How can we redefine our communication skills to create deeper, more authentic connections in our digital age?

[Vázquez613]

[Screenwriter]

I don't believe our digital age precludes us communicating one on one, person to person.

Though you can develop a kind of friendship/relationship online, the only authentic connections humans can have are in real life.

If you have a friendship oraffair AFTER you meet using digital communication, you can MAINTAIN that connection. But everyone needs to see and be with friends to recharge the personal connection.

People need to hear and see each other smile, listen to the tone of voice to catch jokes, see what registers on each others' faces, smell each other, perfumes and colognes, give hugs, kisses. Humans need touch, vision, all the senses to be stimulated while with another person.

Real life encounters allow us to eliminate people from our circles: People who have poor hygiene, bad manners, are dull, clueless, angry, selfish. Unless you're WITH someone regularly, you have little to no grasp of what a person is, truthfully, like.

Writing is one-sided and composed over time, and only reveals 7% of a person. This is from statistics and studies. Actions reveal how a person feels about you and your relationship to them.

Digital media supplements relationships that are recharged through personal meetings, and real-life encounters are the meat of human relationships.

And just as the writer can package themselves prettily, the reader can delude themself with fantasy: imagine what someone is like, take words and phrases how THEY think they mean, and keep the delusion going. This is what online dupers rely upon and is how such relationships can go on for years.

It's how people who are men trick cis men into thinking they are women: by never being physically seen. It's how trans people who don't want to reveal they're trans to someone they know would not be interested in being with a trans person, keep a "relationship" going. It's how scammers keep long distance, fake relationships going and bilk money from lonely people.

But LIES and subterfuge can never be the basis of healthy relationships.

[Anonymous]

In our digital age, it's more important than ever to redefine our communication skills in order to create deeper, more authentic connections. Here are some tips for doing so:

1. Practice active listening: When communicating with others, it's important to listen actively and with an open mind. This means paying attention to what the other person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and reflecting back what you've heard to ensure understanding.

2. Use empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. When communicating with others, it's important to put yourself in their shoes and try to understand their perspective. This can help you to build deeper connections and create a more authentic dialogue.

3. Be authentic: Authenticity is key to creating deeper connections with others. This means being true to yourself and expressing your thoughts and emotions honestly and openly.

4. Use nonverbal cues: Nonverbal cues such as eye contact, facial expressions, and body language can convey a great deal of information in a conversation. Using these cues effectively can help to create a deeper connection and show that you are engaged and present.

5. Limit distractions: In our digital age, it's easy to become distracted by technology and other stimuli. When communicating with others, it's important to limit distractions and be fully present in the conversation. This can help to create a deeper, more meaningful connection.

By practicing these skills, we can create deeper, more authentic connections with others in our digital age.

[exitseven]

Stop communicating by texts.

[Anonymous]

Spend more time getting to know people one on one.