“What we have here is a failure to communicate”

Have you ever responded to a situation honestly, but the tone you selected- by choice or accident- turned out to not be the appropriate tone for the circumstance?

This has been known to happen to me on occasion, and it is something I have been trying to correct. Seeing as I am now in my second year of communications studies, applying the appropriate tone to my responses to questions or situations that I may or may not believe to be totally ridiculous or inconsequential, should be something that comes natural. 

Well it doesn’t. I know our dear leader, Kim Jong-il has the same problem, probably worse than anyone. As this video will show, he is very misunderstood. 

How do you tell someone who is concerned about their weight that the Diet Pepsi they are drinking, doesn’t mean a darn-tooting thing when they have just polished off an extra large poutine and half a tub (yes tub, larger than a bucket or pail) of rocky road ice-cream? 

I had a friend once complain about a grade he received on a school project, (not in CreComm) which he blamed on the fact that his assessment was carried out by fellow students whom he had tenuous relationships with at best. I suggested he work on his people skills. He spent the next seven minutes suggesting where I could put my suggestion. 

Upon arriving at quarantine at Sydney Airport- Australia's international airport- my traveling companion had neglected to mention he had a granola bar in his bag. A customs official discovered the bar after a quick search and delivered a stern lecture about the dangers of bringing outside species into isolated countries. My friend understanding the importance of the issue, but not the tone in which it was delivered, not-so-politely inquired, “What am I going to do? Plant a fucking granola tree." (true story) We were so close. I could smell the ocean.

Now all of these are legitimate responses to common situations, that for one reason or another, weren't received the way that was intended. The content was lost in the packaging and therefore, the message became something that it was never intended to be. 

Most of the time this is an accident. Either we as social creatures are simply too tired to put the attention and care required to respond to all our everyday situations articulately, or we take for granted the power of our ‘words’ in situations that must seem very different to the two parties involved. 

This is now one of my many missions in my quest to better myself as a communication student, and as a resident of planet earth, to do my due diligence in selecting the appropriate tone when conversing with colleagues in the various scenarios that require my verbal participation.

All it's going to take, is a little more time and a little understanding.