Family Law

Communications in the 21st Century :: Part Four

By J. Benjamin Stevens

I am pleased to present Part Three in my exclusive online presentation of "Communications in the 21st Century" by Rev. Dr. Trey Kuhne, LMFT:

For the past few weeks I have been sharing some viewpoints of cell phone use, texting issues, and your children's use of these services. I find it beyond coincidence that my weekly discussions surrounding these discussions has been directly relevant with current social discussions on cell phone texting while driving and even Supreme Court discussions on what is private communications regarding cell phone and emails.

What I want to share this week is quite alarming. I am not sharing this to bring the reader into a panic, but I am so concerned about how we as couples, families, and individuals communicate that even something as simple as privacy is no longer really fully private anymore. There is a brief video report from Good Morning America on how your cell phone can be used against you as a spying device. You can view this brief but alarming video by clicking here.

We take for granted that our cell phone conversations are completely private and conversations with the other party are also just between 'me and thee.' There are software applications that can be placed on many cell phones that permit an outside person to access your cell phone, your text messages, your voicemail, and even your camera to listen, view, and collect information about you all without your consent or without your knowledge. There are jealous boyfriends doing this to their girlfriends' phones (per GMA video) and I would guess spouses spying on spouses. Your cell phone left on while in your pocketbook, sitting on a table, or on your belt during a private conversation with friends becomes not so private. The point of mentioning this is to raise awareness that in our 21st century there are technologies that we may assume are helping us but may indeed be hindering our good communications. We may also need to be vigilant in awareness of the evil that lurks out there that seeks intentionally to thwart what good we may be doing.

Dear friends, please take the time to talk directly face-to-face with those whom you are in relationship. Begin valuing, again, direct communications, where sight, sound, intuition, smell, feel, and the care for the other person are present to assist in interpretation. About the only real private and secured communications left are those prayers we share with the Father. No outside foe can break through the special connection we have with God through prayer!

Grace and Peace, 
Dr. Trey Kuhne

Dr. Trey Kuhne is a pastoral counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist with Pathways Pastoral Counseling located at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 400 Dupre Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29307. He specializes in working with individuals, couples and families. Call (864) 542-3019 for an appointment. He may be reach via email at: pathwayspc@aol.com.

Full post as published by SC Family Law Blog on April 30, 2010 (boomark / email).