Our Thoughts and Irresistible Doodlable Surface

Ever since we needed to communicate, we had been looking for ways to pass on the message. It’s a farsighted, effective method that our ancestors decided to make messages permanently visible not just to those surrounding them but also to those who would return from the hunt later and even toddlers who would grow up to learn to comprehend messages.

From cave walls, bamboo, papyrus-made paper, wood-pulp-made paper, and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to Quantum Dot (QLED) and beyond, homo sapiens are obsessed with leaving thoughts permanently on the Earth.

As a social species, we thrive with the capability to make information flow from one to another to establish common goals. We are born with five sensory systems that each function for the input or output of communication that compel us to be in the flow of messages. With the rise of social media, communication has become a minute-by-minute habit. The nature of messages had become fragmented but more comprehensible. For instance, a thumbs-up emoji signaled agreement (or “whatever”). In multilingual countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, people have been speaking with grammar that deviated from the standard rules of Chinese, English, and Malay languages. A single-word sentence, “Okay”, answers everything. Moreover, colloquial expressions such as “eh,” “meh,” and “lah” further enhanced the effectiveness of communication.

The evolution of communication to become more easily received served one purpose: maintaining well-being. In this case, well-being doesn’t stand for personal mental health but the sense of comfort after speaking out. People don’t talk for nothing. It’s meant for something personal. A harmless small talk is vital to maintaining a relationship; a selfie post online is eager to attract attention; an offer for free lunch is goal-oriented to establish a better relationship.

Communication is internally rewarding and selfish. Many people take the surface on social media — short stories and home page posts — to express to be rewarded for the goals in their minds. It seems like collaboration and generosity are a residual of satisfying personal needs.

It’s not an article that discusses whether people are inherently benevolent or malicious. However, most online messages are self-portrayal of good deeds and luck. Extending beyond the cold facts and friendly suggestions, people want to talk about themselves.

This confuses me as to why we socialize beyond survival and needs. And why some people can be altruistic to others?

Needs and altruism are the two elements that drive modern communication. We are two things: a living organism and a social species. As living organisms, we need to satisfy our conditions to live a life of our standards. We can now eat, drink, and sleep peacefully, so our standards have turned towards something more delicate and spiritual, such as having an expensive car and good mental health. As a social species, we are inherently wired to give a portion of ourselves to our group and community. We care for each other.

These elements are intertwined in our communication purpose, and a mix of both levels of fulfillment will generate different communication behaviors. Someone only likes to talk about themselves, whereas someone is more empathetic. Essentially, you give me some of what I want; I give you some of what I have in abundance.

So why are we so inclined to express anything in our minds? Why do we post our selfies so much? Why did our ancestors draw giant animals on the wall and count the number of deaths using a stone? Essential needs and altruistic traits can only be gathered or achieved by having another person in the communication equation. You can’t get bread if you do not buy it from someone. You can’t help unless there is a person in need of a hand. And these urges are always present. The best way to receive gratification is by having something like a passive income. That is, keep it visible to the public so others can notice and be in the equation.

This theory exists in my mind. Again, it is not to say that we are essentially selfish beings. By nature of human interaction, we are kind. If not, a mother won’t risk her life to save a toddler wandering the road. But, with the built-in features that require gratification from these two elements, we are essentially being powered by them.