Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the speed at which our communication methodology is evolving? The first time my husband asked me out on a date he called me from a rotary dial phone in the hallway of his dormitory while all of his buddies stood around listening to the conversation. Now one in eight married couples in American meet via social media.

Communication at its core, though, is conveying a message from one person to another.  It's not just what the person is saying, it's also what the listener is hearing. Do you remember playing the game where a number of people sat in a circle and one person began by whispering something in the ear of the next, continuing around the circle?  Invariably the message that was returned was quite different than the one that was delivered.  Social media has ramped this game up exponentially. While there is much to be appreciated about social media, there are some real dangers when people misuse it. Reputations of individuals and organizations can be trashed in a flash by anonymous bloggers and individuals who make sweeping statements without first checking facts.

Let's be vigilant about communicating with honesty and integrity, respecting others, and asking questions before passing judgment. Remember when your mother told you not to say things about other people that you wouldn't say to their face? It still applies.