2008 Woodie Awards
Opposing Views: MySpace, texting, instant messaging ... is cellular and online socializing making our generation too impersonal?
NO
Briana Hernandez
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: Opinion
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Is this impersonal? You bet. Can you believe that I didn't have to go to an interview where not only would my actual work and qualifications be judged, but also something as trivial as my wardrobe and appearance?
Can you believe that I cut out all the formalities and went straight to the part where the big cheese said, "You're hired"? How horrible!
Internet communication, however, does not negate the need for people skills. In order to make connections, in any medium, you still have to know how to talk to people.
In my case with the mystery employer, I had to write an e-mail fit to charm and grab attention, just like speaking to someone in person. Just because I was using the Internet to make an impression, didn't mean that said impression was impersonal.
The Internet is not some magical tool that replaces the qualities you need to win people over.
The only shortcut the Internet offers is with distance in miles, not in honing of social skills.
One of my favorite albums of all time is Dead Kennedys' "Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death." The title is a commentary on consumerism in America - a commentary with which I actually agree.
We can't jump to conclusions, however, that everything that might make life a little more convenient is detrimental to society.
Let's not be so dramatic.
If anything, the gasoline we put in our cars to get us to someone's doorstep is a little worse than a slight lack of face time - in the big picture, that is.
Can you believe that I cut out all the formalities and went straight to the part where the big cheese said, "You're hired"? How horrible!
Internet communication, however, does not negate the need for people skills. In order to make connections, in any medium, you still have to know how to talk to people.
In my case with the mystery employer, I had to write an e-mail fit to charm and grab attention, just like speaking to someone in person. Just because I was using the Internet to make an impression, didn't mean that said impression was impersonal.
The Internet is not some magical tool that replaces the qualities you need to win people over.
The only shortcut the Internet offers is with distance in miles, not in honing of social skills.
One of my favorite albums of all time is Dead Kennedys' "Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death." The title is a commentary on consumerism in America - a commentary with which I actually agree.
We can't jump to conclusions, however, that everything that might make life a little more convenient is detrimental to society.
Let's not be so dramatic.
If anything, the gasoline we put in our cars to get us to someone's doorstep is a little worse than a slight lack of face time - in the big picture, that is.
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