The editorial cartoon I chose shows a job interview where the employer says they’re looking for someone with “great interpersonal communication skills.” Instead of responding verbally, the candidate texts “I’m dman 4u” while sitting right in front of the interviewer. This cartoon relates to Chapter 9’s key term, Interpersonal Communication. The cartoon mocks how digital habits and a lack of self awareness can interfere with genuine human interaction. It highlights a failure to demonstrate basic communication cues like eye contact, tone, and active listening, all of which are essential to meaningful interpersonal exchanges.

The cartoon reminded me of a real-life experience. At a previous job, I noticed that many of the younger employees often avoided face to face communication, even during team meetings. One colleague, in particular, would frequently text replies to our manager instead of speaking directly, which often caused confusion and led to missed social cues. This behavior reflects the concept of disconfirming messages discussed in the chapter, which contribute to a negative communication climate. Similarly, the candidate in the cartoon shows a lack of respect for the in person interaction by relying on a text message, highlighting a breakdown in both social awareness and emotional intelligence.

This cartoon is a funny but honest reflection of how interpersonal skills are not just about what we say, but how we say it. In a world dominated by screens, it reminds us that effective communication requires presence, effort, and respect for the context something Chapter 9 makes very clear.