People Watching

I am a people watcher. I love going to a public places and pretend to read a book while I actually watched others interact with each other. I'd go to the park and watch kids play, and their parents try to interact with each other. My most favorite was to grab a meal out on a patio next to a busy walking area. Before you write me off as a creeper, I actually do this for a purpose. My reasoning is I love learning about people and you can learn so much through someone else's behavior that is mainly subconscious.
For instance I caught myself looking at a new couple. All the signs where there, the puppy dog eyes, the dumb smile, the giggly laughter etc. Then I happened to look over again about ten minutes later.... It was obvious that the boy had said something that he shouldn't have, my first thought, that didn't take long. The dynamics of the entire instance had changed. While I was unsure of what said you can see she was pissed. Now how is it that me, an observer sitting 15 feet away out of earshot, could pick up on all this. Likewise many people don't realize that an observer like me, can still pick up on what just happened even though I have no idea what was said. Well boys and girls, it's called nonverbal communication.
Any gesture, motion, hair flick, batting of eyes, the way your arms are position, eye contact, facial expression, etc. everything you do sends a message to the receiving party. Many refer to it as a 'feeling' they had, or they just 'knew'. That really means they picked up on the non verbals of the conversation and they can't place them into words.
Now I pose the question, me watching this couple from a distance and watching for their non verbals, was that an invasion of privacy? Granted I'm not stalking them, didn't take pictures or anything and after all it was in public. I know we have all people watched at one point in our life, but where is that line between innocent watching and invasion of privacy?
Listening in on phone calls, watching through windows and following people is obviously invasion of privacy. Taking pictures, stealing personal items and such all fall under this category but what about watching the non verbals in someone else's argument? Me sitting there and following a dialog through non verbals, was that crossing a line or would it fall under being nosy?
After all it was all out and the open, that makes me wonder if they even cared. I'm sure many don't realize that someone can follow their conversation without actually being in it. I figure in this situation I'm going to rely on what my Grandma told me awhile ago. If you don't want everyone to know, don't do it in public.
I still people watch even though I consider watching to much being an invasion of privacy from time to time.

Caution- Cell Phones Not only Cause Cancer, They Also Cause Language Barriers

We all have 'em. We use them for everything, keeping our dates together, to wake us up in the morning, a source of connection, all of our contacts, music, pictures, email, the Internet, and oh, don't forget the invention of text messages.
Over the last few years the cell phone has become huge, they do everything, give you directions, check facebook, horoscope, bank balance, a million friends to talk to or text, etc. But one of the older aspects of the cell phone, text messages or texting, if you will, impair our communication because so many things are missing by just reading a message.
Text messages were originally set up for quick questions and answers but today it's being way over used, mainly by the Y generation. I'll admit that I am one of them, I text quite frequently, up to 3,000 or 4,000 a month, so glad I have unlimited; tried that a 1,000 a month thing, ended poorly.
Text messages today have in a way taken time away from actual phone time. All my friends and others I have talked to have turned to quick messages verses a phone call. Which is great in a way, it's actually cheaper if you pay for unlimited messages. On the other hand it also causes language barriers.
Messages today are ineffective because many have started using them to communicate much more information that needs other non verbals to communicate the message effectively. I'm not saying that all text messages are not effective, by all means they are great for short quick questions, it's when people resort to text messages to discuss a matter that really needs to be given in person if not the phone. I've watched friends fight with their significant others through text messages across the room. When touchy subjects surface in text messages there is so much room for error.

For an effective message the following helps to convey the message that text messages are lacking:
-Body language, how is the person facing you, arms crossed or open, are they looking at you, can they look you in your eye?
-The Voice- is their tone cold and sarcastic, do they sound truthful, do they sound sincere, any signs of emotion?
-Message- clear and effective? Hidden meanings?

Let's be honest, there are so many times I'm texting friends and aren't sure how to take there response because their answer could be interpreted a million different ways. Were they being sarcastic? Was their a mild undertone? What was their response? But we don't have these types of hints, we only have those stupid :) or ;), :(, lol and haha to illustrate our mood. Not much help when your trying to decipher feelings.

