Communication, Tone, and Participation

[wo****]

Our online communication often says a lot about how we see ourselves and others, even when we’re not trying to make a point.

In threads where people talk about people who do the initiating, for example, I tend to notice it as more than just a passing opinion. Strong assertions, broad framing, or language that sets expectations and is conveyed with strong emotion often stand out to me. It shapes how I read the conversation overall.

The way initiating, responding to, rejecting, or disengaging are talked about seems to influence the tone and climate of a space. I find myself wondering whether people feel able to speak with nuance, or whether certain ways of framing these topics make some voices quieter than others.

What kinds of communication make you feel comfortable sharing your perspective in a space, and what kinds make you more likely to hold back?

[gy****]

I feel more comfortable talking open and dirty, then I tend to engage more

[Ba****]

Well on one hand i like heated discussions because the less calculated responses tend to be more honest, this may be a bit hypocritical coming from me, i tend to mostly use calculated arguments often from positions quite far from my own opinion because it helps me move around my own lack of real empathy, but on the other hand the more emotional it gets the less likely people are to actually engage with each others ideas and i’m personally less able to understand people that directly respond with their feeling instead of thought inspired/motivated by their feelings, the latter i find quite informative