Communication

[Mimmsicle]

[size=1][center][Warning: The word "communication" will feature heavily in the following text][/center]
[color=darkred]
Since my arrival here at OB I have thought a lot about the different forms of communication.
The things I have listed are, of course, only a handful of examples and are meant to initiate discussion. Feel free to elaborate and add ^_^


[b]Physical communication[/b] ? body language.
Mostly used to highlight / emphasize other ways of communication, though it can stand on its own accordingly.

[b]Silent communication [/b]? subconsciously/consciously collaborating with body language.
By not responding to conversation or situations you still transmit something, in the sense that others fill in the voids and interpret the silence as having a certain meaning.

[b]Spoken communication[/b] ? different languages, both geographically and socially (or male and female, if you so wish).
Despite being a universal form of communication it is equally vulnerable to others perception and your own execution of it.
The intonation and melody vary from each human and depending how well the relationship is developed between 2 (or more) people talking, it is easy to insert your own "logics" into the conversation - resulting in failure to properly converse and communicate.

[b]Written communication[/b] ? words on various objects (paper, stone, sand etc).
It's on one hand a somewhat sterile art of communication, relying fully on the recipients perception. Severed from emotions embedded in the [i]spoken[/i] word, yet it is just as successful in transmitting thoughts and ideas, as any other form.

(Not to mention sound, visuals (signing for instance) and so on.)

[b]Now I'm curious to know your thoughts about it.[/b]
[i]
Do you have a preferred type of communication ? Is there one form that works better than any other, in your opinion ?

Does one get a greater communicational understanding by applying several different mediums of conversation ? Which ones ?
[/i]
- Mimmi
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[Shaun]

You've hit my place in the world right on the head, darlin'. I'm a senior in college, and guess what my major is? Interpersonal Communication. It's quite the science actually. But I won't get into that just yet.
Let me say that thru my college career, I've learned how to define communication in several forms, and I've also learned how to pick up on and identify what types people like to use. I, for instance, am an Audio-Visual Communicator. This means, I say what I want to say best in pictures, words, and other visual things, and I retain and learn best from seeing something done while hearing it explained. You show me how, I get it. I read how, I don't get it. Get it? :p
I could go on and on with this topic, since it's now my life...but I'm sleepy. LOL

[Guest flibble]

communication is just a method to show your feelings and opinions but i have no feelings to show but my opinoin is all methods are used by everyone even if they denie likeing them life needs to use all forms even i atmit that ty

[COLOR=orangered][size=1] Clean up your post quality. Punctuation is your friend. -Sara[/size][/COLOR]

[Mimmsicle]

[QUOTE]I, for instance, am an Audio-Visual Communicator. This means, I say what I want to say best in pictures, words, and other visual things, and I retain and learn best from seeing something done while hearing it explained. You show me how, I get it. I read how, I don't get it. Get it? :p
I could go on and on with this topic, since it's now my life...but I'm sleepy. LOL[/QUOTE]
[COLOR=darkred]Yes, I would love to get you....
I mean, yes - I get what you're saying ^_^;

What is your opinion on [b]manuals[/b], though ? I mean, there you have pictures [i]and[/i] words communicating an action.
Still, I find then very confusing at times =^_^=

It would be really interesting to hear more of what you've learned !
[color=darkblue]
And fibble.... you just demonstrated another form of communication, very good...
[/color]
- Mimmi[/COLOR]

[terra]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mimmi [/i]
[color=darkblue]
And fibble.... you just demonstrated another form of communication, very good...
[/color]
- Mimmi[/QUOTE]
Yes, "nearly incoherent" I believe it's called.

Anyway. I find every form of communication useful in different situations, as is probably the case with most people. In class, reading is the best way for me to understand a new concept. But to understand someone's opinion on something, it's easier to hear it from their own mouths.

In response to your last question, I think in a conversation all of those forms of communication (except perhaps written) need to be used to best get the point across, and I would think that all three generally come naturally in a conversation. I know I hardly ever sit stiffly during a conversation, and my physical gestures generally convey a lot of what I'm feeling or thinking.

