Robert L.

Andres
BIST – 11

Purposive Communication: Midterm Examination

Title: The Flight from Conversation
Author: Sherry Turkle

1.) Do you agree with Turkle’s opinion that “The little devices we carry are so powerful that
they change not only what we do, but also who we are”? Prove your answer.
Yes, I agree with Sherry Turkle’s opinion. Because modern technology changed
our lifestyle. Not only just our lifestyle but also our culture. From books to e-books, from
post cards to emails, from letters to chats, from face-to-face conversation to video chats.
Many of our culture changed because of technology, and it also changed who we are
because we base real life in what technology says. An example for this is people outfits,
some say that contemporary outfits are aesthetic but some say it is ugly. They only say
what they want to say because the social media tells them to. Most of the media will say
that “This outfit is trending so wear this”, so that if they see outfits other than the trend,
they’ll say that the outfit is ugly.

2.) React on this: “Social media continually asks us “what is on our mind” but we have little
motivation to say something TRULY SELF-REFLECTIVE. SELF-REFLECTION in
conversation requires trust”
Indeed, social media asks us what’s on our mind. We do say things, we open up
what’s on out mind but we only say it briefly. There’re always things we can and cannot
tell. Whether if they are our close friends, or family. We say some point but not entirely
what we feel deep inside.
3.) Do you think that connecting with a lot of friends in FB/Twitter/IG and other social
networking sites made us feel less lonely? Prove your answer.
Connecting with online friends indeed made us less lonely. Because there is
someone that will listen to you, someone that will try to understand you, will hear you
out. Because not saying things will only pile up into your heart which is why it feels
heavier and heavier every time you won’t say a thing. Online friends may not be the same
as real friends but at least they’ll come whenever you call them, unlike those in real life
friends that won’t show up whenever you need them. I, myself have experienced this
such matter. I have an online friend whom I never met in real life, but he’s always there
 whenever I need him. I open up my problems to him, and I even trust him despite not
meeting him.
4.) Which would you prefer connecting, on social media or face-to-face conversation? Why?
I would rather connect with face-to-face people. Although I have said that it is
better to have online friend because they’ll come. But talking to them face-to-face is
much better. Why? Because you are sure that they are on your sight. You know you are
talking to someone, someone that will hear you out, someone that will comfort you,
someone that will help you whatever your problems are, and specially someone who is
there by your side. The best example for this is your family, your family is always there.
Although sometimes they have work to do, but they will always come home because
they’re your family. They will hear you out, they will comfort you, will give you hugs
and kisses. They’re just there, nothing more, nothing less.
5.) Do you think social media improved our communication and deepened our relationships?
Explain your answer.
No, social media didn’t improve our communication, instead they made us social
anxious. Because social media convinced us that the world is full of judgement, people
that will criticize you, people that’ll judge you, rate you, talk thrash to you. That’s why
whenever we you see a person, you’ll just chicken out and get shy. Because you
overthink what they will say to you, whether if it’s a good thing, or a bad thing, a positive
one or even a negative one. Social media somehow deepened our relationships, because
even if you don’t know who they really are, at least they comfort you and you’ll fee loved
by someone.