1. Andrew Paladino
Assignment 2
SUID: 210305655
CRS 181
Part 1: Daily Log of Observation
On October 24, 2014 (Day 1 of giving up text messaging), I had no classes but
spent the day visiting my tutor and going to draft conferences to write an essay.
Later that day we (the Syracuse University Cross Country Team) traveled to Cornell
to race for the last time as Redshirt Freshmen. Later that night we decided we were
going to celebrate, but I insisted first on finishing my homework. I told my friends TJ
and Mickey that I would give them a call when I had completed it. After nearly three
hours, I called Mickey who didn’t answer and I was sent straight to voicemail. I then
called TJ to find no response as well. I then figured I’d take the elevator to their
room where I found a small party taking place. I concluded that calling my friends
who lived only 4 floors above me was somewhat inconvenient. I thought after that
maybe a simple text would have suited the situation better.
On Saturday, October 25, 2014 (Day 2 of giving up text messaging) I slept in
because our coaches had given us the day off. I woke up to find a couple text
messages that had been questions from my mom. I concluded that calling her to
answer her questions would be the perfect way to continue the experiment. As we
talked, I realized how much information we were giving and receiving
simultaneously, not only did I answer her questions, but I also got the chance to
update her on my college life and my running career. Living 8 hours away from
home is hard enough. It’s difficult when I’m busy because I rarely get to talk to the
ones I love most. Calling, or this verbal communication that took place allowed
emotions to be conveyed as well as wisdom filled-words. I actually got to hear her
voice, instead of read her thoughts. As I sat down to do my homework on Saturday, I
received a message from my father about the amount of money I had on my credit
card and thought, “Yet again another chance to experiment without texting.” Our
phone call not only solved the money situation, but it also allowed us to brainstorm
ideas about future careers and how I can put myself in a situation to succeed.
Texting in these two circumstances instead of a phone call would have ultimately
resulted in a conversation that would have been monotonous.
On Sunday, October 26, 2014 (Day 3 of giving up text messaging) my friend
and I were attempting to decide on where to eat after our run. After receiving a
message from TJ asking if I wanted to eat at Ernie, I decided to call him. Although a
simple answer through text messaging seemed like it would have been more
suitable for the situation, our phone call broadened the topic of eating all together.
Instead of going to Ernie, we decided to go to the mall, and instead of it just being
the two of us; we were able to eat with four other people. The verbal form of
communication in this situation with TJ facilitated a whole new type of thinking. It
also sparked the interest in eating with more people. As a result of this interest,
more calls were made asking if different individuals wanted to join us for our meal. I
continued my no-texting experiment later that day. Instead of calling however, I
decided to Face-Time my twin sister, who I hadn’t seen in 3 months. This form of
communication differed greatly from both calling and texting.
2. Andrew Paladino
Assignment 2
SUID: 210305655
CRS 181
Instead of just looking at my sisters thoughts on a phone screen as seen through
messaging, or hearing her voice through a mike as conveyed through phone call, I
actually got to see the expressions on her face while I listened to what she had to
say.
Part 11: Reflection
The communication medium that I decided to give up for my communication
experiment was the medium of text messaging. Instead of replying to people in a
conversation over text or answering questions that had been sent to me from
members of my family, I decided that I would substitute a reply text by making a
telephone call. In one instance, I even used the relatively new medium of “Face-
Time”. The medium of text messaging carries a particular type of dimension that is
often times termed asynchronous, but many argue that this medium is
synchronous depending on the type of situation (DiDomenico, 2014). According to
Summer in the book, The Breakup 2.0 (Ilana Gershon, 2010), “text messages are
always answered. They require both attention and response.” Summer is exclaiming
that text messaging in a way is synchronous process. An asynchronous event argues
that when one is presented with a message, the receiver can read it at any given
time. Further the receiver can then decide when to respond (it could be within
minutes or even days).
A synchronous event however is defined by its continual flow of information.