[Sara]

[size=1]Communication is cool. The concept is just shared knowledge.

I could ask someone at the grocery store if they have "[b]yellow fatty beans[/b]" on sale. They would give me an odd look and possibly point me to the canned goods section. Is that what I wanted? No. Why didn't they tell me what I wanted to know? Because I wasn't communicating. There's no shared knowledge base on "yellow fatty beans." I would have to draw on what I know they know: Bananas.

I don't know how many of you have played the game [b]Taboo[/b], but there are several others like it. (Most are far easier. /) You are given a limited amount of time to get your partner(s) to say certain words (given at the top of cards.) Below the objective word are several other [i]taboo[/i] words. Typically, they're the first words that come to mind. You're not allowed to use them while describing the objective word.

For example, the word at the top is [b]Cookie[/b]. I am trying to get you to say that word, without using any of the words below it.

[b]Cookie[/b]
[i]Chocolate Chip[/i]
[i]Monster[/i]
[i]Dessert[/i]
[i]Sheet[/i]
[i]Bake[/i]
[i]Jar[/i]

Essentially, you're limiting the shared knowledge base. The phrases "Cookie Monster," "Cookie Jar," "Chocolate Chip Cookie," etc. are no longer available to you. You can't tell your teammate that they're looking for a kind of dessert, or that they would normally be baked on a "cookie sheet."

You could say, "Children's game--[i]Who stole the _______[/i]" Whether or not your friend knows the missing phrase is "cookies from the cookie jar" depends on the shared knowledge base.

[b]If I were playing with members from OB,[/b] I would easily be able to bypass the taboo words by saying something to the effect of, "Shy's catchphrase in chatrooms." No one outside this community would recognize that clue, but here it would work because most people have had some contact with Shy. (And if they haven't, they've probably seen him quoted in a signature or two.) There's a shared experience, and you can draw on that.

In the same way, I could say someone is "[b]pulling a kuja.[/b]" I might mean it as that person's having poor post quality...or maybe he's planning to sue the boards. Who knows. In any case, members who have been here long enough to share in, um, the "kuja experience" would know what I was talking about. On the other hand, the [b]reference would be lost on most members, simply because they weren't around[/b] during the time kuja was.

PMing a newbie with the warning, "Don't pull a kuja," would have zero (postive) effect. They wouldn't know what I was talking about. There's no shared knowledge; there's no communication.

This can be a problem for teachers. / They can talk for several minutes about what they are trying to explain--be it science, math , grammar, or the electoral college--but they are drawing on their grasp of the concept, not that of the students in the class. What they are saying might make perfect sense to them, but to kids who still don't know the difference between a noun and a verb, explaining adjectives and adverbs simply isn't going to work.

Heh. Okay, so it was a tangent, but it was one I enjoyed.[/size]

[Shinmaru]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sara [/i]
[B][size=1]I don't know how many of you have played the game [b]Taboo[/b], but there are several others like it. (Most are far easier. /) You are given a limited amount of time to get your partner(s) to say certain words (given at the top of cards.) Below the objective word are several other [i]taboo[/i] words. Typically, they're the first words that come to mind. You're not allowed to use them while describing the objective word.

For example, the word at the top is [b]Cookie[/b]. I am trying to get you to say that word, without using any of the words below it.

[b]Cookie[/b]
[i]Chocolate Chip[/i]
[i]Monster[/i]
[i]Dessert[/i]
[i]Sheet[/i]
[i]Bake[/i]
[i]Jar[/i]

Essentially, you're limiting the shared knowledge base. The phrases "Cookie Monster," "Cookie Jar," "Chocolate Chip Cookie," etc. are no longer available to you. You can't tell your teammate that they're looking for a kind of dessert, or that they would normally be baked on a "cookie sheet."

