Can I speak with the manager of your emotions?
These illustrations highlight Johnathan Haidt’s opening chapter on the differences of ‘Virtual vs. Real’ relationship fundamentals.
The assertion is that these fundamentals, only in the past 20 years have lost their way. Big-tech’s addictive digital apps have muddled up millions of years of built-in ancestral communal behavior.
Somehow, asychronous messaging (text messages, DMs, comments) has created an expectation of immediate reply, signaling severe consequences if ignored in the tribe.
But real-life communications are synchronous and rich with nuance, tone, intonation, timing, none of which are able to replicate via text-based.
The anonymous masses, often times is still more lonely than the genuine presence of a few real life people.
Popularity, clout and metrics have clouded aspects of what actual value of friendship, community or connection really are.
No amount of emoji, animated gif, or all caps typing can replicate nuanced human presence.
A handshake, a hug, or a high-five, are all rich with social cues, tiny interactions that are much more complex compared to a simply typing out a wall of text to vent.