this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2024
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Hey guys, what are your thoughts on the existence of extraterrestrial life and the potential involvement of governments in concealing or studying such entities.

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[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee -1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Do you understand tone? Do you comprehend that there’s more to my message than “I think aliens exist”?

[–] stembolts@programming.dev 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Yes. Like I said I agree with a lot of your points. My examples are intentionally oversimplified to avoid diluting the idea I want to demonstrate.

I hope you understand that I'm trying to help you communicate more effectively, because i think that what you are communicating is valid.

Not everything is an argument. It's important to understand when people are helping you, or you end up attacking allies. We are likely on the same side.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You’re helping me with the goal you assume I have.

It’s condescending because instead of inferring my communication goals from my message, you assume the message is poorly crafted because it doesn’t effectively reach that goal.

I was hoping to lead you do this realization indirectly, but I’ll just come out and say it: my goal with that comment was to express my feelings. Do you feel that you know how I feel about this topic, having read my comment?

That’s why I asked whether you understand what tone is. You seem to think tone is a lubricant that makes manipulating others’ opinions go easier. I disagree. I think tone is an expression of emotion.

Ask yourself honestly. Did you get a good sense of how I feel about this, from reading my comment? If you did, then I succeeded in my communications goal.

Since we’re doing unsolicited advice, I’d say take it easy on the assumptions of others’ incompetence when you’re encountering them for the first time.

[–] stembolts@programming.dev 1 points 7 months ago