THE MESSAGE:
Human beings are capable of many feelings that may be open, positive, negative or confused. If something is heartfelt, it's sincere and warm. It is deeply and strongly felt. Prior to any interaction, it is imperative, in order for communication to really connect, that both parties are on the same page when it comes to their feelings, attitudes and receptors. A problem arises when the listener interprets the message to mean something that the speaker did not intend.
THE BLURB:
Let's review some of the ways that we react to others through our feelings. Conversations may be open or one sided. They may be confident, receptive and kind. Or they could be guarded, hesitant and hostile. The ways in which we converse with others are many and varied but totally dependant on feelings.
Feelings can be generated by previous events in our lives, the mood in which we find ourselves or simply as a reaction towards the person or persons with whom we are attempting to communicate.
Marshall McLuhan, was a communication theorist (born 21 July 1911 in Edmonton, AB; died 31 December 1980 in Toronto, ON). He was a Professor of English at the University of Toronto, who became internationally famous during the 1960s for his studies of the effects of mass media on thought and behaviour.
When President Trump sits down to 'tweet', is he feeling happy, confident, interested in his readers' opinions, jubilant, optimistic, energetic and certain? Does he feel clever, relaxed, peaceful and content? Marshall McLuhan wrote about the abdication of actual leadership in favour of presenting and emphasizing the image, because the image is going to win in the end. Unlike his predecessors, Trump seems to have never read McLuhan's theory or at least chosen to ignore it.
When Justin Trudeau prepares to address the people, does he work at being smooth, tenacious and sincere? Is he worried about his qualifications for the job? Is he trying to inspire confidence and optimism? Does he truly believe in some of the postulations that he delivers? McLuhan would be rubbing his hands in glee!
When a teacher greets the class, what does she see, how does she feel? Has the government promised new reforms to education? Is her position being threatened? Have her colleagues indicated displeasure at her philosophy? Is her home life presenting distractions? Do the students believe in her work? Are they accepting, satisfied, comfortable, energetic and interested?
It seems obvious that each moment of every day of the week, is replete with distractions, pre-conceived ideas, challenges and variations that may exist for the speaker as well as the listener. Feelings are paramount! Successful communication comes to the person who can recognize the feelings that the listener or audience presents and is able to steer the speech, the message or lesson in a suitable direction.
THE QUESTION:
What is happening here?
THE LEMON:
Awarded to Justin Trudeau for his recent charade in India. Was that his idea of effective communication? If he is our PM much longer, other people will change the Canadian 'eh' to 'uh'.
THE QUOTE:
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." George Bernard Shaw
THE CLIP:
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