You could say, "Children's game--[i]Who stole the _______[/i]" Whether or not your friend knows the missing phrase is "cookies from the cookie jar" depends on the shared knowledge base.
[/size] [/B][/QUOTE]

Taboo is a really fun game, even if you're forced to play it for Calculus class lol. Yes, true story, my Calculus class played "Math Taboo." Probably one of the more surreal experiences I've had in my lifetime, heh. Let me tell you, thinking up ways to describe math terms without getting too specific is really difficult >_<"

I feel I get the most out of communication through a combination of spoken and body language - it's just the environment I've grown up in; a lot of people where I live use body language in conjunction with spoken language quite frequently.

I communicate best with written language, though. I'm not really the most eloquent of speakers, heh. I really prefer watching conversation rather than partaking in it, unless I'm with a group of friends that I feel comfortable talking and conversing with.

Ooh...big words. I feel smart now :p

[Mimmsicle]

[COLOR=darkred][b]Sara:[/b] If that was a tangent then I encourage you to further go off key >_>

It's true that a basic shared understanding of the subject at hand is vital to communication.
I'm glad you brought that up ^_^

And Shin touched on something good: people who are not overly eloquent in person, can still shine just as bright in written communication as those who are more verbaly forward.

- Mimmi[/COLOR]

[Sara]

[i]I think in a conversation all of those forms of communication (except perhaps written) need to be used to best get the point across, and I would think that all three generally come naturally in a conversation. I know I hardly ever sit stiffly during a conversation, and [b]my physical gestures generally convey a lot of what I'm feeling or thinking.[/b][/i]

[size=1]What if [b]written[/b] is the only form of communication you have in a conversation?

I think it's interesting how asterisks are used to fill (at least partially) the void that would otherwise develop during chats and IMs.

When you're typing, you have fairly limited resources for communication. The written word is incredible powerful, but when you're trying to use it as a form of conversation, something is undoubtably going to be lost. (Unless you're a rock with no gestures or facial expression.) Smiles, laughter, sarcasm, teasing, and other things easily noticed in speech do not always translate well to text.

Obviously, "You can't see me, but I'm laughing right now," becomes rather cumbersome to say. Many people use [i]lol[/i], etc. to indicate that they're laughing...or amused, as the case may be. I have to admit I prefer asterisks, simly because they seem a little more honest. If everyone I know is actually "laughing out loud" every time they say [i]lol[/i], then the Prozac people are going to be out of a job in few years, because the youth of this world simply cannot stop laughing.

Somehow, though, I doubt that's the case. ;) (Ooh, a smiley! Another prime example of text equating emotion! How apt!) ...Ahem.

Someone reply to this, because I just lost my thread of thought.[/size]

[Arcadia]

[size=1]This is fun stuff to read. :p

Personally I've always thought that body language is interesting - it's amazing how much a person can say without ever really talking. Every gesture you make sends a specific sort of signal. I think the actual technical term for the study of body language and expressions is [b]Kinesis[/b], but I'm not one hundred percent sure. But if somebody winks at you or flips you off, you sure as hell know what it means.

The gender differences in body language is also really cool. When a guy sits down, usually his legs are stretched out some and v-shaped.. sort of wide. They're also more likely to prop their arms up on the backs of chairs, on arm rests, and all that. Generally they're more loose and open. Girls, on the other hand, usually keep their limbs pretty close to their bodys. Legs crossed, arms folded in or held closer to the sides.

When you're talking to a guy about a problem or something, he's more likely to tell you how to fix it, or respond with a "Sucks for you" sort of attitude. If you talk to a girl about the same problem, she's more likely to nod, say, "I know what you mean," and return with a similar story. We chicks also tend to say "I'm sorry" way more than we have to. We're more likely to sympathize than a guy. Of course, there are always exceptions, but you get the general idea. :p

Sara, what you wrote about "internet speech" is so true. It's amazing how we find ways to get around those little obstacles. ^_~[/size]

[Shaun]

Internet speech is actually one of the top studies in the communication field right now. I expect that, if I were to go on in college, I'd do my doctoral disertation on it. Wouldn't that be cool? You all could be my research subjects...heheehe....

[Mimmsicle]

[COLOR=darkred] So what would be the most[b] infuriating[/b] way to conduct communication [in the various fields] ?

