I had two conversations today with really fantastic and interesting people. (No, I'm not buttering them up...I really think that.) One of them took place in person over breakfast and the other was on the phone at the end of the day. My behavior during each couldn't have been any more different. In person, I'd like to think I have a clear train of thought, I'm focused, responsive. Visual communication, to me, represents a safe set of boundries... you can't really go wandering off phyisically or mentally because you are bound by not only the propreity of locking up with someone face to face, but by the constraints of real observation. There is a face in front of you...its a constant throughout your conversation and it acts as an anchor. A good chunk of your brain focuses on that face and nothing else. On the phone, you are cast off into the churning sea of the day's images and soundbites...unteathered by an opposing face, free to drift. I feel like I make less sense when I can't look at a face. My mouth is moving, but I hear myself drowning. Someone throw me an eyebrow or a chin! Anything to hold me in place!
Text is fine. I've always loved text. Even as far back as Prodigy chat rooms, I always found text to be a focused and expressive form of communication. There are words on the screen and I'm supposed to look at them. It's like a track...one of those hand trigger car racing games. Very easy to play as long as you don't go too fast. So, if you ever ask to get on the phone with me, just know that you're probably going to get the short end of the stick in terms of all the possible ways to communicate with me.