Opinion: too much dialogue, not enough communication

The human race has been communicating for over 200,000 years. During this time, we have developed numerous subtle co-dependant systems for transmitting our intended message and interpreting reactions. Choice of words, verbal intonations, movements of the body, pauses and other subtleties all blend into a complex puzzle which we have become accustomed to decoding.

Throughout this same history, we've created communication formats that part-represent our more complete human to human communication: written letters, telephone, video, and most recently digital formats including email, forums, blogs and instant messages.

These modern systems are often referred to as communication platforms. Perhaps this terminology is fitting; a platform enables something to happen, but doesn't necessarily facilitate it, in the same way that a pencil and blank sheet of paper enables drawing, but doesn't facilitate a work of art.

The result is that our generation - the first to experience most of our daily communication through non 'in-person' formats - is losing the skill of communication. Never before have so many been compelled to publically exhibit snarky, cynical, or self-indulgent communication (such as this, perhaps).

My gut feeling is that we're at the lowest ebb of this downturn, where many automatically believe what they read online - without questioning the source or self-interests of the writer; over-value their limited knowledge on complicated subjects - such as copyright and financial markets; and revel in the instant-gratification of 'getting one over' on a stranger in front of the crowd (the intellectual equivalent of ramming a vegetable up the orifice of a stock-bound criminal in a mediaeval town square).

Thankfully, there are signs of recovery.

The electronic platform is increasingly being used to co-ordinate real-world activities and meet-ups, perhaps as a result of our waning enthusiasm for technology, or perhaps because we instinctively miss the full-communication format. Mobile phones with integrated positioning systems together with applications such as Google Latitude and Brightkite actually enable the meeting of people and subsequent communication. We're even fighting back against poor communication with clever communication-manipulating techniques, such as Disemvowelling.

We have created incredible platforms for interaction. Now, let's build the tools that help us communicate.