This is a letter that I wrote to L earlier today:
Hi Dudette,
In my Communication Relational Theory class today, we talked about computer-mediated communication (CMC). One phenomenon observed is how people find CMC to be more desirable than face-to-face (FtF) communication. I started to wonder, “L and I write to each other a lot. One can say our relationship has been held together via CMC. Does this mean there is something lacking in our FtF interactions?”
So, I’m trying to remember the times we have talked FtF. Did I find our in-person conversations any less desirable than ones over the phone/email? I can not say that I have. In fact, I prefer talking to you in person.
Why, then, do I prefer email over the telephone? When I give out my contact information, I usually emphasize a preference for an email more than a phone call. At times, I have felt a preference to read your thoughts rather than talk. I haven’t made much sense about this situation, yet. I’ll get back to you when I do. Let me know if you have an idea, too.
Back to the same class, Relational Theory, there was an article about ending relationships. The scholar proposes several stages: differentiating, circumscribing, stagnating, and avoiding. I was alarmed. Just several days ago I wrote about how I am letting time go by without talking to you. I’m not actively avoiding you, but I wasn’t making any efforts to contact you, either. I was afraid I was subconsciously signaling an ending to our friendship. I assure you that I am not.
I typed in my first name as a query in Yahoo. I got thirteen hits. Apparently, I had a very positive influence on a girl back in high school. I found out via her online journal. As I mentioned before, I have an online journal of my own. No one can find my journal by using search engines. Ironically, I ran into someone else’s journal that talked about me instead. Pretty cool.
I found some other interesting information. Did you know that there is a company called K Industries? Some female swimmer is named Bronwyn K, and a woman, Rosetta K, died six months before I was born. I tried looking you up, but a bunch of Vietnamese women came up instead. Some of them are pretty famous, too. Your email did come up, though, for the Drosophila Conference registration.
Recent quotes that I’ve found interesting:
“TEACHER: Now I don’t want you to worry, class. These tests will have no effect on your grades. They merely determine your future social status and financial success. If any.” — Jon Vitti, ‘Bart the Genius’, The Simpsons, FOX TV, 1990.
“If it squirms, it’s biology: if it sinks, it’s chemistry; if it doesn’t work, it’s physics, and if you can’t understand it, it’s mathematics.” — Magnus Pyke, English scientist
“Love is just a simple-minded little euphemism for a grab-bag of primitive sexual impulses, unrelenting neediness, neurotic anxiety, and brain-squeezing social pressure. You’re pushed to couple with your so-called soulmate with all the poetry and rapture of two sea-slugs encountering each other on the bottom of the ocean. And I’m not just saying this because my girlfriend dumped me three weeks ago.” — Matt Groening, Life is Hell, 1992.
Have a good day tomorrow!
K