The Tower of Babel and the 6 People Involved

After the debate generated from my last entry I decided to take a breather from the political side of things for a while. Although I still faithfully watch CNN and other news programs with a healthy interest, I have come to realize that some people just want to engage in a little small talk from to time. Hey, what can I say? I ain’t mad at those folks but as the title of this blog suggests, small talk just ain’t my thing. That said, I still maintain that any discussions had in this forum have the capacity to teach even when the original intent of the message is completely pushed aside. With this in mind I decided to do a little research on the art of communication. The following is a theory of communication from Osmo Wiio in which he states:

“No form of communication is simple. Because of the number of variables involved, even simple requests are extremely complex. Theorists note that whenever we communicate there are really at least six "people" involved: 1) who you think you are; 2) who you think the other person is; 3) who you think the other person thinks you are; 4) who the other person thinks /she is; 5) who the other person thinks you are; and 6) who the other person thinks you think s/he is.

We don't actually swap ideas; we swap symbols that stand for ideas. This also complicates communication. Words (symbols) do not have inherent meaning; we simply use them in certain ways, and no two people use the same word exactly alike”.

I must admit that Wiio’s theory has forced me to confront the notion that maybe I originally retreated to the realm of cyberspace because I have become somewhat disheartened with the rigors and disappointments of human communication. I would even further admit that last week’s debacle momentarily made me somewhat disenchanted with my current form of communication; not because of differing opinions but because it seems that the goal of reaching understanding was never achieved. But I digress.

When I began blogging it was at time when I felt extremely over stimulated and under attack in the midst of a growing population of individuals whom I felt had much to say but no time for authentic interpersonal connections. I decided that maybe a more effective way to get any message out would be in a forum where there would be no distractions. I would blog passionately with one goal in mind: to send a message and have it received completely unmolested. Oh how naïve I was! If Wiio’s theory of communication is correct however, no one is to blame. A pessimist would suggest that the advances we have made in communication are simply another attempt to build yet another tower of Babel. However, the higher the tower gets the more true understanding is lost. But like Wiio also states ‘There is no way to not communicate’. Even reluctance to interact suggests something. So I have decided to leave the waters of my own personal Walden Pond, dry my self off, and re-engage in the conversation…Even if I am the only one talking and/or listening. But as always other talkers and listeners are welcome.

p.s. I thought Jukka Korpela’s analysis of Wiio’s theory was quite interesting. Maybe others will also.

Wiio's laws: Communication usually fails, except by accident.

Wiio's laws are "humoristically formulated serious observations about how human communication usually fails except by accident". Here's a quick summary (excerpted from Jukka Korpela's detailed analysis):

1. Communication usually fails, except by accident.
1. If communication can fail, it will.
2. If communication cannot fail, it still most usually fails.
3. If communication seems to succeed in the intended way, there's a misunderstanding.
4. If you are content with your message, communication certainly fails.
2. If a message can be interpreted in several ways, it will be interpreted in a manner that maximizes the damage.
3. There is always someone who knows better than you what you meant with your message.
4. The more we communicate, the worse communication succeeds.
1. The more we communicate, the faster misunderstandings propagate.
5. In mass communication, the important thing is not how things are but how they seem to be.
6. The importance of a news item is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
7. The more important the situation is, the more probably you forget an essential thing that you remembered a moment ago.