photo by stendec.

Communication online can be confusing at its best. A seemingly innocuous statement from one person will turn into a full-blown accusation to the reader.

It is only natural that we read emotions or perceptions into the words. We look at a statement from our point of view and think about how the person on the other end is responding. Is that person an emotional person? Is that person standoffish? Does that person come at issues like a bulldog or a puppy?

The job I have now relies on e-mail heavily. We are e-mailing prospective students, answering questions for current students, and assisting professors in their duties. Each word we write has significance. How we respond can make all the difference in the other person’s day.

The same can be said for personal e-mail. Do we take the same care in writing as we would with someone we don’t know at all? Do we think about the words that we lay down?

Sometimes I think we take it for granted that a friend or a loved one will understand unequivocally what we are trying to say. The nuances aren’t forthcoming in e-mail all of the time, though.

That is a consideration we need to take even when speaking with those we care about.