h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Afternoon Potholer,

I was thinking of broadening this point into a full thread this afternoon, because it seems to me that rather like text messsaging an essential part of conversation is lost when we post on HooToo, namely facial expressions and twinkles in eyes etc.

I am certain that this is what leads to many arguments and misunderstandings on the Forum, because folk tend to read a sentence and believe thay have the full essence of the point.

It often isn't true. Worse, it is possible to give an entirely wrong impression of ones real thinking, especially when advocating on behalf of the Devil, ie when discussing an opinion which you don't actually have yourself - in the abstract as it where.

I suppose brevity might be one solution. Write down on paper what you wish to post, then 'blue pencil' it to the minimum.

Novo

Reputation and/or other kinds of prejudice can play a major part.

For example, if I was honestly interested in a theological question, but it was a rather difficult one for a believer to answer, someone may well think I was asking to be troublesome when in fact there was something about a believer's perspective I just didn't understand, and wanted to know more about.

To try and avoid being misunderstood would actually require a deal of clarification about why I was asking, rather than trimming the question to the minimum.

I think that is my point PH

We can swap short debating points here, but if you enjoy a good argument it is awfully easy to gain an unjust reputation ( or a just one! ) when trying to put forward a case for consideration.

Without the facial expressions, hand and shoulder gestures etc real debate can be misconstrued as an opinion, and the one expressing an idea can be unfairly 'labelled'

Possibly it is inadequate English on my part, but look at the hot water I go into by using the B&B to illustrate a point. It was widely assumed that I was advocating him breaking the new law - I wasn't.

Novo