Humor and Misunderstandings
By theprogamer
@theprogamer (10532)
United States
August 26, 2007 7:22pm CST
Hello hello fellow mylotters. I just thought of a new discussion topic. It's come to my attention (or well I was reminded) that misunderstandings are too easy online. It can stem from jokes or teasing or from arguments (I've encountered all in my grand total of a week on mylot). Unfortunately these misunderstandings occur and its because of a lot. Sometimes we read things too seriously, other times posters forget that they are not in person and forget to add certain things like kidding or j/k (yea I dun did that, forgive me everyone *waits for boos to die down*). Yea I messed up and so have others. But instead of taking it too hard, why not turn it into a point of growth?
You are free to share misunderstandings here on this discussion. Did you grow from it? Were you forgiven? Or did it grow into a mess of a situation. I remember a few wars and conflicts in history were all because of one simple misunderstanding. Let us do our best to consider our posts and our reading. And I've seen some friendships go down in flames all over a single misunderstanding. We are all friends and family here, many of us only wanting the best for those on here we interact with.
Happy posting all! Remember that even though this is a misunderstandings discussion I'm here to support you as always. :) But also consider others and support them as well.
10 people like this
13 responses
@herrbaggs (1308)
• United States
29 Aug 07
The only way to misunderstand me is to take me seriously. Life is a comedy of errors and serious people are dangerous. They just can't get it through thier heads that there is no spiritual reward at the end of thier life bestowed upon them by an imaginary being.
1 person likes this
@WhatsHerName (2716)
• United States
30 Aug 07
I know all about your humor.
Even angels have to take a break from diapers now and then.
I miss you too, I have nothing much to laugh about without myLot.
2 people like this
@herrbaggs (1308)
• United States
29 Aug 07
Oh dear my guardian angel has caught me being sacreligious.I am going to suffer for those comments. I thought she was off changing diapers.I quess evil just can't hide. Hi sweetheart how are you doing, I sure have missed you. Just making a little humor for the boys.
1 person likes this
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
27 Aug 07
The only people I don't understand here are those who abuse and violate this site, many times I am always posting here in good mood and eager to have great conversations!;) There are also times that I was the one being misunderstood, and people do not consider who or where I am from. But I don't give them a d@mn, because I know that I am doing just what I know is fair and for the fact that I am still here for a long time now!;)
Other folks here believes they are superior over the other, so I just let them think of themselves that way because I know for sure that I am more blessed that they are!;)LoL
Good post my friend, I hope everybody gets enlightened by this!;)
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
27 Aug 07
Thanks again Raijin. Classic and meaningful as always.
It may not get the same attention as the juggernaut members' discussions but I wanted to at least post this for meaningful discussion and thought.
Have a nice one mate!
1 person likes this
@pendragon (3348)
• United States
1 Sep 07
Dude, I'm a three now!!LOL.. geeze... I don't even think i made any of the mentioned blunders to get this way either.But yeah, I try to use neutral wording, or humour,or being overtly happy to come across correctly, I bet it backfires though.
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
7 Sep 07
Bah, well someone slammed me down to a 5 ;p
But more people are starting to see its the quality of our posts that matter. And the fools trying to bring us down are the ones looking stupid.
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
27 Aug 07
I've had the good fortune to not be a part of any big misunderstandings since I've been a member here (knock on wood, right? LOL). But I sure have seen quite a few flare up in other's discussions. And some of them are so seemingly pointless. I agree with you that instead of letting something like that turn into a major negative situation, we should all learn to grow from it and turn it into something positive. I've had enough problems in my daily life to learn from, so I figure why not put that knowledge to use here. I really hope I am making sense....darned pain meds anyway! LOL
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
27 Aug 07
Don't worry I can understand what you are saying. And grats on not being in major misunderstandings on mylot (I'll knock too). But I think its better to admit, grow and continue forward instead of deny or delude.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
28 Aug 07
I think we do forget that people read what we write in their own way. I know I like to kid around with some of my friends, but we already know that it is kidding. I try not to cause arguments. It is good to put in *smiles* or LOL, when we are responding. Even though I may think something is funny or not so serious someone else may think totally different because they can't see me. There were a couple of times that I responded or posted without really thinking about the outcome, and this was due to after reading a post that used my name, I got angry and wanted everyone to know who was being rude to me and saying things that weren't true about me. The best thing I could have done was ignore them and now I do. So I did learn from that one. The responses I received were positive, but the way I worded the post was just awful. I was no better than the person who used my name to create problems. I find that how I post or respond lets others know something about me. Alot of people seem to get mad at someone if they disagree with them. That is what a discussion is all about. It would be very boring if we were all alike and always said what others wanted to hear..