Personally I have an issue with people raising their voice to the heavens, even when adressing the smallest of things -_-
[size=1](for example: " [b]I AM GETTING MILK ![/b] ")[/size]

It's all very well for dramatic effect, or when a discussion gets heated (as long as it's passion speaking, not anger), but beyond that it gets unnerving. In my humble opinion.

Minor grammar and spelling mistakes are not too bothersome (I'm prone to slipping myself, quite often), it is when things are warped into quirkyness and sloppyness that I cringe.
Maybe I'm naive that way, expecting those born/raised with a certain language, to automatically have higher standards in their communicational skills ? [i]*shrugs*[/i]

- Mimmi[/COLOR]

[size=1]Thankyou all for communicating communication ^_^[/size]

[Shaun]

To me, people that talk monotone just completely turn me off. I can't listen to what they want to say, because I'm too busy being annoyed by their tone.
Also, if people talk down to me, I'm definitly not afraid to ignore them, tell them about it, and or walk away. There's no need for anyone to put up with such prissyness.
Finally, People that type without punctuation, and repeated grammar mis-use really bothers me. Hello? Pay attention in English class! It isn't hard at all! :p

[future girl]

I really love to watch small children communicate. It's very much facial expressions, gestures, and grunts. My nephews have a language barriar to cross with my father, and that's always entertaining. They point, say the sentence in english, and translate one word in the sentence to Spanish. Resourceful indeed. They're faces though, are the biggest talkers. If they've done something "bad" and you ask who it is, and stare them down, usually the guilty one will smile coily. It's a difficult communication relationship, that of children and adults, it always depends on how exposed to the child you are and how exposed the child is to you.

[Baron Samedi]

Nearly all communication facets have their own diverse mix of pro's and con's.

Sometimes speech is the best method of getting across your intended message. But sometimes, you need time to organise your thoughts, or you may say things you don't mean to, or just plain stuff up. I am sure we have all had experiences where you look back and go 'Well, stuff me, why did I do that'.

Well, that is a major drawback of speech. On the other hand, such things as tone, crying, laughing, and other obvious genuflections of the human voice give benefits.

Physical and Silent communication can be good things. You can remain 'on the fence' or give an unspoken agreement.. which you can then redraw at a later time and say 'I didn't really want to'. It is a safe way of communication if you're unsure.. which leads to it's con... mis-interpretation. If they get the wrong message, then everything can go down the drain. Terrible things can happen through mixed messages.

Written: Possibly my favourite communication type. You can form cohesive arguments, have time to think, can edit and change before the final result.... it gives you so many options, and ways to express yourself to your fullest mental extent.

But, this form's major failing is mis-interpretation and lack of emotion expressing. These can be circumvented as has been mentioned- but never as effectively as speech or eye contact.

Basically, and this is obvious, the major failing of all communication is mis-interpretation. Everything can go wrong.

My personal favourite is written. I can easily stand the lack of emotive capabilities, for the gain of argumentative skill, and time to think things through.

[Guest cloricus]

[quote]Written communication
It's on one hand a somewhat sterile art of communication, relying fully on the recipient?s perception. Severed from emotions embedded in the spoken word, yet it is just as successful in transmitting thoughts and ideas, as any other form.[/quote]I must say that I don't agree, people that talk on the internet and have done so for a long time can tell exactly how some one is feeling, implying and trying to put across even without any preposition of the others perception.
In fact it's very hard to lie in (real time) text; people are not used to it so you can see it in the way they type; the speed, accuracy, type, use of highlighting methods, and how they structure a sentence and the content. I can tell when you are talking to me what you are feeling as you type and so can most other people who spend a lot of time in chat channels or with im, you just learn how to pick it up other wise you would be a hopeless chatter. (Basically why people hate newbie?s so much.)

