Week 9: Post 2
I think it definitely makes sense to think of communication as a patterned interaction. The first thing that came to my mind when considering the pragmatic perspective is how communication is like a game. One prime example of communication as a game would be the way in which people interact at the very beginning of a relationship. I do not know why but people always turn it into a game deciding who should call who first or how long they should wait before they contact the possible significant other. One person in the relationship makes a “move” and then the other person takes a turn as well. It is different from a game because over time these acts become routine and patterned instead of planned and strategized. It is probably better that way anyways. I don’t think I would want to communicate with someone who was TRYING to make it a game. That would be exhausting and confusing.
posted by Eleanor Rigby @ 9:08 AM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
It is interesting that you gave the example of the beginning of a relationship. That makes so much sense to me. I hadn't really thought about it before but in the beginning of relationships one partner doesn't want to seem more eager than the other. There is a definite strategy that goes on that absolutely relates to playing a game.
I guess those moves do become patterned over time.I agree that it would be way too exhausting and confusing to communicate with someone who was trying to make it a game. Communication should be able to flow freely and easily. Communicators should not have to constantly think and rethink about what they are going to say. Interesting insights!
Your example of communication being a game in the beginning is spot on! It is funny how often we hear people say they are not interested in someone who plays games, but at the same time can be so much more attracted when someone they are interested in plays hard to get. And the call it “playing” hard to get which is the type of language used in gaming. It’s also interesting to think of how each “player” takes turns (like you mentioned,) almost like in cards or a board game. I advance on you like in chess, and wait to see if you will advance back or retreat!
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