I hate conversations over the phone, but a quick "hello, what are you doing" is fine. Most of my conversations are done through IM or email. However, I don't think I'm socially inept... if anything, it's made me MORE comfortable talking to people, especially friends.

It really depends. If you're my boss and I hardly ever see you because you're so busy I'll send you an email. BUT, if you're my boss on any sort of level and I see you at least once of twice a day I'll ask you face to face. I find it impersonal and disrespectful to pull that shit unless it's necessary... But that might just be me. =O

I usually try contacting people by phone or try to see them in person if possible. Especially if the person happens to be one of my professors or someone who wants to interview me for anything. Otherwise, I contact my friends through email or text messaging for shorter reminders or questions in general.

In hindsight, the variations of communications that have been created in the eons of existance on this planet have caused many difficulties not just through age, but by race and location. When I think of what nuttyturnip said I think of how one would communicate to another of their race in their own country speaking the same language compared to that same person speaking to someone of a different race in a different country in a foreign language.

Myself, I'd rather speak in person. While email and IM have become popular over the years, direct conversation has more emphasis to me. But that still leaves communicating to others in different places. In that sense, yeah I think emails and IMs will do nicely.

When I was 16-18 I never had a computer so IM / E-Mail was never an issue but I did have a cell phone which I used more for text message people than ringing them. I wasn't nervous or awkward but because I thought it was an easy alternative trying to get hold of someone if they are at work or busy.

I'm sure that if I met up with somebody I'd probably be nervous but after a couple of minutes I wouldn't shy away, it's just the way life is sometimes.

Now that I think about it I hate using pagers and emails to contact people. Infact I find it almost unreliable as most of the people I work with either take too long to get back to me or can't find my message(s.)
Speaking from experience being there in person or on the phone is a much better way of getting things done. And so I prefer it.
Oh, IM messaging can work too but I can't say I really use that at work.

I love talking to people face to face. I find that I can do it the easiest. I get nervous when it comes time to phone someone who I've either A) never met before, or B) simply never talked to on the phone before. It is in cases like these that I love email. I can type up a message, that is both properly formed, well thought out and devoid of stutters and mumbles. I avoid the chance of embarassing myself and the like. So I try to spread my communication over all genres, just to keep things interesting.

After reading what Alice said it is sort of true. Kinda sad that we can see so many of ourselves here speaking freely without problems, at our "full potential" for communication but so many can't pull the same thing off IRL. I've never really had this problem but I noticed when I got this new job and had to talk to a good 30 different people (on average I'd say) a day that my online comm. skills are slightly better. It's something we can all fix with time though.

I'm very reclusive to being with, so I would much rather e-mail than speak. Of course there are times when it's absolutely necessary to use the phone, (especially at my job), but I try to use it as little as possible. I also hate pestering people, so I would e-mail them in those instances.

E-mail can be very impersonal, but how personal do you actually need to be when you're working? I mean, if you would rather e-mail an actual friend than speak to them, I think that's a whole other situation. But if it's just work, I really see no problem with it.

Generally if you're working on a team and want to have a strong group dynamic, fairly personal.

Quite true. Though I've always been a fairly independent employee, (never worked on a "team" before) so maybe that's why e-mail suits me the best.