Different Forms of Communication

[lilmutegirl]

Do you feel differently about different forms of communication?
I tend to feel more comfortable texting/emailing/posting things on forums (things that don't require me to actually speak). I'm also okay with chatting online, but pretty much only do that with one friend, whom I've known half my life (I think it may have something to do with it being in real-time, as opposed to a message somebody could read and respond to later).
However, there are times that I'd rather speak in person (not on the phone). Usually if there is a complicated subject and I'm afraid I'll confuse somebody, I'd rather see them. I guess this may have to do with gestures, or something (I'm not really sure).
I don't even talk to my bf on the phone. We text or speak in person.
I was glad when I got texting on my cell phone, because it's a better form of communication for me.
Even though I am somewhat more comfortable, I still get nervous drafting texts and emails sometimes, depending on the recipient and subject.

 

[O'Killian]

I've always been most comfortable with real-time online chat communications (ala IRC, AIM, whatever). Thinking on it, when we first got Internet access in my early teens, I sort of used it as the social life I was too clueless to know I didn't have. That's not to say I'm particularly comfortable meeting strangers that way, but can deal with it more easily than anything else.

I've been a messageboard user for just as long, and I was pretty good with them until a few years ago when I found myself getting particularly anxious about them. I always preferred smaller communities where you can have long-form discussions and everybody knows everybody. Larger ones tend to just move too fast for me and often wind up with people talking past each other. I'm also anxious about e-mails for some reason, though I use those extremely rarely.

I'm probably strange among 20-somethings for not owning (or wanting) a cellphone, and the idea of texting is just foreign to me. I'm pretty sure I have a full-blown phobia of talking on the phone, too, though I'm perfectly capable of it when I push myself to do it.

Like you, I prefer to see folks in person if I can at all help it rather than use the phone. I just think it's easier to make yourself understood when you've got more to work with than your voice. I suppose it is somewhat amusing in that I actually have a good speaking voice. I've been told that 'you have a voice for radio' (no, not a face), and did the school announcements for two years in high school. The whole student body knew my voice even if they had no clue who I was, heh.

As is likely obvious from my answers, though, I've always preferred expressing myself through writing.

 

[Bustn Justin]

I love to text. As well I like to chat rather than post.

 

[Kat]

I'm usually an observer in a forum environment and if there's a large group of people I tend to withdraw a bit. I'm not a big talker but I probably feel the most comfortable one on one or doing something together like a hobby or something that takes the focus off just talking.