Interpreting meaning in forum posts.

CrazyRabbit

#Curious#
Has any else made a forum post intended to be interpreted in one way, but it ended up being interpreted totally differently?

#Unhappy#
I've made many posts before where I very carefully chose my words as the topic was delicate, only for my post to be still totally misunderstood by some. Perhaps I just suck at written communication!

#Amused#
On the plus side, it can be quite humourous when someone posts something unintentional funny. #Surprise# Hell, it even spills over into domain names and newspaper headlines:
http://top10kid.com/2008/07/21/top-10-unintentionally-funny-websites/
http://www.bannedinhollywood.com/20-unintentionally-funny-news-headlines/

#Angry#
And there's always those trolls that deliberately choose to view what you have written in the worst possibly way. They then get all aggressive and start derailing the thread off-topic.

#Resigned#
I guess there's not much we can do about it. I guess the written word isn't very good at communicating actual intent, or people just aren't good at converting thoughts into words.

#Curious#
So, do you have any ideas on how to more effectively communicate when writing?

#Sarcastic#
I can't wait for the first person to reply with #Whoring for Thanks#

#Hopeful#
I hope I made myself clear enough in this thread

Indubitable

If you want to come across as curious, you would write: I am curious about ..............

EDIT: Hilarious headlines btw.

CrazyRabbit

kingofthe3rdyrs wrote: »

If you want to come across as curious, you would write: I am curious about ..............

#disappointed#
That isn't the unhelpfully sarcastic and yet hilarious reply I was hoping for from AH.

Daemos

Interpretation, shminterpretation

That what you were looking for?

banquo

#Whoring for Thanks#

vodafoneproblem

Yes, often. I suppose one way around it is to use lots of smileys or do what you did, OP, but I think if you explain posts too much it can take away from them. The problem is obviously not being able to see someone's body language when reading what they wrote. Imagine if everyone's avatar was actually a live link to their web cam? I think you'd read some of their posts a whole 'nother way.

KeithM89_old

Thanks for that amazing post!!
#Sarcasm#

Donkey Oaty

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

#Resigned#
I guess there's not much we can do about it. I guess the written word isn't very good at communicating actual intent, or people just aren't good at converting thoughts into words.

Have you had a go at trying to express yourself through mime, modern dance, architecture, flower-arranging, etc?

Indubitable

vodafoneproblem wrote: »

Yes, often. I suppose one way around it is to use lots of smileys or do what you did, OP, but I think if you explain posts too much it can take away from them. The problem is obviously not being able to see someone's body language when reading what they wrote. Imagine if everyone's avatar was actually a live link to their web cam? I think you'd read some of their posts a whole 'nother way.

Tone of voice would be more important than facial/body expressions no?

So perhaps a recorded narration of your post.

SugarHigh

So why exactly do you hate black people so much?

Abi

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

#Curious#
Has any else made a forum post intended to be interpreted in one way, but it ended up being interpreted totally differently?

More often than not..

#Angry#
And there's always those trolls that deliberately choose to view what you have written in the worst possibly way. They then get all aggressive and start derailing the thread off-topic.

^Thats why.

Nodin

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

#Curious#
Has any else made a forum post intended to be interpreted in one way, but it ended up being interpreted totally differently?

No, I just remember to put "...you geebag" on the end and everyone knows exactly what I'm getting at.

Nodin

SugarHigh wrote: »

So why exactly do you hate black people so much?

I think Ungebe's refusal to come out to his family and constant flings left their mark.....