
But above all, I’m a communicator.
My mission is to help people express themselves better, because our ideas, collectively, will make our world better.