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Characterizing the dwindling preference for phone calls as 'fear' is taking it a few steps too far. It just turns out that phone calls have a new niche. Other
by clavalle 8y ago
Characterizing the dwindling preference for phone calls as 'fear' is taking it a few steps too far.
It just turns out that phone calls have a new niche. Other forms of communication are used when their advantages outweigh a phone call...which isn't hard.
Phone calls are really only needed when there is a need for synchronous, immediate, communication that requires a high fidelity and require the bulk of each party's attention.
Urgent, important help where the problem and possible solutions are not clearly defined qualify. But anything less than that can likely be handled over some sort of textual, asynchronous interface. And beyond just being more convenient, they also offer their own advantages like archivability and searchability.
- Spooky23 8y agoIn the general case, yes, "fear" is a bit dramatic. The average Joe isn't fearful of talking to a banking call center. But when you're talking about mostly kids who are mentally in a fragile place, it's a context that is important. Generally speaking, there's a continuum of intimacy or engagement ranging from a physical presence at various levels to high latency written communication like a letter or postcard. It's always better to do complex interactions in person, but a less expressive medium is going to be superior to nothing.