by External Poster » Wed Nov 07, 2012 10:03 pm
This posting is from: Cynthia Phillips
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This is one of the criticisms I've got with chat lines and forums is
that it is so easy to misconstrue someone's comment, especially if they
or you are jumping into a two way conversation. An effort to be witty
or light-hearted can be taken as serious by either party, or you as
sender can send the wrong message by not reading the humor into the
dialog. Emotions can quickly enter into the conversation and override
the intended thread. I've made that very mistake on both Facebook and
YouTube, and then had to double back and explain myself. It's rather
embarrasing to have to do so, but that's one of the biases of internet
communication these days. It's not perfect and neither is the language
perfect. Spoken or written, it's easy to fall into an unintended trap
of misunderstanding. This is why I think it's so important for everyone
to stay focused on the larger scope of our group's direction and purpose
- one for all and all for one - rather than letting inner group and
personal friendships and interests in specific or special people guide
our attention. Admittedly these are important and easily developed over
the years. You've earned them and are entirely entitled to them, but as
you might expect they can easily break down in candid conversations.
Defensive reactions can crop up quickly.
As sensitive to group opinion as we all are; I know I am, and I know you
are too, I think that it's important that we all, as an entire
organization, keep our focus on organizational interests first and
foremost, and put personal friends and acquaintances secondary, but
certainly not last, and not let petty sqabbling and jealous bickering
over personal relationships, to the exclusion of others, interfere with
our larger group's purpose and direction.
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(This posting was entered by Cynthia Phillips, an external user of MyDLV.)