Dongo the DongDong King
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Post by ➳ T e c h n o ➳ on Aug 27, 2015 22:18:14 GMT -7
Internet communication
- You cannot see the face of the people you are speaking with, therefore it may be harder to interpret how they actually feel about a particular topic.
- You cannot hear the tone of their voice, so interpretations may be incorrect.
- Body language is a huge factor in communication, and taking that away may lead to misunderstandings.
- Not every opinion is an attack; people all have opinions.
- Disagreeing with someone is perfectly normal, and it does not mean that you are arguing or fighting.
- Consider that not every statement someone makes is an attack or accusation towards you.
- Basically, communication that isn't face to face can be very flawed and skewed, so take everything with a grain of salt. Discussing things in a civil manner, rephrasing sentences and being clear and precise can really help to prevent fights due to misunderstandings. For example, saying 'Your character is weird!' while trying to compliment someone may lead to a misunderstanding, but rephrasing and saying 'Your character is unique!' would provide much more clarity.
- Communication is a two-way street. Successful communication relies on both parties attempting to be as clear as possible, as well as being open to the idea that their interpretation may not have been what the other party actually meant. Most of the time, people do not intend to start fights.
- Netiquette
Body Language:
- I'm going to begin with a link for this. Body language is often also referred to as non-verbal communication. It makes up a large portion of our communication, and much of it can be subconscious.
- Not being able to interpret facial expressions or posture due to being on the internet may hinder our ability to understand what type of message the other person is trying to send.
- For example, when you are watching a clip of a TV show where the actors are interacting, having a conversation, delivering good or bad news, you may notice that most of their communication is via body language, and not just written/spoken communication.
- I'm going to leave a few more links here regarding this topic, because I can only say so much without repeating myself:
- Non-verbal communication with cultural considerations
- More about non-verbal in general
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- The whole point of communication is to get a message across. Writing, speaking, and drawing are considered communication.
- Why do these? To form relationships, get information, make decisions, and play games.
- Think about how you would talk to someone face to face; would you interpret things the same way as you do on the internet? Not likely. The anonymity of the internet creates an environment where you're more likely to act and react differently versus elsewhere in life.
- Communication should be dealt with in a respectful manner. Not all of it will be, but it's important to try. There's no sense in jumping the gun, so to speak, over a few words if you're not sure of their intended message.
- Here's another interesting article regarding technology and its effects on communication. (The article isn't 100% about communication but provides some pretty good points.)
- Communication differs between cultures! Not all users you encounter on the internet are from the US/North American region; many people are from other countries/regions. Things like humour, and ways of speaking to another may differ. For example, British humour can be very self-deprecating, while other cultures may consider this odd. In some cultures, using other people as a joke is almost always considered rude.
- Not everyone's first language is English! Or whichever language a website happens to use most commonly (as a first language). It may cause misunderstandings, as translations may not always come across the way it was intended. Be open to this possibility, and be ready to forgive.
- There are two types of cultures (at least commonly recognized I believe?) Individualistic: characterized as a more self-reliant type of culture. The US for example is an individualistic culture. "Do things for yourself, pull yourself up by your bootstraps (mostly US for this one)" sort of mentality rather than worry about saving face for someone else. Opinions that differ from the norm also tend to be more accepted. Collectivist Culture: The culture identifies more with the whole community than individual self. Saving face for others is often deemed to be very important. It is more community oriented than Individualistic cultures. Japan, for example, is considered a Collectivist Culture.
- More information about Individualistic vs Collectivistic Cultures
- Obviously, it's not required you get along with everyone. That also doesn't mean you should go out of your way to be rude/mean/inconsiderate to the person you don't like/get along with. There's always the option of trying to talk out the differences in the relationship that are preventing the people involved from getting along. The option of simply ignoring/blocking the person exists as well. If neither, or even one can't/refuses to respectfully speak to/with you then it's probably best just to avoid each other.
- A fresh set of eyes on a conversation (parties allowing of course) may also help clear up some misunderstandings/differences. (For example, staff members are here for that reason.) Not everything has to, or will end in a horrible disaster.
- It's not the end of the world if someone doesn't like/get along with you/frequent misunderstandings happen. Avoid one another. You're not going to like/get along with/understand everyone you encounter, and not everyone who encounters you will also like/get along/understand you.
- Consider the message you are trying to send: Are you angry or sad? If so, about what, or regarding who? The person you're speaking with? Someone else? Be clear.
- Consider reasons someone else may have said/inquired about something; more often than not, it was not a personal attack.
- Take everything with a grain of salt.
- Don't be rude. There's no point.
- If you can't get along, opt for a third party to work things out, TRY working things out yourself, or avoid each other.
- Consider what culture/country/region the person is from when speaking with them, and keep in mind that people all come from different backgrounds.
- Use your words and logic. Emotions can get in the way and cause misunderstandings or hurt feelings.
- You do not have to befriend everyone, and not everyone has to befriend you. That doesn't mean you should be cold/unfriendly towards those people.
And finally, TL;DR: Don't be an asshole. These were just some things I learned about/found interesting! I hope someone else finds this stuff also interesting & helpful! ^^
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