Keep in touch not out of touch

Before the advent of social media, people used to communicate via phone calls, text messages and other means of electronic communication (some of which are now virtually redundant or worse still extinct). Neighbours , friends and relatives used to pay each other visits more often just to see how the other party was doing. Then social media came and disrupted our concept of checking up on people as well as social interactions.

Don't get me wrong , I am not heaping all the blame at the doorsteps of social media. Although it provides tools or functionalities that were probably intended to enhance social interactions between people especially for those that are far apart, it is having the opposite effect in some instances. Little wonder, someone commented that:

We are so connected yet disconnected

This statement may seem ironic, but it is sadly true.

Who knows how many spouses or families have strained relationships due to unhealthy or improper usage of social media. Some spend so much time keeping in touch with friends who are far away while neglecting the people who are right in front of them. Children spend so much of their time chatting with friends on social media platforms while not giving attention to their siblings who they probably feel aren't 'cool' enough. Everyone now keeps to themselves and their mobile devices that is.

There are many social media applications or platforms that offer the option of voice and video calls, the question is how many of us use these options to check up or communicate with friends, family or colleagues who are far away. Rather we stick to the cheaper and more convenient option of text alone. The video call option I especially believe was intended to enhance social interaction but most people hardly use it.

There's a whole world of difference between when you text, call or see someone in real time when communicating with them. Texting may not convey the the emotional state of an individual as not all of us are very good at conveying our emotions via written communication. With the latter options of communication , one can easily discern or have an idea of the their emotional or physical state in some cases to the extent of noticing things that the other party might not have paid attention to.

Let me illustrate this, for sometime I have been having some health challenges which reflects in the way I speak when I receive phone calls or other forms of voice communications. My current state will in no way be reflected if someone chose to communicate with me via text except of course I decide to specifically let such person know about my situation. A friend called me a few hours ago and from the way I sounded during the call, he clearly knew something was wrong and was prompted to inquire about my health, this would likely not have happened if we had communicated via text.

In the midst of this literal madness of trying to achieve so much or making all that money you dream of , do not just see some of your contacts only as a means to achieving your goals. See them as people first who you should interact with, show concern for their welfare and render assistance when possible. Rendering assistance doesn't always involve tangible things,a piece of advice or kind words spoken out of genuine concern could brighten someone's day. In some instances such words have literally changed lives especially in a world where so many people are walking about with the burden of depression.

What I am advocating for is to not just limit your interaction or conversations with your contacts to text alone. Make it a habit to actually check up on them via using voice communication or video calls if available, as these offer you the option of assessing their condition better than text. Better still whenever you have time to spare, get on a bus or hop into your vehicle and pay physical visits to your contacts. You'd be marvelled at the effect these kind of interactions have on your relationship with others when compared to texting alone.

What do I know, these may all just be perceived as the rantings of someone who wants to bash social media but ask yourself, are the people in your contacts just simply names who you connect with only when you need something from them or do you genuinely care about them and put in that extra effort to actually see how they are faring.

Let me close this piece with a story of a rather unfortunate incident which occured in the United Kingdom. It was reported that a lady had died in her apartment and her body was only discovered years later when she had defaulted on her rent for so long. The discovery of her decomposed corpse occured when law enforcement officers forcefully made entry to her residence to effect her eviction only to be welcomed by the scene of her lifeless body. This incident brings so many questions to mind.

She was probably a name in someone somewhere contact list, how come no one bothered to check up on her ? the same thing applies to her neighbours and colleagues at work.

Shukran

Danke

Merci

Gracias

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Спасибо

for reading.