Frustrations

[tcannizzo]

This is not the only message board on the world wide web that has this problem. Each message board has its own cadence and context based on previous posts. Therefore, newbies should expect this and use extra caution on the first few posts; and the regulars should give the newbies some latitude until they have shown that they "know the flow".

But, it all comes down to the written word and the numerous ways that it can be MIS-interpreted.

Let me offer a very powerful snippet from sales training:
A single sentence with only 8 words, can mean at least 7 different things. For example: "I did not say he stole the money"

1. Simply stated without emphasis, it is just a statement of fact, but by tonal inflection, the meaning of the sentence changes dramatically.

2. "I did not say he stole the money".
> Somebody else said that he stole the money

3. "I DID NOT say he stole the money.
> A vehement denial

4. "I did not SAY he stole the money"
> I might have implied it, or wrote it down, but I didn't acutally say it.

5. "I did not say HE stole the money."
> It was someone else who stole it.

6. "I did not say he STOLE the money."
> He was just borrowing it, or lost it.

7. "I did not say he stole the MONEY."
> It was the car that he stole.

This is a great exercise for you to do on your own. Keep saying this sentence with emphasis on the appropriate word, so that the meaning of the sentence is crystal clear. Your communication skills will be automatically increased.

Then, try to figure out how to WRITE WHAT YOU MEAN!

For the message board readers, it is probably a good practice to either give the benefit of the doubt, or either ask for clarification/meaning before responding. This will help minimize the dreaded death-sprial.