Fall 2021
Issue 01
W27
How to Talk to Online Friends in Real Life By Gabriella Cafarelli (Advertising and Marketing Communications ‘23) Illustrations by Danielle Balce
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nock knock. “May I borrow a cup of sugar?” Or maybe, “Excuse me, I love your sweater!” will work better.
Starting a conversation, in general, is not always easy. Especially postpandemic, our social skills may be a tad rusty. Now that the Fashion Institute of Technology has returned to campus and in-person classes, students are adjusting to getting to physical classes on time, the rush hour of the dining hall, crowded seating in the breezeway, and having conversations face-to-face. This means no more leaving someone left on delivered for days, or hiding behind a turned off Zoom camera, or saying “Sorry, just seeing this now!” even though you have been stalking Timothee Chalamet’s Instagram for 3 hours and muted the notification of their text. It’s back to raw, awkward, butterflies in stomach, which-eye-do-I-look-into, conversations. I’ve had a few of those conversations myself just in the first month at school. I had just finished shoving my clothes into the washing machine, mixing darks with lights of course, and was patiently waiting for the elevator. I glanced over to the person next to me, also patiently waiting, and I realized that I recognized him from my past online classes. “Hey!” I said, probably a bit too quietly since my mask muffles my voice. No response. “Hey (insert name)!” I said louder, and probably too loud because I startled him. “Oh...hey,” he responded. There was confusion in his voice and a blank stare behind his eyes. He turned away immediately, rather to stare at the elevator door.
“It’s back to raw, awkward, butterflies in stomach, which-eye-doI-look-into, conversations.”
“How was your move in?” I asked, trying to make him engage in the conversation. I was awarded another dry response. Maybe he doesn’t recognize me, I thought. Or maybe he doesn’t like me? Or he doesn’t want to talk? Or maybe he had a bad day? I pestered myself with questions while we stood in deafening silence in the elevator. That was the longest elevator ride to the second floor. He scurried out of the elevator, probably to escape any more conversation with me, and I was left feeling like I said something wrong.
But, I realized I hadn’t.
The transition to living on campus and seeing peers again after over a year online is big. No one is sure if they should say hi to someone they recognize, or compliment someone’s outfit, or just start a conversation with a stranger. Some aren’t even sure who is talking to them with the disguise of the face mask. This is even more prominent with students
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