Who Am I as a Communicator?

 What is the one thing that surprised you the most? Why? What other insights about communication did you gain this week?

One thing that surprised me the most was that two of the closet people in my life indicated that I resort to character attacks when I am not in agreement with the views of others.  I also learned that I have very high anxiety levels when I am faced in situations where I have to speak to small and large crowds of people.  However, others are not able to depict my anxiety while I am engaging in such communication with others.  I thought this was really good because I get really nervous when talking infront of people, whether I know themor not. 

Communication and Culture

Sometimes I do find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures because I realize that we are from different backgrounds and would like to ensure that they are fully understanding my intended message.  For an example, I I would not speak to white people, Asians, Hispanics, Puerto Ricans or even people from my own race the same as I would my own family and friends.  Some of the jokes or comments I make to the people in my inner circle may not understand the intended comedy or become offended.  I believe that since we all come from different backgrounds that it is quite difficult to speak to someone from a different background the same way you would speak to people who are personally connected to you.  After I have gotten to know the person it will be a lot easier for me so engage in a conversation that is similar if not identical to the conversations I would have with my family and friends.

Communication Skills: Language, Nonverbal, Listening

• What do you think the characters’ relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating?

The show that I watched was "Gun Smoke" with James Arness.  The characters in this TV show were friends and some were enemies.

• What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing?

They were expressing feelings of anger in most parts, they were fighting in the saloon because they had too much to drink.  The alcoholic beverage was not severed to their liking.

• What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed?

The assumption I made was that when it comes to their quality and price of alcohol that they wanted their monies worth; if their needs were not met a fatal fight will break out.

Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well?

Yes, I would have been familiar with the personalities of the characters and would have been able to be able to explain the TV show throughly; with and without the sound.

What Is Communication?

When I think of someone who demonstrates competent communication within a particular context I think of my best friend Posha Morgan, who I met the first week of undergrad.  When engaging in a conversation with Posha she always maintains eye contact and repeats what you say to make sure that she understood exactly what you said.  She is a great listener and can be very empathetic and sympathetic when need be.  I would like to model some of my on communication behaviors after this person because she is very clear and direct when communicating and as I indicated before, she is a great listener.