The article “The Flight from Conversation” revolves around the internet that engages the society in bad light. The author, Sherry Turkle has written about the expiry of the society due to the bad habits such as texting most of the time even when the person is seated next to you at the dinner table. Considering that non-verbal conversations are real, can the internet facilitate a decent relationship? The use of the internet to maintain friendship is indeed a good way despite the truth that real human relations cannot hold through the internet (Gajadhar and John 63). This article enables the reader to record relevant facts regarding the daily life of the society. The author notes that conversations tend to disappear faster because of the use of phone, internet and messages in communication. In modern society, everyone is on his or her own thus making conversation through eye contact difficult to achieve. As a result, a good society tends to diminish faster. Good relationships have diminished overtime because people have lost direct contact in terms of increasing social contact through the internet.
According to the article, everyone fears to be alone and thus internet use is a way of getting busy. The society fears to be alone and no one is giving anyone the attention they require. Parents have failed to teach their children good communication skills thus the kids cannot properly engage each other in conversations (Derks, Agnet and Arjan 768). The addiction to the internet implies sharing a person’s beliefs, and thoughts thus a sure and convenient way of getting answers from another person (Livingstone and Ellen 583). A lot of misunderstandings arise in non-verbal conversations most of which stir trouble because of the different degree of understanding among people. However, Sherry Turkle in the article indicates the negative aspects brought about by the internet. She does not support internet use and uses her experience during research to defend her argument. This is evident in her statement “So I say look up, look at one another, and let’s start the conversation” (Turkle, par 26). Conversation can therefore be considered typical in any communication. According to Turkle, everyone should start a conversation like they have always done in the past. This does not mean conversations through the internet, but in person. Turkle’s statement can be considered to be a call for non-communicating society to arise and change the present behaviors.
Although Turkle in the article emphasizes societal decay in the event non-conversations are real, there are negative and positive aspects surrounding communication. A negative aspect arises when everyone texts while performing another activity. As a result, families sitting alone at home are reading email and texting according to Turkle (par 2). Despite being a true aspect; it is frightening because people would just communicate directly without the devices. The fact that no one is learning conversation with eye contact means that the modern society has a challenge having a good conversation (Livingstone et al. 593). A teenager who should learn from the parents only manages to hold a message through the internet .Turkle notes an example of a 16 year old boy who says that he cannot engage in a good conversation due to the lack of belief that it is possible. The boy says that face-to-face communication will be evident someday and not now but emphasizes the need to learn how to engage in a direct conversation (Turkle, par 7).
The positive aspect of communicating through the internet means that old friends can still stay in touch despite the distance involved. It is of essence to note that friends exist in the life of every person. “Human relationships are rich “according to Turkle (par. 11) so that everyone can feel the satisfaction. However, this fact creates a difficulty to cope with the internet as positive. In the event a person shares feelings and thoughts with friends through Twitter and Facebook, people will not be limited to themselves thus technology helps define human beings and their relationships with others (Turkle, par. 23).As a result, it is possible to ascertain that someone is listening though the comments on the post. There is no fear for being alone when a person is connected to the internet and the friends are also on the internet despite the superficiality involved.
According to Turkle (par.8), a negative aspect involving instant internet use is everyone living in a bubble because people grew up while fearing conversations. These people stare at their phones, text and listen to music using big earphones as they walk around. The thoughts of most people open up to one statement that of not looking up and starting a conversation (Darks et al. 776). However, everyone fears being alone and prefer to use the internet because people find difficulty communicating with others. Furthermore, humans use the internet for easy communication as most people mention that the “iPhone” and “Siri” continue to get updated by the day. According to most people, “Siri” is gaining friends so that everyone can talk when a loneliness feeling strikes. This is terrifying because the society is damaged rapidly. Although everyone lives together and surrounds each other, there is no person that cares about another in real life.
Conclusively, technology continues to change the communication styles in human relationships. It is true that long distance relationships can be maintained through the internet. As much as internet relationships are untrue, then non-verbal conversations are inexistent. The internet helps to keep the relationship going because of the distance involved and the difficulty to communicate directly. Despite having friends on Facebook who comment on posts, it is difficult to ascertain whether it is superficial or not. Overall, the internet facilitates good relationships through maintaining contact several times but it is unsuitable for maintaining decent relationships.
Works Cited
Derks, Daantje, Agneta H. Fischer, and Arjan ER Bos. "The role of emotion in computer-mediated communication: A review." Computers in Human Behavior 24.3 (2008): 766-785. Print
Gajadhar, Joan, and John Green. "The importance of nonverbal elements in online chat." Educause Quarterly 28.4 (2005): 63. Print
Livingstone, Sonia, and Ellen J. Helsper. "Parental mediation of children's internet use." Journal of broadcasting & electronic media 52.4 (2008): 581-599. Print
Turkle, Sherry. "The Flight from Conversation." The New York Times. 21 April 2012. Web. April 4, 2016
