tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410075389938790697.post158792242215970550..comments2013-07-24T19:00:31.705-07:00Comments on Online Communication Tips: Long distance relationships and online communicationWendy Atkins-Sayrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979025588675114545noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410075389938790697.post-59166622150688215592013-07-19T07:02:38.680-07:002013-07-19T07:02:38.680-07:00Technology has opened up many doors for communicat...Technology has opened up many doors for communication that we would otherwise not have. It now literally takes seconds to send and receive a text message. This makes it easier for those that are in relationships that are separated by land or sea. This allows individuals to communicate while they are separated. But what happens to a relationship when one of the individuals is deployed? Communication and technology advancements have now made it possible for those that are in this situation to communicate with their loved ones. <br />During previous wars the only form of communication for loved ones at war and in the United States was U.S. mail. Sometimes, soldiers would receive letter two months or more after they had been written. And depending on where they were stationed, it could have been longer. Most soldiers didn’t know what was going on in the United States unless it was written or told to them by their commanding officers. Waiting on the letter made it more special to get one and soldiers cherished these letters from home. Now because of social media sites and new technology advancements like video calling and Skype soldiers are able to communicate with their families and partners frequently during their deployment. <br />According to Mike Chalmers, social media is now allowing family members to have a deeper connection through technology while a family member is deployed (Chalmers 2011). This allows families to stay connected and share with each other what they did during the day. For Katelyn Rowley, video calls and Facebook allowed her to stay in touch with her family during her deployment. This allowed her to feel like she was not missing out on daily activities her family was involved in. She was able to grow her relationship with her fiancé as well through her deployment (Chalmers 2011). <br />According to Kareem Ruth, technology has now created new outlets and has made it easier for families communicating with loved ones during deployments (Ruth 2011). Video chat has allowed families to communicate with one another while being able to see one another. This allows family members to feel more of a physical connection even though they could be a thousand miles apart from one another. Seeing the other person can put a family member or service member at ease. The use of Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites, have also enhanced the communication between those deployed and their loved ones. Because of these outlets service members are able to communicate with others daily. This can ease their anxiety about war and being deployed due to them being able to communicate with those that are still in the United States. <br />It is very important for family members and loved ones of military service members to communicate with them while they are deployed. Technology has created wonderful tools that have now made it easier for families to deal with anxiety and stress of deployments. Instead of waiting for a letter that could take four months to be sent to the receiver, one is only a video call or social media message away. In a long distance relationship it is important to communicate with one another.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Works Cited<br />Chalmers, M. (2011, November 24). Social media allow military families a deeper connection. USA Today. Retrieved from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2011-11-28/military-deployment-social-media/51349158/1<br />Ruth, K. (2011, November 01). How to stay in touch: Three tools to help military families communicate over long distances. . Retrieved from http://militaryfamily.com/2011/11/01/how-to-stay-in-touch-three-tools-to-help-military-families-communicate-over-long-distances/<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272956928569653381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410075389938790697.post-91197258255212257742013-07-19T07:01:44.863-07:002013-07-19T07:01:44.863-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272956928569653381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410075389938790697.post-49792264917972356852013-07-19T06:58:08.451-07:002013-07-19T06:58:08.451-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272956928569653381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410075389938790697.post-52689431164211227692013-07-18T12:18:53.122-07:002013-07-18T12:18:53.122-07:00Response to Long Distances Relationships and Onlin...Response to Long Distances Relationships and Online Communication<br /> Long distance relationships like any relationships are going to be hard. There are lots of positive outcomes from having a relationship long distance that benefits both partners greatly. Also with all of the technology that we have it is easy to allow couples to talk face to face where you can see your partners face and read their nonverbal cues in response of what you are saying. Rocio mentioned in her blog above that technology greatly benefits long distance couples and makes it possible to hear each other’s tones and how important it is to constantly ask your partner questions. I would like to add on how to maintain a long distance relationship by giving a few more helpful tips and advice to help you and your partner understand things you might experience. Imperatix. (2013). <br /> <br />• Tip #1: It is very important to avoid jealously and maintain trust on a daily basis. This means getting familiar with your partners schedule like mentioned above and avoiding temptation from other people around you. Show your partner that you are dedicated to them by making time for them daily to talk about their day, or take time to send them a few kind words showing them that you are thinking about them. This will build trust and commitment.<br /> <br />• Tip #2: Take special care of the way you interpret your partner’s words. Fights always arise due to miscommunication in relationships. Be confident that fights are apart of every relationship and will require you to stay positive and learn to compromise. One advantage of being long distance is that you have more time to interpret what your partner is trying to say rather than flying off the handle in a fast response. It important to know that words hurt no matter the distances. Sylvia Shipp.(1966). Patience is very important in any relationship. During long distance know that things will only get better with time. Always think things through before you respond to a message of any kind.<br /><br />• Tip #3: Visit your partner as often as distance allows. Consistency helps a relationship survive and your time spent together physical in the same room will be a huge aid to the relationship. Talk about when would be a good time for both you and your partner to see each other and make it a priority to stick with those dates. <br /> <br />• Tip #4: Talk about your future together. This shows that you eventually want to live together and break the distance giving both of you a hope of actually being together. Talking about family and location moves the relationship into a deeper level giving the relationship a goal to work towards.<br /><br />• Tip #5: Be there for your partner in their time of need no matter the distance. If tragedy happened or an illness occurred measures need to be taken that might actually require you being physically there for your partner.<br /><br /> In conclusion, take advantage of the benefits of having a long distance relationship by spending more time with your friends and family. Spend time focusing on you individually, and grow into the person and partner you’ve always dreamed. According to Maslow’s Theory we have five basic human needs: physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness needs, esteem, and self- actualization. Adler,Rosenfeld,Ronald B.,Russel.(2012).According to all the tips I listed above all of the human needs can be met in any relationship. Therefore, the distance should not matter, and technology is important to maintain the relationship.<br /> <br />Works Cited<br /><br />Ronald, B. Adler, Lawrence B. Rosenfeld and Russel F. (2012). Interplay: The Process of InterpersonalCommunicating. Edition 12. January 13, 2012.<br /> <br />Imperatix. (2013). How to Make a Long Distance Relationship Work. WikiHow to do anything>Relationships. www.wikihow.com <br /><br />Shipp, Sylvia. (1966). The Long Distance Relationship Guidebook: Maintain and Strengthen Your Relationship From Afar. 1st Ed. <br /> <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14483142538521716177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410075389938790697.post-47739490554007580672013-06-18T07:59:02.498-07:002013-06-18T07:59:02.498-07:00Love the graphic!Love the graphic!Wendy Atkins-Sayrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17979025588675114545noreply@blogger.com