Communication is a main topic in today's society for many reasons. First of all, there's so much information everywhere in our midst--how do you manage all that information? And, people are taking liberties with communication at a rate that we've never seen before. Of course people lied throughout time, but now we have leaders who lie all the time. Information has become a commodity that's bought, sold, used, and misused also at rates like never before. How do you navigate all of this "information commerce?" What laws should we have to regulate this information exchange? Wars are being fought even more now with lots of communication manipulation. For example, the American government stopped sharing vital war information with Ukraine this week putting that country in great jeopardy. Further, how do we communicate well in this time when information is taking center stage in all kinds of ways?
I admit I have a lot to learn about communication. I've always been faulted about being an over-communicator since my earliest days. I see people around me who are far better communicators. I recognize that there are many ways to communicate and what's good communication and what's not good communication depends a lot about time, place, and purpose.
So as I move along this communication path, I want to think about the following questions:
- What is good communication in these times?
- How do we manage the multiple communication vehicles in our midst--vehicles like social media, conversation, text, email, letter writing, speaking to a crowd, blogging, vlogging and more?
- What kinds of words do we use?
- How do we promote honest communication?
- How do we regulate communication in ways that prevent manipulation, crime, harm, destruction and death? Now that communication is a commodity in a major way, we do need to regulate communication in ways that retain free speech and also keep people safe and communication just.
- What kind of communication creates greater collaboration, care, and peace?
