Don’t forget to video chat
Once, there was a time where people weren’t homebound. Ask any elder of the times of old and they will tell you that back in their days, people would go outside under the blue sky. Children would gather in large buildings called “schools” to, not only learn, but also play with other kids. They would run around the field and share lunch. Students would sit down next to each other and do their homework together. Friends would go out into there gatherings called “social events” and do stuff, without having to keep a distance from each other. They would visit the “movie theaters” which is like this giant TV that each of us has in our living rooms and you would watch a new film with a large crowd of people while feasting on popcorn. There were also events called “live sports games.” If any of you have played an EA Sports game or watched a live stream of it on twitch, you’ll be shocked to learn that that is what people used to play. People would play it in the park or go to the stadium to watch professionals compete.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, believe it. That is what our society used to look like before SIP happened. Now we are stuck home, alone, deprived of one of the most basic needs our ancestors enjoyed every day, communication, and community. Friends can no longer see eachother. Families can no longer gather. Couples can no longer go on dates. We can’t go outside anymore and eat at our favorit restaurant. We can’t go to the gym or the beach. Many of us can’t even go to work. With this lack of connection, the rates of depression, anxiety, and isolation have increased.
Our situation may be dire, but there is hope. Some of the world’s leading experts in engineering and cutting-edge technology have been developing systems in which we can enjoy the fruits of communication while also respecting the laws of SIP.
Just because we can no longer see each other, doesn’t mean we can’t “see each other.” Top engineers have developed devices of communication called “video chat.” Platforms like Google Meets, FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom have risen in popularity and usage after the pandemic struck. With this device, friends can talk and see each other. They can share how their day has been, play videogames together, even cook together. This isn’t restricted to just friends either. A patient can speak to their doctor, a student can speak with his peers, a worker can speak with his colleagues, a teacher can speak to his students, the possibilities are endless. While video chats cannot take the place of in-person communication, it is a close second.
There are many people, however, who have not fully embraced the power of video chats. Many people today still primarily use the old, outdated method of distant communication: texting. While texting DM’s and posting stories on Snapchat has its place, it simply doesn’t provide that human experience of seeing and speaking to someone.
With a dark cloud looming over our heads, it’s important to stay in touch with others. There are many manners of doing so and perhaps best to have multiple methods, but it is important to make sure that video chat is one of them. Perhaps set a block of time dedicated to video chatting, even if it’s just once per week. Creating the habit of seeing others helps you keep your sanity.
As social creatures, humans are designed to socialize, and if we lose that, we become less human. So until the oppressive hands of SIP are lifted, everyone should make it their effort to use video chat to communicate with others; to continuously feed our relationships.
