Human Communication

Humans are an inferior race incapable of meaningful communication.

Remember the scene for "Independence Day", where the creepy alien is able to communicate with the President, and convey its thoughts in their entirety? Are we as humans ever able to achieve this?

If I tell you that I enjoy drinking black coffee, can I transmit the sensation i get when the hot dense bitter liquid flows down my throat, or can I transmit the the way I feel, or replicate the electrical impulses darting around in my gray cells, in yours? All I can do is tell you that I like coffee, and the rest is open to your interpretation.

What is at fault here? The language? You might argue that the language does not constitute communication. Well, then I'll put it this way. Imagine I pick up a cup of espresso with a gleam in my eyes. I then take a little swig and close my eyes with pleasure, my body language or my facial expressions not betraying my enjoyment even for a moment. Then I tell you,

"I loaave coffee"

Was that purport better? Could you taste it, or feel the way I do?

We often trivialize this lack of capability by saying that people who don't communicate well are not on the same frequency, or by some other similar cliche. On the other hand, if the thought process of two people is remotely similar, they seem to communicate well, and are

"on the same frequency"

or

"hit it off.."

We simply lack the ability to make people feel the way we do with our limited communication abilities, and we rely on sheer chance for finding congenial people, for we find it easier to communicate with them, and it pleasures our senses to know that the understand us, without our explicitly stating everything. These people can empathize because they are congenial, and not because you were able to convey your feelings.

So, can I ever make You feel the way I do Internally, rather than just telling you how I feel?

Humans are an inferior race incapable of meaningful communication.

Labels: Communication, Thought