Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
The age of iPads, laptops, and blackberries ushers in the era sofalizing:
It could be down to laziness, the expense of going out or just wanting to spare ourselves long conversations with friends or family.
But millions of Britons have given up on actual socialising in favour of ‘sofalising’ – staying at home and talking to loved ones via electronic devices rather than in person, a poll has found.
More than a quarter, 26 per cent, do all their communicating from the comfort of home.
And for these ‘sofalisers’ who prefer the rapid-fire exchanges of texts or Twitter to a rambling conversation over a meal or at the pub, there are no fewer than 11 ways to connect, according to the poll.
They are: email, text, instant messenger, Twitter, Skype, online gambling sites, live chat, social gaming, and messaging, wall posts or status updates on a social network such as Facebook or Bebo.
As a primary means of contact with friends and family, 71 per cent of adults said they use text, 31 per cent social networking sites, 27 per cent email, and 18 per cent use live chat or instant messaging, the study for online casino Yazino found.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
I prefer funemployment. From my mom's basement, trailing a cloud of cheeto dust.
But you're way off message. You do realize this is an internet conversation site, right?
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
Ah, touche. Maybe I should have prefaced the post with "IRONY ALERT!"
Aug '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
As I watched my daughter blaze through texting on her new 4G, I commented to her how difficult dating was going to be when she is on a dinner date and she and the boy are trying to talk about the things one discusses in these settings.
There will have to be some new rules going forward or they'll be at the table texting each other. This happens all the time now. I can have four girls in the car and they are all silent and all texting at once, sometimes to the person sitting next to them.
Have we entered an age of proxies , what is the phenom here ?
Clipped sentences, tweet talk, whole new shorthand is popping up. It is sort of exciting but at the same time, the idea of banter, the sweet nothings, and how does a text whisper ? The customs of dating, the mating calls of homo sapiens are evolving with the speed of Moore's law, but to what end ?
May '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
It's only beginning.
Jonah incoming in 5... 4... 3...
Aug '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
Aaron Miller: It's only beginning.
Jonah incoming in 5... 4... 3... · Nov 8 at 7:53am
So you think Kinect is the proxy ? We can merge that tech with the Amstaff robot security guards and have them ask/command our girlfriends if they will marry us ? Hoping the machines don't hear bury instead of marry ?
Edited on Nov 8, 2010 at 8:33amRe: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
flownover: As I watched my daughter blaze through texting on her new 4G, I commented to her how difficult dating was going to be when she is on a dinner date and she and the boy are trying to talk about the things one discusses in these settings.
Nov 8 at 7:39am
I think this phenom especially hurts shy and introverted people. They are going to gradually lose the ability to speak eloquently and confidently to each other face to face--and they won't be forced to come out of their shell, because they have text and so on.
Jul '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
Hey, staying in touch through technology is just fine.
But occasionally, one does miss the shrieking, door-slamming and lamp-throwing that are such integral parts of healthy marital communication.
May '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.
I think this phenom especially hurts shy and introverted people. They are going to gradually lose the ability to speak eloquently and confidently to each other face to face--and they won't be forced to come out of their shell, because they have text and so on. ·
To the contrary, actually. Various types of online interactions (asynchronous texting, instant messaging, forums, emails, etc) can act as stepping stones toward full relationships. They can provide the socially awkward with a simpler and secure environment in which to learn standards and cues.
Emails saved the tradition of letter-writing. Letters are no substitute for a face-to-face relationship, but they can augment a relationship immensely with more thoughtful reflection.
Sep '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
@Aaron Miller, I partially agree with you though I think you underestimate the social stunting that happens when teenagers grow up with these tools. Have you read The Dumbest Generation by Mark Bauerlein?
Jul '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
Aaron, regarding emails "saving the tradition of letter-writing," I have to disagree. It' s been my experience that emailing actually killed the art of writing a letter by hand. When everything is instant or seriously expedited, from the time it takes to write the letter itself to sending it to receiving a response, the message sent is no longer really a letter. Time is what makes sitting down to write, send and wait for a response to a letter special. Emails strip the letter writing and receiving of its reflection, anticipation and subtlety, in my experience. On another note, the most interesting thing to me about the article is that online gambling sites are considered primarily a form of socializing. I don't gamble (online or otherwise) so perhaps someone with more experience on the topic can let me know if this actually unusual.
May '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
You're so right, Humza. I used to write letters with fountain pens to people. Rarely do so these days. (that's actually true; not being ironic)
PS, online poker has a chat function, so you do get to meet people of all nationalities and persuasions. Same with real-life poker, of course.
Edited on Nov 8, 2010 at 11:31amMay '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
Kenneth: Hey, staying in touch through technology is just fine.
But occasionally, one does miss the shrieking, door-slamming and lamp-throwing that are such integral parts of healthy marital communication. · Nov 8 at 10:05am
I have to go visit Kenneth. To learn.
I tend to disagree. I think that e-mail, using whole words, is a healthy thing, and Skype is a life-saver for those who live far away from loved ones. For two years, Rubber Duckie and I had one kid living in Europe and one in China, and found that we spoke more that way than we had when they were in high school or college.
I really don't think that technology drives the quality of the communication. People who want to get together do so, and those who are too shy aren't going to start heading out just because it is necessary to see people- rather, they just won't see people. Introverts (like, er, me....) are simply less likely to communicate if technology is unavailable.
I do agree that constant texting using buzz-phrase acronyms and shortcuts reflects a fried brain and encourages oatmeal-substance-caliber thought.
May '10
Re: Why Socialize When You Can Sofalize?
The quality of emails depends largely on the frequency of correspondence, in my experience. If you email someone regularly, it's easy to become lazy about the content. I tend to put more thought into emails to people I haven't spoken to in weeks or months.
But I was born in 1980. The only letter writing I ever did was Thank You notes after Christmas and birthdays. Otherwise, people tend to use the phone.