Both body language and the overall tone are very critical for messages to be sent and received effectively. While most think it's not a big deal that texts lacks these parts because it makes everything less impersonal which also add to language barriers.

In situations when people are fighting, arguing, breaking up, anything with emotion there absolutely needs to be body language, a clear verbal message and serious tone. If not and maybe done through text messages it will only leave both parties lost and confused and once again hit with yet another a language barrier.

Why Intercultural Communication?

Intercultural communication is nothing if not complicated. First let's analyze the individual words, first intercultural meaning between two different cultures. Cultures doesn't just mean different countries, there are many different cultures within cultures. Second, communication meaning any form of verbal, nonverbal messages being sent by one and received by one or a group.
Now that we have that out of the way, we can explore the deeper meaning. Intercultural communication is not something new, it's been growing since the 30's. Intercultural communication is directly how different cultures communicate between each other. The norms in America are only in America no where else, the same with any other place.
While it's common knowledge today that no two cultures are the same. While a child living in Australia is not going to have the same mannerisms, body language, and rules of conduct verses an elderly woman living in Canada. For each culture there is a different set of rules for conduct, what might be accepted in one isn't in another. For instance if you go to Japan and take a business card from a naive and place it in your bill fold, it's a huge insult. While in America this action is accepted, in Japan it's considered rude and more manners.
Since so much business is being done over seas involving different cultures it's important to know some of the big cultural differences. If noted before hand there is less of a chance that you will offend someone or more importantly be able to communicate efficiently. Humans in general often have misunderstandings. Misunderstandings can happen anywhere with anybody but it's more likely to happen between cultures with uneducated parties. Some of this can be prevented by reading about a culture before you go visit or by even asking someone that belongs to that culture. Normally people respond well to questions rather than being offended.
Intercultural communication is needed skill that can only help you succeed with others. When you have come to the understanding of others and have learned appropriate ways to get your message across, you have reached your goal. While communication is important in general, interculural communication is even more important because there is more room for error because of the different norms.

Communication

Communication is one of those tricky subjects, once you think you have it all figured out you find out once again, your flat out wrong. Communication can be classified in so many different ways, and those have subcategory, then those come with foot notes. It seems like a grueling concept to grasp. Verbal and nonverbal are the two biggest types. Verbal communication consists of conversations, emails, fliers, anything said or written in words. Verbal only represents about 20% of communications. While the majority of the rest of the communication is non-verbal. This includes body language, groans, looks on faces, open or closed body,etc.

Communication happens all the time, multiple times a minute even. There are even a few moments that stick with you for a few weeks or so. For instance, I was at work a few days ago and I walk up to a table with two children and two adults. I gave both of the children stuff to color with and crayons, immediately the one little boy pushed his coloring sheet away. Joking with him I kneeled down next to him and asked him if he was to cool to color, he responded with a duh. Then I informed him that I still color and I'm pretty darn cool. He then said 'I don't like to color baby pictures'. Not really having a response for that I decided to let it go but the cute 7 year old ginger kid hadn't planned on letting it go. She looked at him from her coloring sheet and said, 'Please! This picture is to complex for you to color it!'.

I laughed so hard as this young ginger reminded me so much of myself at her age, she wasn't going to let him make fun of something she liked doing. I gave her a high five and got their drinks, I don't believe the adults found my laughter appropriate and later stiffed me. It was ok though, that little ginger is going to do great things in life. It made me smile, already at 7 she was able to stand up for herself and give a decent burn. This is just one of the ways we communicate with each other. The ginger conveyed her message to the little boy and the message was received loud and clear.

As well as there are successful communications there are just as many if not more, miscommunications. It is so easy to have a message not be received properly due to the higher use of technology. Texting for instance, put a huge dent in face to face communications. Through texting you don't get the others body language or smaller hints so it's very easy for things to get jumbled around or for 2 meanings to get confused.

It is very important to communicate properly and successfully. When you have the ability to do this you are more likely to get what you want and are more likely to be heard.