Technology & communication

This thread is very interesting in how the two topics of technology usage and communication have blended together. It would appear the sensitivity in this group is to improper usage of technology as a means of communication. I'll share a few thoughts, although they not be directly related to the previous comments:

I'm generally appalled at the lack of communication skills that young people have these days, which I attribute to usage of informal media like FB, twitter, texting, and email(although that is arcane for people under 20). Whether I'm volunteering in a high school classroom or teaching a college class, one of the basic lessons I spend significant time on is professional communication. The biggest offenses tend to happen on email, and people mistake email as a place where basic grammar and etiquette do not apply. Big mistakes for sure...

I am not a fan and not a user of THE FACEBOOK or THE TWITTER, although thank goodness for Al Gore who invented THE INTERWEB so I could use THE GOOGLE. It sure does make it easier to find movie quotes and order pizzas. I do use LINKEDIN, which basically is facebook for professionals. The reason I don't use FB is there just aren't that many people with whom I want to communicate, and those I do I have their email and phone number.

Although using technology for communicating sure is convenient, there just isn't a substitute for a good old fashioned handwritten note. I have personalized note cards and one of my 2010 goals (that's another well-debated family topic) is to write at least 3 personal notes to someone each week. In my experience a handwritten note solicits the greatest responses of appreciation of any way of communicating. Standing out to a potential client, impacting an employee, or lifting the spirits of a friend going through a difficult situation can be as simple as a 5 minute investment writing a note.

Companies are spending big dollars using social media. See a link here to an editorial on the topic. This is a question I've debated at length with so many people: How do companies actually make money by using social media? Aside from a very soft marketing benefit and perhaps enhanced brand awareness (although likely to people that already know your brand) how do they benefit? I'd like to see what some large companies are spending for social media consulting and use and how they calculate their ROI for those expenses.

To quote "the level headed one": I think I've gone on long enough for this round.