Hatrack River Forum: Why text-based communication is so hard to do well

This is topic Why text-based communication is so hard to do well in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

Linky

According to a recent study*, there is a simple reason why text-based communication is so likely to get people bent out of shape -- we are only 50% likely to tell whether or not a text message is serious or sarcastic. Add to that the fact that we generally assume others will understand our tone, and that we usually (90% of the time) assume that we have correctly interpreted the message we have read, and you get a recipe for FLAME WARS.

Not surprising at all, but interesting still.

*seriously -- how many silly things have I seen following the words "according to a recent study"?

Posted by smitty (Member # 8855) on :

Just what the heck are you trying to say?

Posted by suminonA (Member # 8757) on :

Rule #173 for Internet (text) Communication: "Start with the assumption that the other person is just being sarcastic".

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

Yet anothe reason why sarcasm, in general, just isn't a good idea.

I often fail to perceive sarcasm.

While always assuming that the other person is being sarcastic might, numbers wise, be the more correct thing to do, I don't think I could bring myself to do it. It's like assuming that everybody is an idiot -- I'd usually be right, but I'd have to sacrifice part of my humanity in order to do so.

Posted by smitty (Member # 8855) on :

mph, you may always assume I'm being sarcastic, unless I'm not. And you can pretty much always assume I'm an idiot.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

quote:
I often fail to perceive sarcasm.

I hadn't noticed.

Posted by seespot (Member # 7388) on :

Funny, Tom.

That was sincere--I really did think it was funny. No sarcasm intended.

Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :

Hmm

Shows the importance of tone in human language.

--j_k

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

quote:
mph, you may always assume I'm being sarcastic

Not gonna happen.

quote:
I hadn't noticed.

:pirate:

Posted by suminonA (Member # 8757) on :

quote:
It's like assuming that everybody is an idiot

Well, I assume that idiots can't be successfully sarcastic. So I apply rule #173 and I keep all the humanity [Wink]

Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :

SDNNWOTN.

Posted by suminonA (Member # 8757) on :

starLisa, are you trying to prove something? [Big Grin]

Posted by smitty (Member # 8855) on :

quote:
Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:

quote:
mph, you may always assume I'm being sarcastic
Not gonna happen.

quote:
I hadn't noticed.
:pirate:

I demand you take me sarcastically! Oh, wait, I just remembered I'm apathetic. Take my meaning anyway that suits you.

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

quote:
Take my meaning anyway that suits you.

Not gonna happen.

Posted by smitty (Member # 8855) on :

okey dokey. Take my meaning any way that doesn't suit you! [Smile]

Posted by Raventhief (Member # 9002) on :

Rule #124 for internet (text) Communication: If you're attempting to avoid flame wars, assume the other guy's trying to be nice (failing, possibly, but trying).

If you have any other assumption, you will interpret anything said in the worst possible way and so on until you reach a situation akin to playing with matches in a napalm factory.

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

quote:
okey dokey. Take my meaning any way that doesn't suit you!

Stop telling me what to do. [Mad]

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

Written sarcasm should be banned.
It pisses me off when I post something serious and one responds with stupid sarcasm that goes right over my head anyway.

Posted by smitty (Member # 8855) on :

Growl grumble growl.

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

My defence for that, Syn, is that I refuse to every feel bad for believing that somebody means what they say. [Smile]

Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :

You don't seriously mean that, mph, do you?

-Bok

EDIT: Eh, didn't come out right... Carry on. My willingness to be funny outstrips my actual ability [Smile]

Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :

Eh. That's what these [Smile]

are for.

Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :

Actually, I'm going to retroactively declare my post as being Meta-Funny(tm). That is, unintentionally proving the thread's point.

[Smile]

-Bok

Posted by smitty (Member # 8855) on :

Don't roll your eyes at me young lady!

You know, it's actually fun intentionally misinterpreting people. I might have to try this in real life. Until someone kills me.