Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bds beta 6/6/85; site pucc-j Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!pucc-j!aaz From: aaz@pucc-j (Marc Mengel) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: How do you see the other person? Message-ID: <856@pucc-j> Date: Thu, 27-Feb-86 12:41:06 EST Article-I.D.: pucc-j.856 Posted: Thu Feb 27 12:41:06 1986 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Feb-86 22:38:58 EST References: <826@bute.tcom.stc.co.uk> Reply-To: aaz@pucc-j.UUCP (Marc Mengel) Followup-To: net.singles Distribution: net Organization: The Hacker's Liberation Front Lines: 54 In article <826@bute.tcom.stc.co.uk> pete@stc.co.uk writes: > > Having been a subscriber to USENET for about a year or so I >have had the opportunity to read many messages, to post a few and to >send and receive e-mail. Each time I see an interaction, or take part >in one, I find myself wondering about the other part[y,ies]. > > How do we _see_ each other? : > It is more likely that the nature of the medium itself >encourages poor interpersonal communication. The :-) may not be >enough. > We don't see each other. I think that is an interesting feature of discussions on the net, and it is a double edged sword. True, we cannot look at someones expression and guess at whether they are being sarcastic -- but can we correctly do that in real life? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Here, if you are being sarcastic you MUST say so if people are to believe you -- we get away from the mind-reading-by-facial-expression game that is played elsewhere. We also avoid bogus assumptions about people based upon appearance. > What's the answer? (do we need an answer?) I don't think that >every posting should sound like 'The Dating Game' (I'm twenty-one, >have brown hair and blue eyes and just _love_ children!). But there >must be room for telling each other more about ourselves than we do >now, else we're not communicating, only swapping data. >-- > Peter Kendell > ...!mcvax!ukc!stc!pete Only swapping data?? Isn't that what communication is? What more could you tell about yourself in person than you can over the net (other than perhaps physical demonstration of emotion which is a mixed bag...Hugs are fun, slaps aren't). If you have something to say about yourself, say it! If you don't have words for something, you probably couldn't get your point across effectively in person either... and finding words for something is an interesting and useful introspection, as well. Yes, I would like to actually meet more people out in Usenet-land, and there are even occasionally Usenet-parties for just such a purpose; but I *like* this sort of discussion. I find it easier to think about what someone said if I can read it over a few times, and try to see what THEY meant, rather than what I read into it... -- Marc Mengel Uucp: { decvax, icalqa, ihnp4, inuxc, sequent, uiucdcs }!pur-ee!pucc-j!aaz { decwrl, hplabs, icase, psuvax1, siemens, ucbvax }!purdue!pucc-j!aaz USnail: 910 N. 9th street Lafayette IN 47904