when e-communication goes bad

I saw this on the internet the past day or so, and didn't know what you think about it:

ATTENTION: As Hurricane Irene batters the East Coast, federal disaster officials warned that Internet outages could force people to interact with other people for the first time in years. Residents braced themselves for the horror of awkward silences and unwanted eye contact. FEMA advised: “Be prepared. Write down possible topics to talk about in advance. Sports...the weather. Remember, a conversation is basically a series of Facebook updates strung together.”

It got me thinking about how much electronic communication (Facebook, texting, emails) have become our "easy way out" of actually sitting down with someone and working things out. What's your experience - do you:

• Use email/Facebook/texting as a way to avoid a face-to-face opportunity or responsibility?
• Do your ever sense others bow out of commitments with you through e-communication versus having a conversation with you?

I believe online communication should supplement real-life relationships. It seems like culturally it's become the easy way out of actually having one, though... especially when there is tension.


Thoughts? 

"If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won't listen, tell the church. If he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love." (Matthew 18:15-17)