Conference hydra::dejavu

    Written Communication - Electronic
    
    Do you want more or is that enough?
    
    PJ

    Actually, I believe that the most direct method is determined on a
    person to person basis, as well as the information being transmitted. 
    If you know the person well enough, the best is Oral, face to face.  Or
    you may know them well enough that best is written, electronic or
    paper.  IMHO, there is no one best way to communicate.
    
    Beth

You left out "other". I can think of several.

    I tend to agree with Mike.
    
    It depends on the type of communication.  
    
    For example sometimes body language says more than verbage.
    
    Ellen

Actually, oral face-to-face is a mode in which body-language
communication could occur. But mentioning it points out the some of the
limitations of the question as phrased in the base note.

I was thinking more along the lines of the following other
possibilities, which were not listed:

- video-conferencing
- recording technologies (audio, video)
- physical contact (guess :-)
- paranormal (e.g. "telepathic", etc)

    
    RE: BASE NOTE
    
    To rate these forms of communication as you have presented them, I feel
    that oral communication is the first in my rating because in involves
    being in the now with the person if open communication is to really
    take place.  It also has the most risk because the communication can
    involve not only the language but the tonality of the voice, phrasing
    can come into play and body language can also be interpreted (to name a
    few).
    
    My second choice would be by telephone.  Again I feel there is more of
    an opportunity to pick up on cues from tonality and phrasing. However,
    the body language is not involved.
    
    Third would be electronic.  Because most of us have limited time with
    this form of communication, we tend to transmit our thoughts as they
    are received. 
    
    My final choice would be writing, basically because of the opportunity
    to rewrite.  However, this could also be number one because if done
    properly, it's an opportunity to really express our feelings.  
    
    I don't know if this is what you are looking for, but if it is, I hope
    it helps.
    
    Ellen

    
    
    I had to really think about answering your question...
    
    I started out to say I'm frank and direct all the time
    with all these modes of communication but in reality it 
    is sooo EASY communicate on the terminal in a detatched
    indirect way and very hard to communicate face to face
    indirectly/detached.
    
    It's funny you asked such a question today because just 
    today I was talking to a friend on the phone while write 
    a note to him on the phone function about something 
    completely different. We wanted to see if we could carry 
    two conversations at once. One by audio and the other visually.
    I was really silly after a while because we saw each other
    all day and talking twice as much made it harder to think of
    new things to say during BOTH conversations.
    
    Michelle
    
    P.S.- I use to have a rule when talking on the phone that 
    the other person turn the TV off because no MATTER WHAT
    it will grab your attention from the phone conversation.
    I don't really mind it now because I have noticed I am
    able to process many different types of communication
    better now that I have been by communicating in this forum.
    
    You make since of it...

    It depends on what you are communicating. 
    
    Face to face with massive aid of body language conveys the most
    information about what the speaker is saying and how you are receiving.
    It is also bi-directional, in that you can ask questions and receive
    instant answers. However written communication can be referred to at a
    later. Also written communications have the additional dimension of
    graphics.

    Electronics have the advantage of speed, letting you communicate at a
    distance. The telephone and video conference convey some but not all
    body language. The notefile conveys none, but it has its place in that
    it can often put you in direct contact with an expert.

    Jamie.
                                                 

    I've a big sign over my desk, created with DECwrite, that says
    
    "Neither MINDREADING nor the WRITTEN WORD are effective forms of
    communication."
    
    karl

    
    I think it all depends on WHAT you want to communicate and with WHOM.
    
    Diane