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
28 Aug 07
Okay that's pretty good Feona. I wasn't saying debate was bad or anything. It would be bad if we were completely alike, but I just posted that for consideration. This was more about posting something seemingly innocent and having it misread or others taking it too literally. Of course its unavoidable, but I just wanted to give a reminder/heads up.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
1 Sep 07
I'll admit I've had some troll trouble in the past here, but other than that, most of my differences of opinions have been handled in an adult manner.
Let's say I've grown a lot since I joined myLot back in November, hehehe.
In a nutshell, people are more easily misunderstood in print...tone and attitude are mostly subjective, unless like me, one were to use very descriptive language in most cases to ensure the sarcasm is well noted, lol.
The language barrier online can be toublesome as well.
I told a woman to "rock on with" her "bad self" and she honestly wanted to know what she had done that was bad.
My mistake, bad still means bad in many other cultures. I let her know that, and now she knows that I was in full agreement and was showing support in my own slangy way.
I feel like having another shot & singing "Why Can't We Be Friends..."
hahahahahaha, seriously, I just might :D
1 person likes this
@WhatsHerName (2716)
• United States
29 Aug 07
If I didn't laugh at one of my best friends comments here on myLot I wouldn't have the pleasure of laughing today when I see his username. Some of his remarks are so off the wall that all you can do is laugh. If you take him seriously you will only set yourself up for more and probably worse. Either you love him or hate him.
I have made a few friends here from misunderstandings.
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
27 Aug 07
In my opinion, misunderstanding is unavoidable as not all the people here speak a common language and have the same culture. We are all different individuals with our own personalities. I too have "offended" people here by responding to their discussions and people too have "offended" me in their responses to my discussions.
As I have been known to be rather direct and tactless in real life, I take great pains to be careful of how I respond. However, at times, I do get carried away when I try to be creative in my response, and it ended up causing some misunderstanding. It did happen once. I realised it when the person responded to my response. A friend understood what I was trying to say and spoke up for me. My apology did no help. The person posted a discussion on it! What can I do? Take it as a lesson learnt. However, I stopped my creative responses except to the few whom I know can take jokes and can joke along. I can proudly say I still support that friend's discussions.
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
27 Aug 07
Very good Whyask. Its tough and yea unavoidable, but I posted this for open discussion and exchange. I'm happy to say I am learning (re-learning) a lot.
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
8 Sep 07
It's very hard to get our thoughts across in writing sometimes so yes there are always going to be a lot of misunderstandings here. My feeling is that we just have to get over it.
@claire03 (1443)
• United States
7 Sep 07
i certainly understand what you mean theprogamer. i experienced that here in mylot :) do you remember? hehehe.. well, anyway we work things out and we just can't avoid it to happen sometimes because we can omit words that are important to a sentence so easily and that could easily change the whole meaning of what you want to say. right? this is a nice discussion and i can relate to this for certain reasons. Hope you have a nice day! :)
1 person likes this
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
4 Sep 07
Hand in hand they go!
Unfortunately, I've encountered too many misunderstandings (generally small) online, both on mylot and msn, because I also tend to forget that nobody can hear my tone of voice, and it turns out to be the interpretation of the text instead, which might not always be as pleasant and light-hearted as I had planned.
I do usually try to have smiley faces and the like to indicate the intended message, but sometimes it just doesn't come out right =P
I've been the misunderstander many times, because of my own mood at the time of reading a comment. If I am in a bad mood, I might find the slightest of written humour to be a personal attack =/ *blush* oopsies.
Generally, both parties have always resolved the misunderstanding and realised the error in their ways, so yes, I would say that I have grown from it & been forgiven.
Although I'm hardly the most politically correct person, I do do my best to make sure that my writing is concise and not unintentionally insulting, and I try not to let my own anger or sadness cause a misunderstanding of another's comment.
Great post!
