Barriers to Communication

We live in an era of unprecedented communication capabilities.  The confluence of various technologies, especially cell phones, satellites, and the internet, have given rise to a world where anyone equipped with appropriate technology can instantly communicate with anyone else so-equipped, virtually anywhere on earth, or even in space.  Crucially, this technology is not limited to governments and the elite.  In many regions, MOST people have access to cell phones and the internet (though true satellite phones have yet to become widespread).  Anyone with internet access can "blog" -- moments after a blogger posts their thoughts online, they can be viewed by people all over the world.  Technology has even helped diminish language barriers, with quick electronic translators.

While I do not know whether communication, by itself, can solve the world's problems, I am fairly certain that the world's problems cannot be solved WITHOUT communication.  Unfortunately, as technology makes communication easier and easier, our society insists on raising barriers to effective, clear communication.

These barriers are not easy to put into words.  The clearest example involves racial issues.  The world has complicated racial issues and problems, yet our society has inadvertantly made even the discussion of racial issues a dangerous minefield.  Many people have lost their jobs or at least damaged their careers by making racial statements that were deemed socially unacceptable.  At present, the majority of "white" Americans are uncertain even of "safe" terminology to describe members of other races.  While certain terms are clearly taboo, the definition of "proper" seems to be always changing.  This is awkward even for me to discuss, since I, too, am unaware of the current socially-acceptable terminology.  I honestly do not know whether it is objectionable for me to make reference to "white" Americans or "black" Americans.  Suffice it to say that I am basically afraid to discuss racial issues -- as are millions of Americans.

This brings up another barrier to communication.  In our polarized society, people are constantly searching for "ammunition" to use against their enemies.  When someone makes a statement, it does not matter much whether it is a sincere statement of their belief, or totally taken out of context, or a joke, or perhaps a true slip of the tongue, with NO basis in their belief.  If the statement can be used to damage them by their opponents, it WILL be used to damage them.  This means it is dangerous for our leaders and celebrities to say ANYTHING, and it discourages all but the most superficial, simplistic discussions of our complicated problems.

When John McCain was running for President of the United States, he made a joke about what he believed -- in response to a question during a debate.  As he said it, he laughed, and then, to make sure, said, "I'm joking.  That is NOT what I believe -- though I suspect that by tomorrow, people will be claiming that I actually BELIEVE it."  At the end of the debate, a journalist was asking someone from Barack Obama's campaign about the debate, and the campaign staffer said, "Well, I'm excited that John McCain admitted he believed ..."  The journalist was incredulous, and said, "But that was a JOKE!"  The campaign staffer said, "That doesn't matter.  He SAID it, and we have him on videotape SAYING it.  If he didn't BELIEVE it, he shouldn't have SAID it!  We WILL be using it in our ads."

At the risk of sounding like a politician, and/or a lawyer, the truth is that even a precise recording of someone's WORDS does not necessarily accurately reflect their IDEAS.  A candidate for President of the United States recently said, "I like being able to fire people ..."  Listening to just a few more sentences of the speech reveals that the truth is more complicated.  The candidate does NOT simply "like being able to fire people".  He believes that everyone should have the option of switching providers, if someone provides poor service to them.  You may agree with that idea or disagree with it; either way, if you tell me the candidate "likes to fire people" then I will consider you guilty of deliberately misrepresenting his ideas.  If you tell me, "Well, that's what he SAID!" then I will tell you that I do not CARE what he SAID, I care about his IDEAS.  (Incidentally, the very same candidate said, "I'm not concerned about the very poor ..."  Again, if you actually listen to the IDEAS he expressed, rather than just the words, the fact is that he IS concerned about the very poor -- and, again, I really don't care what he SAID.)

Perhaps the purest, saddest example of a barrier to communication is the fact that we are now legally advised not to say "I am sorry," for fear that the statement can later be used in court as an admission of guilt.  Our society officially discourages people from saying "I'm sorry."  How can we hope to get along with each other if we are prohibited from saying "I'm sorry"?

In a perfect world, we would actually listen to each other, and sincerely consider what other people had to say.  IF they said something racially or ethnically insensitive, then we would judge whether they spoke out of malice or simply ignorance.  IF they said something that sounded "wrong" or outrageous, we would work first to clarify our understanding of their true position, BEFORE we seized upon the isolated statement as "evidence" of their inherent "wrongness", or as a "true" statement of their belief.  And, incidentally, after car accidents, EVERYONE would apologize to everyone else, and anyone who claimed that the apology was evidence of "guilt" would be laughed out of court, or perhaps tarred and feathered.

A few weeks ago, I learned of a campaign to do away with the term "illegal aliens".  I think most people in the United States would agree that the country has problems relating to ... well, I'm not sure what I am now supposed to CALL it, but I am fairly certain that making it more difficult to DISCUSS will NOT contribute to resolution of the problems.

Some of these issues are similar to those encountered when attempting to speak another language.  I am not proud of the fact that I am fluent only in English, and do my best to learn words and phrases in other languages.  I HOPE that those I speak with will appreciate the effort, rather than take offense.  Meanwhile, English-speakers such as myself  now run the constant risk of offending various groups for whom specific words and terms have become a battleground -- not only racial and ethnic groups, but groups based citizenship status, sexual orientation, or even those insisting that the English language be made "gender neutral".  This is not to say that these groups do not have valid concerns, but I question whether making people afraid to communicate is the best way to accomplish their goals.  For most of us, the easiest thing, and the safest thing, is to simply quit communicating, or at least avoid many areas of conversation -- but this will not resolve our problems, or help bring the people of the world closer together.

Each of us now has the capability to easily communicate with more people than ever before, but as the QUANTITY of communication increases, our society as a whole seems intent on reducing the QUALITY.  We must fight "political correctness" and "gotcha" moments and instead attempt an honest and open discussion of ideas -- focussing on ideas rather than inadequate and/or possibly offensive words and statements -- and finding both our points of agreement and our true, honest differences.  We will never be able to do that if we are afraid to communicate.

In this case, the truth is pretty straightforward.