Taxonomy of Conversation: Downloading
Last time I outlined four types of conversation. Today and the next three Wednesdays I shall look at each type in turn. My question is: how does each type of conversation find expression online (if it does)? Today’s is about downloading.
I wrote:
The first kind of conversation is downloading. This is where we listen from within our own story and consequently hear only what supports it. I suppose this can be a bad habit of highly creative and motivated people where I listen for anything that supports my view. This can be healthy but where the listener listens in this mode only, they cease to hear other points of view as valid.
The word ‘download’ is presumably fairly recent and usually refers to transferring data from a server to a local computer. Whilst this type of conversation is named after this online practice, it has always been around.
The analogy with downloading from a server is helpful. Think about why you choose to download a file. You do it because you have an interest in the file. You are very unlikely to randomly download stuff. What would be the point?
You have a purpose and select what you download to meet that purpose. Your download might challenge your purpose but broadly your intention is to support your purpose.
This is perfectly legitimate; you do it when undertaking online learning, for example. You might download a video, watch it and perhaps act on its content. There is no obligation to act and that is the point.
Downloading does not have to be a conversation. You can show approval by liking something. You may be able to comment and a simple note of approval may be all you offer.
The owner of the information may value your approval but it doesn’t move their thinking along; many consumers of information never say a word.
And that is what downloading is: conversation as consumption of information. The recipient does not contribute anything other than approval or disapproval. There’s no community of learning, just individual consumers.
Clearly there is value in downloading for online learning but ultimately it’s limited. In your experience, what else do you need besides the download to take conversation to a higher level?