In The Art Of Communication, Does An Emoji Satisfy & Say It All?

As a writer, communicator, storyteller, lover of words and wordsmith I value and love the Art of communication. Today’s topics ask the question, when you have taken great care to be mindful of your words or gave a response to assist another after they have requested something, is one not more worthy of more than a thumbs up or a heart emoji? Unless you’re running for your life from god knows what and cannot respond!

So yes, I am coming out of yet another closet in this article and admitting this whole emoji way of relating as any form of true communication from an old school social etiquette point of view is one of my pet peeves, I only have a few left thank god. I get it, these are crazy busy times, and I use all social media platforms for business and a way to promote my work and to contribute to some positivity for our world, I am asking in my refined wisdom have we not lost our way to truly communicate and not hide behind a text?

There are many ways to communicate, and I have cultivated my skills in this area through most of my professional work in public relations, teaching others, and being in the field of luxury promotions, so most of this comes naturally to me at this point, that and a love of words and what they can convey and do for another. I did not grow up in a household of open and honest dialogue, and most probably is the fuel that keeps me upfront and clear in all communications, who does not love that when someone says and means what they say with no hidden agenda, you feel it, you always know where you stand.

No one likes the silent treatment, who has time for that nonsense in our new world of constant change, or the hurtful silly parts of the guessing game of turning yourself inside out to understand someone’s passive-aggressive behavior or your own for that matter, no kids that ship has sailed. About a year ago in my Instagram feed a classy colleague posted a quote I believe was from Brene Brown who is an amazing thought provoker, “No response is a response.”

This was wild and news to me as a communicator, and inspired me to go off and write an article on it titled, “Is no response a response? You know me Mr. words and storyteller with expression had to offer up my take on that one and it was a great teaching to be sure. I even tried that wisdom out for size and yes it does hold value and meaning. Everything can become habitual both positive and negative, just think of how the world now walks down the street staring at the phone and not heads up taking in their environment.

Does a text or Emoji always satisfy and is it enough? To each their own and it depends on the situation and what form of connection is replying or sending you a thumbs up, I appreciate them from my friends and others who enjoy my articles. Yet social media contacts /followers at most are not true friends, we all know this, and it is how we get things done or receive most news in the world at this time. I recently reminded an old friend who came back into my life after a 20 year absence, lets have a phone chat to truly reconnect beyond a quick text or shared emoji, which was not doing it for me.

I shall forge ahead as Michael being Michael who loves to send real mail thank you notes, take a moment to give a few kind words and encouragement via writing or speaking, yet I do not expect you to do the same depending on request or our formed relationship, though if you want to stay in communications beyond work or social acquaintance, then I will need more than a thumbs up emoji in the social media world of hellos to confirm our next lunch date at the Carlyle Hotel in New York with Bette Midler.