[Mimmsicle]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i]
[B]I must say that I don't agree, people that talk on the internet and have done so for a long time can tell exactly how some one is feeling, implying and trying to put across even without any preposition of the others perception. [/B][/QUOTE]
[color=darkred]I was mainly thinking about books ^_^;
Sorry, obviously I wasn?t clear enough.
[quote]Severed from emotions embedded in the spoken word, yet it is just as successful in transmitting thoughts and ideas, as any other form.[/quote]
And I probably should?ve included ?[i]partially[/i]? before the word ?severed?, since I admit it to have the ability to communicate emotions [i]similar[/i] to other forms.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i]
[b]In fact it's very hard to lie in (real time) text; people are not used to it so you can see it in the way they type; the speed, accuracy, type, use of highlighting methods, and how they structure a sentence and the content. [/b][/quote][color=darkred]
Yes, the things you pointed out are indications of ?life? in written communication ? but it?s still a [b]somewhat[/b] (I stress that word) sterile form, compared to spoken communication where you instinctivly (no training required) pick up on the mood (because you have so much more to go on, body language etc) and have access to everything naturally.

Sure there are smileys and different ways to [i]highlight[/i] what you?re transmitting, but really - it is still difficult to replicate the authenticity in body/spoken languge, with (for example) this :)


- Mimmi [/color]

[size=1]Forgive me if I make little or no sense, this form of communication (discussion) is new to me - but I'm eager to learn, hence why I posted it in the first place.[/size]

[Guest cloricus]

[quote]it?s still a somewhat (I stress that word) sterile form, compared to spoken communication where you instinctively (no training required) pick up on the mood (because you have so much more to go on, body language etc) and have access to everything naturally.[/quote]People are not born with that ability, it too must be learnt. Understanding text is just an add-on to this pre-learnt ability to understand others, and I would still like to disagree.
Text holds much more information than most people think and it can basically replicate (easily) everything that you can in a normal conversation except for visual positioning of the person. (Don't mistake this as body language which is replaced with text subjecting in (live) written text.)
Also highlighting text isn't restricted to smiles and making things bold, you can literally attribute hundreds of methods to each and every word in a sentence that are just commonly understood by most web people.
An example of using this is you can easily have a much more intense argument/debate in real time text than real life over things like religion and politics while knowing exactly how hard you can push on a topic with out the other person blowing up (and possibly banning you) with out ever meeting them or talking to them in the past. (This can be very important when raiding channels. :))

Though that being said only people who've been using text as one of their primary forms of communication for several years really know how to use this to its optimal way so I can see how people have trouble noticing how good a medium it is as a rival of speech. (Yes I know that sounded very geeky.)

[Mimmsicle]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i]
[B]People are not born with that ability, it too must be learnt. Understanding text is just an add-on to this pre-learnt ability to understand others, and I would still like to disagree. [/b][/quote]
[COLOR=darkred]True, that ability is learned.[size=1] (and you are entitled to disagreement, I'm not arguing that) [/size]
I didn't mean to imply that you were [i]born[/i] with it, simply that it comes more naturally.
And I also believe that written communication can only be fully utilized if you have a really good grasp on the spoken/body language, since that's what it's building on.
Or, vice versa for that matter.[/COLOR]
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i]
[b]Text holds much more information than most people think and it can basically replicate (easily) everything that you can in a normal conversation except for visual positioning of the person. [/b][/quote]
[color=darkred]I would like to state that while text [i]can[/i] be replicated to other forms of communication, parts are still lost in "translation". Or, they are transformed slightly. But that is my opinion and I understand yours perfectly.[/color]
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i]
[b]Also highlighting text isn't restricted to smiles and making things bold, you can literally attribute hundreds of methods to each and every word in a sentence that are just commonly understood by most web people.[/b][/quote]
[color=darkred]Do feel free to elaborate on what "tools" are used, apart from what you hinted at in the example you gave.
I am not completely sure how you mean you implement the advantages of the written communication there... I am interested in knowing.[/color]
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i]
[b]An example of using this is you can easily have a much more intense argument/debate in real time text than real life over things like religion and politics while knowing exactly how hard you can push on a topic with out the other person blowing up[/b][/quote][color=darkred]
- Mimmi[/color]

[James]

[color=#707875]I'd only add that in terms of debating or discussion...text is a lot easier in some regards. I mean, you can always go back and check what someone said and you can respond to each point individually -- and take as long as you like to do so.

