SLOW COMMUNICATION MANIFESTO

– Because communication technology continue to supply more ways to rapidly connect people,

– Because the complexity, speed, and ubiquity of these tools are ever increasing,

– Because there exists in the culture a growing expectation for immediate responsiveness and always-connectedness,

– Because more and more of our memories and consciousness are becoming located outside our organic minds,

– Because expression and communication are becoming evermore predetermined by database fields, templates and standards,

– And because the defining lines between media receiver and producer are falling away…

We offer this manifesto for slow communication.

This document is intended to serve as a guide for anyone who seeks insight and balance in their communication habits. With this manifesto we intend to:

+ Continually strive to improve our communication skill

+ Take pause and breath before responding to synchronous messages

+ Allow our selves the freedom to respond to asynchronous messages in our own preferred time frame

+ Allow ourselves time to draft, re-draft, think and re-thing any communication before sending

+ Make efforts to understand inherent and apparent bias or judgment embedded in any message we send or receive

+ Continually observe our posture, expression, muscle tension, and breath while communication is taking place

+ Meet in person when possible and make eye contact during verbal communication

+ Engage in non database or template driven creative activity

+Take short or long term breaks from any or all rapid communication

Revised, February 3, 2016. Boston, MA (Original, June 21, 2011. San Francisco, CA)

Download the Slow_Communication_Manifesto as a PDF.

Previous Version:

A Slow Communication Manifesto

Because communication technology and diverse media formats and forms continue to supply more ways to rapidly connect people,

Because the complexity, speed and ubiquity of these tools is ever increasing,

Because there exists a growing expectation for immediate responsiveness and always connectedness in the culture,

Becasue more and more of our memory and consciousness are being remembered outside of our human minds,

Because free self expression and communication are becoming evermore pre-determined by database fields, templates or standards,

Because the ergonomics of the hardware available is often poorly matched to the humans using the hardware,

And because the defining lines between media receiver and producer are falling away…

We have undertaken to draft this Manifesto for Slow Communication.  This document is intended to serve as a guide for  anyone who seeks balance and insight within their habits of communication.  With this manifesto we intend to:

Improve our communication skill and ability in whatever medium we may find ourselves communicating in

Meet in person whenever possible and make eye contact during verbal and non verbal interactions

Take a deep breath before responding to synchronous verbal messages

Allow ourselves the freedom to respond to asynchronous messages in any time frame comfortable to our preference

Allow ourselves the necessary time and comfort to draft, re-draft, think and re-think any communication before sending

Dare to add original and consequential opinions or creative modifications to any message we repeat, re-broadcast or re-tell in any form

Strive to understand the inherent and apparent bias, value, judgement or point of view within any message we send or receive

Commit to take short or long term breaks from any or all rapid communication as we see fit to maintain balance and integrity

On this day the twenty first of June 2011, A Slow Communication Manifesto is introduced.