Where’s the Integrity
11 December 2006
Welcome to the future where it’s easy to be in touch, and equally as easy to instantly disconnect from other.
Email, text messaging, it’s changed the way we communicate. In some instances, i.e. the delivery of bad news, technology has replaced the need for face-to-face conversations altogether.
Bearers of bad news - à la Britney Spear’s “IDIVORCEU” text message - can use technology to literally avoid facing an emotionally distressing confrontation with the recipient.
“Have a nice life.” Press send and they’re gone! How brilliant is that?!
Well it’s brilliant in as much as the dumper can remain totally removed both from their feelings and the feelings of the dumpee. Staring at “your message has been sent” does, after all, afford one the opportunity to circumvent accountability.
But where’s the integrity in that!
If you’ve been on the receiving end of a txt or email along lines of “Its Over,” I bet the message felt anything but honorable, upright and respectful. In fact, I bet it felt downright cowardly.
I’d even go so far as to say on a scale of 1 to 10, the emotional intellligence of digital dumpers registers at around zero - sorry Britney!
Consciously sidestepping someone else’s discomfort, robs dumpers of the chance to learn how to deal with difficult emotions.
When a relationship is over, literally facing what one wishes to avoid is exactly what needs to happen; the ability to manage one’s and others emotions promotes personal growth and emotional intelligence.
With that in mind …
Welcome to the future where it’s not only recommended that you throw out your TV, it is also advisable, for the sake of your emotional development, that you abandon text messaging and personal emailing.
Just Kidding! I mean how could we do away with digital technology?
However, Britney-esque behavior would suggest that given technological advancements integrity in dating and relating is more important than ever.
So if you’re about to do the dumping, find the courage to step out from behind your computer, and or phone, and have an old fashioned face-to-face conversation. Simply, Bloggers, it’s the right thing to do.
December 12th, 2006 at 9:53 am