However, text is certainly not ideal for this type of conversation.

I know that on occasion, when I engage in a debate on the boards, a lot of what I say is ignored or skipped. I'm sure that's a result of laziness -- a desire to skim over the post and respond as quickly and sharply as possible. The problem? Key points and aspects of my argument are missed...and therefore, this creates a tendency to recycle the same comments over and over again.

But if I'm talking to you on a one-to-one basis, you can't simply skim over my words. You know?

If I'm sitting there in front of you, you're listening to my voice and what I'm telling you is probably sinking in quite a lot more. Physical speech has so much more impact than text, when it comes to things like that.

As far as chat goes...I find that people can be entirely different in real life, compared to online. Quite often, people who type awfully on the 'net can actually be highly eloquent, intelligent people when they're talking to you in real life. And vice versa -- people who appear intelligent online may actually be an awkward, bumbling mess in real life, in terms of how they talk.

For me personally, I'd never want to rely on text-only communication. There are millions of subtle aspects to real body language that you can't possibly replicate online.

[/color]

[Shaun]

Well as far as the research end of this discussion goes, the most valuable and best understood communication happens between two people of similar experiences using both verbal, and nonverbal communication. In other words, a conversation between close friends face to face. That way you get all the verbal elements, and all the gestures and looks and tones that make up the non verbal elements.
As far as the internet chat thing goes, I agree that you can tell how a person is feeling...but only after you've known them a long time. After you get to know a person, you pick up on all their scripting habits, and 9 times out of 10, a particular script equals a particular mood.

[Japan]

My preferred types of communication are silient and written. I also really enjoy spoken communication as well. I only like spoken communication when I am with someone I am very comfortable with.

Since in real life, I am very very shy, silient communication is very helpful. I don't speak much when I am a group and by silient communication, I can interact with the group in some ways.

Another form of communication that I prefer is the form, written. When I chat online, that is a form of written communication. Also, I love to write a lot and I am great at it. I like to write stories, keep journals, and everything.

The last form that I like is the form, spoken. Though, as I said, I only like to speak over the phone or speak with someone in real life when I am very comfortable with them. Otherwise I get very uncomfortable and nervous.

Those are the only forms that I prefer. They are actually the only ones that I ever use...heh

[Brasil]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i]
[B]People are not born with that ability, it too must be learnt. Understanding text is just an add-on to this pre-learnt ability to understand others, and I would still like to disagree.[/B][/QUOTE]

Cloricus, did you ever hear of "cultural transmission"? What about innate predisposition to language acquisition?

Did you ever wonder why dogs are able to bark and vocalize when they are very young?

Ever wonder why children start talking? Because they listen to those around them.

Innate predisposition theorizes that a child will learn the language to which he or she has the closest contact with during the early developmental years. Meaning, a Vietnamese child raised in America or an English-speaking nation will not speak Vietnamese; that child will speak English.

This is similar to traveling abroad. When one travels to a different country, one tends to pick up on the dialect, subconsciously adopting inflections of that particular dialect. Case in point:

In my Senior year of high school, the school's music department took a trip to Virginia. On that trip, we spoke with many who possessed Southern accents. Due to innate predisposition, I came back to South Jersey with a hint of a "Southern Drawl."

Was that dialectal influence a conscious decision? Did I choose to adopt the accent? Did I choose to learn the accent? Not at all. Did I learn the dialect on any superconscious level? Nope.

Some of my friends have traveled to Britain. They returned sporting British slang and British inflections here and there. But certainly did not choose to pick up the slang; it grew on them.

Ability with language is not absent in humans at birth. It does not rely solely on outside development as the child begins their educational process. If anything, lingual ability depends on the innate predisposition to language that all humans possess.

Are you--here's a question, just so you know--are you implying that a child raised in a bilingual environment, and who is not specifically taught both languages, will fail to grasp and be able to fluently speak both languages?

You're not giving people much credit here, are you?

Also, Shaun puts it very well in expressing just how much one needs to talk to people online as to be able to successfully infer how they are feeling at a given point in time on the net.

