MARIA LUISA SALCINES: Connected but not always communicating

McALLEN — Technological developments have helped us connect in a way that no other generation has ever experienced. We can communicate with our family and friends at any time and almost anywhere simply by picking up our cellphones, or through some form of online networking.

The need for connection is universal, and technology has given us a way to reach more people more often, but we have also lost an important part of connecting — human contact, which is something that can never be replaced.

People today expect instant responses. Email and texting make it easy to communicate faster, and without having to make small talk.

The problem is that non-verbal communication and texting also make some people more inclined to say things they wouldn’t face to face. And it also opens the door to misinterpreting things because communicating isn’t any longer just about the words you use.

Communication has to do with your facial expressions, and the lack of human contact is getting some people in trouble.

There is danger in using symbols and quick messages in conveying important issues that can affect your personal relationships.

I read somewhere that our brain is lazy and when it doesn’t understand something, it just attaches itself to what it thinks it means. That makes unclear communication dangerous.

It is important during this era of technological savvy that we communicate with our loved ones in person and teach our children how to verbalize their feelings.

Technology can sometimes come in handy when our children are not listening to us, but will read a text. However, text messages will never replace heart-to-heart conversations.

Nothing can replace a hug or the look in someone’s eyes when you are talking.

I’ve noticed especially with teens that because texting is their primary source of communication, more misunderstandings occur.

Parents, texting is great. But when you need to tell your child something important, especially when it is something you are uncomfortable talking about, be sure to do it in person.

Encourage your children to talk to you, and to call their family and friends when they need to thank someone for a gift. If we don’t encourage our children to do this, we are in danger of raising a generation of kids that will avoid confronting things face to face.

All the technology in the world cannot take the place of what occurs when we can hear the other person express their feelings.

Misinterpreting a message is easy when there is no face and tone of voice to make clear the intent and meaning. Technology will never take the place of listening to someone’s words.

We cannot allow ourselves to become lazy and use technology as a crutch when we want to avoid uncomfortable situations. We should be solving issues and communicating our sentiments in person.

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Maria Luisa Salcines is a freelance writer, and certified parent educator with The International Network for Children and Families in Redirecting Children’s Behavior and Redirecting for a Cooperative Classroom. Follow her on Twitter @PowerOfFamily or contact her at her website at www.redirectingchildrenrgv.org.