Comments on: How to listen online? http://www.intellitics.com/blog/2007/11/26/how-to-listen-online/ Experiments in Civic Sensemaking Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:16:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Tom Kaneko http://www.intellitics.com/blog/2007/11/26/how-to-listen-online/#comment-11 Tom Kaneko Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:21:16 +0000 http://www.intellitics.com/blog/2007/11/26/how-to-listen-online/#comment-11 Pierre has a good point. Aside from listening, there is a big difference between 'talking' online and the real world. I find that if you are online, at least when there is a focus, people have more time to think through their words, write drafts and refine them, and be confident in contributing. In the real world, however, the ego tends to dominate more. I've experienced real world meetings, and time and time again, it is the same people talking; those that feel confident enough to speak, and those that are good at thinking on their feet. Others with good valid points can be overshadowed by big personalities. This is one of the great things about online talking and listening - it's a great leveler, hence democratic. Without the tone of voice, facial expressions and oratory skills, what it does is shift the listener's focus on to the pure value of the talker's words. So although online "listening" might be a little dry and lacking in expression, it is less influenced by the big personalities and smooth talkers in the real world. I base this entirely on my own opinions, and have no research to back it up! I hope to share my views with you more. The topics on this blog are very interesting and important for my work also. -Tom Pierre has a good point. Aside from listening, there is a big difference between ‘talking’ online and the real world. I find that if you are online, at least when there is a focus, people have more time to think through their words, write drafts and refine them, and be confident in contributing.

In the real world, however, the ego tends to dominate more. I’ve experienced real world meetings, and time and time again, it is the same people talking; those that feel confident enough to speak, and those that are good at thinking on their feet. Others with good valid points can be overshadowed by big personalities.

This is one of the great things about online talking and listening - it’s a great leveler, hence democratic. Without the tone of voice, facial expressions and oratory skills, what it does is shift the listener’s focus on to the pure value of the talker’s words.

So although online “listening” might be a little dry and lacking in expression, it is less influenced by the big personalities and smooth talkers in the real world.

I base this entirely on my own opinions, and have no research to back it up!

I hope to share my views with you more. The topics on this blog are very interesting and important for my work also.

-Tom

]]> By: Pierre http://www.intellitics.com/blog/2007/11/26/how-to-listen-online/#comment-10 Pierre Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:54:22 +0000 http://www.intellitics.com/blog/2007/11/26/how-to-listen-online/#comment-10 I would think that "listening" online would be relatively easier than listening in the real world. When we are online, we are at least not busy talking (or thinking about our next response), and therefore more likely to be open to other's ideas, which what listening is about. However, when online, we maybe also be too busy writing and expressing our own ideas, which may also diminish our ability to "listen" online. An interesting and related question is whether our "listening" habits are different between the real world and the online world. Would an introvert in the real world be more of an extrovert online? Would a good listner in the real world be less of a listener in the online world? Great topic Tim. I am looking forward to hearing more about it. - Pierre I would think that “listening” online would be relatively easier than listening in the real world. When we are online, we are at least not busy talking (or thinking about our next response), and therefore more likely to be open to other’s ideas, which what listening is about.

However, when online, we maybe also be too busy writing and expressing our own ideas, which may also diminish our ability to “listen” online.

An interesting and related question is whether our “listening” habits are different between the real world and the online world. Would an introvert in the real world be more of an extrovert online? Would a good listner in the real world be less of a listener in the online world?

Great topic Tim. I am looking forward to hearing more about it.
- Pierre

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