The conversation goes back and forth at a high rate. The medium of a telephone call,
as well as a Face-Time conversation would almost always be called a synchronous
event. I decided that I would only use the medium of a phone call, and further a
Face-time conversation, to challenge the fact that I often times take advantage of
conveniences associated with text messaging. Initially, I predicted that calling
people would be a waste of time when I needed to answer simple questions. I also
thought that these verbal mediums would put myself in situations with greater
awkwardness.
Many of my daily observations were recorded after making phone calls to
members of my family as well as many of my friends. I observed instances when a
phone call was more convenient that a text message and vice versa. I found that
many people found It strange that I had called them to answer small questions that
they had originally texted me. Many of my phone calls, however, resulted in
conversations of greater depth that ultimately created situations that would never
have existed without the synchronous flow of quick information. I found myself
learning new ways to interpret the way people conveyed words or ideas, further I
dived into the methods of Second-Order Information (The Breakup 2.0, Ilana
Gershon, 2010).
At first, communication via calling was hard, only because I felt lazy. On
ordinary occasions, I never call people unless I need an instant reply. As I continued
to make phone calls, the process became easier. At one point, I almost preferred the
medium of a phone call. On the second day, I found the process to be the easiest.
3. Andrew Paladino
Assignment 2
SUID: 210305655
CRS 181
This might have been the result of having two great conversations with both my
mom and my dad, whereas, these conversations might not have existed in the first
place if I would have conversed through text messaging.
This experiment created a type of communication that many people my age
rarely refer to. Communicating to others through the phone enhanced the
conversation. It allowed me to hear emotions and connect with these emotions by
alternating my tone of voice. I found that matching another’s tone made the
conversation flow with ease. Conversing with my sister through FaceTime was a
delight in the sense that I haven’t seen her in almost three months. Although I saw
her through a screen, I was able to see her emotion and relate. My social presence
that was conveyed in that particular situation allowed her to view me as an existing
entity in a different locale (DiDomenico, 2014). I learned further that
communicating verbally brings about information that is not prevalent through text
messaging. Verbal communication in a sense is almost like analyzing a book, rather
than reading its cover (brought about through non-verbal communication, or text
messaging.
Throughout this communication experiment, I have come to find that the
ways to which we communicate when we are separated from others have been
revolutionized. To think that two decades ago we were only able to make phone
calls is astounding. The ways to which we communicate depend on how formal or
informal a particular situation is. (The Breakup 2.0, Gershon, 2010) For example,
if we needed to get in touch with our professor about an assignment, we would
write a formal email. In contrast, if we needed ask one of our parent’s permission to
purchase something, we might send a simple text message. Monitoring the way I
have communicated with others in the past three days has allowed me to see
instances when one form of communication is easier than the other.
I feel as if the medium of text messaging has almost isolated individuals from
one another. It has allowed for awkwardness to be prevalent through verbal
communication between individuals we are not familiar with. As a result,
incoherence has been built around the definition of a relationship. Two individuals
can’t possibly be “talking” if they have made it a routine to only text? Or can they? It
seems that as a result of this isolation of verbal communication, we are growing
more distant in our relationships. How well do we know someone we’ve only
messaged? The strange side of the topic states that information prevalent on social
media reveals that we basically know everything about a person. In summary, the
ways in which we communicate are always changing. One method may reveal
something different about a person than another method. We as individuals are
responsible for the way we shape our experiences with others.
4. Andrew Paladino
Assignment 2
SUID: 210305655
CRS 181
Sources Sited:
Gershon, Ilana (2010) The Break- Up 2.0: Disconnecting Over Media; Cornell
University Press: Ithica and London
DiDomenico, S (2014). LECTURE NOTES, CRS 181. Syracuse University.
Wednesday October 4, 2014-Friday
Sources cited Online: Google Dictionary,
Wordpress: Apo-Cintro (2011) Cited:
https://apocintro2011.wordpress.com/tag/ilana-gershon/