Cloricus, you cannot claim that AIM or any online messaging system is an instant connect to people...that one can...know precisely what another is truly feeling...without a longer relationship; a longer length of time that allows for intuition to develop.

[quote]pre-learnt ability to understand others, [/quote]

It's actually the other way around, I think.

For example, I was recently in Pittsburgh for the weekend, gaming with some very intelligent comp-sci, mathematics, and economics majors.

Understanding language is not as innate, or "pre-learnt," as you may think.

I can guarantee that had I not been as well versed in expressing myself and had not had a grasp on the language, I would not have been able to understand various conversational pieces during dinner with OGS.

Understanding language comes from lingual development, which comes from innate predisposition to language acquisition, which is a "pre-learnt" ability, regardless of how much you disagree or care to argue.

I also think there is another important point to mention here.

You are comparing a relatively new method of communication to a method of communication that is thousands of years old.

While, yes, many are "hard-wired right out of the womb," it still takes a long while to effectively distinguish moods and attitudes in web-based discussion.

Compare the intense practice it takes for online recognition, to the relative ease of distinguishing moods IRL.

Do you know why the situation is as such?

Innate predisposition. We are predisposed to understanding real-life experiences. It comes naturally to us, some more than others, but it is still a natural occurrence. When one is speaking online, it requires intense concentration, both in the formulative stages and in the advanced stages. This is because you are analyzing type and nothing more. Smilies are fine and dandy, but as Mnemolth demonstrated during his days here, smilies mean nothing in online conversation. They do not assist in the understanding of a post; they detract from it, further muddling the meanings.

I am of the opinion that smilies are in fact destroying peoples' abilities to type logical sentences, both online and offline. Perhaps it is the visual culture that we're living in, the kind of era in which we would rather watch Slaughterhouse Five than read it. The era that has no idea that Pierre Boulle's Planet Of The Apes even exists, and upon hearing of it, thinks it is a novelization of the movies.

I'm going to make this short.

Simply, AIMSpeak has not strength when it comes to understanding human linguistics. AIMSpeak is illustrative of just how lazy society has become, and how ingrained technology is in them. Even posters here on OB think they can be excused for piss-poor grammar and spelling because their "spellcheck doesn't work."

That's not how it should be. I would really like to see the next ten posts I browse to be perfect. That means, no grammar mistakes, no spelling mistakes, clear and well-thought out sentences, and concise ideas. The only rule for this is NO Spellcheck/Grammar check.

I want people to think before they type and actually pay attention to what they're saying, because as James points out, many online folk simply skim a post, without paying attention to detail, often missing major points.

It is this awareness that I feel is missing from a majority of online conversations, and this awareness is an awareness that needs a revival.

That is why it is foolhardy to praise AIMSpeak or variations thereof, claiming they are useful tools--more useful, from how you presented it--more useful than pure human interaction in distinguishing emotion. Oh, "Emoticons," eh? No.

If you want to reply to this so it doesn't look like you backed down, then be my guest. But I do wish you to know, that I will not respect your uneducated opinion here--or anywhere else--until you develop a true understanding of the topic and subject matter at hand.

EDIT:

[quote][i]Originally posted by James[/i]
[b]And vice versa -- people who appear intelligent online may actually be an awkward, bumbling mess in real life, in terms of how they talk.[/b][/quote]

You just described me, James, lol. I may be well-spoken online (the majority of the time, anyway), but offline, I'm rather mumbly and scattered. When I have to be, I'm eloquent IRL, but hanging around friends, anything goes.

This actually is a nice point you make. There are also different levels of conversation IRL. There are basically two main categories:

Formal and casual.

Formal is the "business world" category, I believe. Formal is used when we're presenting ourselves in an overly positive light, primarily. There are those who speak formally all the time, but that feels very unnatural.

Casual is...when you're sitting in a TV Lounge, squaring off against a fellow Marth player in Smash Bros Melee. The emotions run wild, the palms are sweaty, the eyebrows are twitching as a player wall-techs and is able to slash back. That's casual--and actually...

These two categories demonstrate body language. ^_^