Flash back
It was several years ago that I met him on a Bombay Walk - the ones where they take you around to see and learn about the colonial aspects of S.Bombay. He was a journalist working for a well-known newspaper and I liked his articles on the art and culture of the city. I was happy to see him and for an opportunity to talk to him about his work. So I walked up alongside, introduced myself and told him how much I admired his articles.
'Which article?' he asked.
I mumbled something like. 'Er...I do not remember which one exactly....but...but....
To which he snapped back, 'You haven't read my articles.'
Though I had genuinely meant my appreciation of his work, as often happens when asked specifically what, you tend to fumble for words. You are hard put to explain what it is you have liked. For, it is just a feeling you have about the person or the work they do.
The person you have expressed your admiration for, thinks your inability to express the feeling is a sign of your insincerity.
Flash forward
I think the words of Buehner are particularly relevant in today's lockdown times, when cooped up at home, we tend to spend inordinately long periods of times on social media. Given the large number of posts and messages we have to go through, and the conversations we have on them, it is wise to remember to be careful with our responses. Given the urge to respond quickly to messages, we tend to overlook the feelings our words are likely convey to the receiver. Especially so with the abbreviated words we tend to use to save time and even with the emojis which we choose to respond with.
So before you respond to messages on the social media, remember to;
- Pause
- Think - spend a few moments rereading what you have written.
- Does the language you have employed, convey exactly what you have in your mind?
- How is it likely to make the receiver feel? Remember, your words may very well have an impact on the nature of your relationship with him or her.
- Go - press the Send button.
