Communication Paradox

All of us are a mass of contradictions. Is there any one who disputes that? Even though many of often claim we are totally consistent in our actions and views, the truth is just the opposite. Using myself as an example, I am introvert yet each semester I teach several college classes and enjoy the challenge of standing in front of a room full of students trying to be engaging. Does that make me a flip-flopper? Maybe. But it definitely makes me human. The same, I believe, holds true for many of us when it comes to communication. There is one perspective on what is the most effective form of communication that runs counter to how many of us actually seem to carry out this act.


Generally, communication scholars, including the top brass at the Public Relations Society of America, view effective communication occurring when two people or publics are engaged in a two-way flow of interaction. In other words, effective communication is at-play when the parties talk with rather than at each other. But then there's the reality of communication. Using as an example the many so-called news talk shows on commercial and cable television these days, one would be hard-pressed to see much "talking with" going on. Instead, we see folks often talking over each other in their quest to be heard.


An increasing number of polls indicate growing dissatisfaction among the general population with many of our country's major entities, including the media, government and elected officials. The unhappiness is triggered by feelings that these entities are not doing an adequate job of addressing our needs and concerns. Not nearly as much "talking with" is going on as we would like. The result is a contradiction between the ideal of communication versus the reality of it. It is a classic paradox in which contradictory realities exist much, unfortunately, to the detriment of us all. This is definitely one area where I, for one, would prefer a lot more consistency.