Week 1: Communication omnipotent, omniscient, vital???

"Communication is everywhere and communication cannot be stopped."

          Two ideas that I didn't believe at first. We were challenged to think of possible scenarios where there is absolutely no communication at all occurring. I nearly busted my brain trying to think of that scenario. Even when i thought of just solitary confinement you would still communicate with yourself or you might even be sending different interpretations to people just being that confinement. Only death would be the only solution to stop communication. Is communication omnipotent then? I don't think it is omnipotent, it can't resurrect people or conjure things out of thin air but it is indeed a powerful tool that man uses.

          Communication to us humans is so natural that we communicate and not even realize it. Communicating is already a human nature. Let us look at 2 people talking to each other. Is it communication? Yes it is indeed communication! Do they realize that they are communicating? Probably not because for them it is already too natural to communicate that it is something almost automatic. I have to admit that i don't even think of how to communicate anymore, it just comes out of me automatically. It is just like breathing, you don't even realize you're doing it!

          Communication maybe natural to us but there is is so much that we don't know about. Communication is more than just seeing two people talk to each other. Let us break down communication a bit. Communication is indeed a social process, a dynamic phenomenon in the sense that it doesn't stop. Communication employs the use of symbols, this are mainly the bulk of communication. We can treat symbols as a medium. We can use speech, writings, gestures, etc. But an important thing to remember is that symbols are ARBITRARY. What makes it arbitrary is the meaning behind each symbol we used. A basic hand finger point for us is an indication but for some cultures it may be offensive and rude. Another factor in communication is the environment. For me this makes communication complex and varied. We don't use the same speech or same gesture for every occasion or for every person. The environment we move in changes how we approach communicating with others.

          So do i think communication is omniscient? No I don't it is. Much like it maybe a powerful tool but not omnipotent, it is not omniscient but it is something we use to gather and transmit information, data, and culture in the hopes that maybe someday that communication will further evolve with the help of technology.

          Now for the most important thing is communication vital? YES of course it is! I realized this even more when the context of communication was introduced. First context was intrapersonal, which first I thought "CRAZY! How can I communicate alone!" But that idea slapped me in the face when intrapersonal was explained to us. You really do communicate with yourself! It may sound absurd but when you really think about you are actually conversing with yourself. Decision making is a prime example of this. You think of the possible outcomes, consequences, etc. but you are actually directing all the ideas to yourself and in the end you respond to those same ideas. Think of it as you bouncing a ball against the wall, you throw it and you are also the one who catches it. Intrapersonal communication is said to be the most basic context of communication, I believe that this is the most IMPORTANT context in communication. WHY? Intrapersonal communication serves as the building block for everything else like interpersonal, group, organizational, public, and even mass media. In order to communicate on higher levels you will first and always communicate with yourself before actually communicating with someone else. Before you talk to someone you talk to yourself first! Before you execute an idea you debate with yourself first! Even when you are scared of speaking in front of crowd you still communicate with yourself if you are gonna go up there or just run like hell! Intrapersonal communication may sound crazy or absurd but it is very important that you must first communicate with yourself before you can properly communicate with others.

Is communication omnipotent? No it is not but it is VERY powerful. Communication is one of the things that help move society forward. Communication does not only transfer a simple message but it can also transfer greater things like culture and ideas.

Is communication omniscient? No, communication doesn't hold every bit of knowledge or know every thought. But through communication we may attain a sense of higher understanding of everything by sharing our ideas with one another. Who knows maybe in the near future we may be able to communicate with only our minds and we may be closer to a state of omniscience.

Is communication vital? YES! Yes it is! As I have already said, communication is natural to us humans already that we may not even notice it anymore. But think, how do we live without communication? Is your mind blank? Mine is too. Communication will forever be an important key to human society.

Clear and understandable communication will give us a new tomorrow and a better today, Just watch this clip and you will understand how much we actually need proper communication.:)