Effective Electronic Communication
There have been a few threads here recently that prompt me to share some tips I learned LONG ago in a communication class - geared towards e-mail but the same principles apply to forum posts and electronic methods in general.
1. E-mail/forum posts are not complete communication - they lack contect and all of the nonverbal cues we use to inptepret people when either talking or in face-to-face situations. Rarely can the emotional state of the writer be accurately determined from written content. The reader infers emotional content based on their own reactions.
2. KISS - Keep it simple stupid. An e-mail/post that is too long or overly convoluted is less likely to be read completely.
3. Get to the point - Save the whole back story, or if its necessary include it after a simple statement of what you are asking for/relating. Readers often only scan a message trying to pick up salient points. The more they have to dig through the less likely they are to read everything and the more likely to miss something.
4. Pretend you are face to face.
5. Use simple english - Things that are too technical/jargony tend to be confusing, especially for the unintiated
6. Formatting counts - Make things easy to read by using paragraphs and bullett points. Let the reader get to the information quickly. Large monolithic paragraphs startle the reader and make them close to come back to later
7. Font matters - The large golden sparkling font you find so amusing can overpower your message. The Neon sign in your signature draws the readers eyet away from your text and your message. Let what you type have the impact - not the typeface.
8. GIve it a last read and edit.
9. Try not to post while Angry or in the throes of another passionate emotion. You may misinterpret what others say or post something you wish you could take back later.
I hope this helps - now let the melee begin!
1. E-mail/forum posts are not complete communication - they lack contect and all of the nonverbal cues we use to inptepret people when either talking or in face-to-face situations. Rarely can the emotional state of the writer be accurately determined from written content. The reader infers emotional content based on their own reactions.
2. KISS - Keep it simple stupid. An e-mail/post that is too long or overly convoluted is less likely to be read completely.
3. Get to the point - Save the whole back story, or if its necessary include it after a simple statement of what you are asking for/relating. Readers often only scan a message trying to pick up salient points. The more they have to dig through the less likely they are to read everything and the more likely to miss something.
4. Pretend you are face to face.
5. Use simple english - Things that are too technical/jargony tend to be confusing, especially for the unintiated
6. Formatting counts - Make things easy to read by using paragraphs and bullett points. Let the reader get to the information quickly. Large monolithic paragraphs startle the reader and make them close to come back to later
7. Font matters - The large golden sparkling font you find so amusing can overpower your message. The Neon sign in your signature draws the readers eyet away from your text and your message. Let what you type have the impact - not the typeface.
8. GIve it a last read and edit.
9. Try not to post while Angry or in the throes of another passionate emotion. You may misinterpret what others say or post something you wish you could take back later.
I hope this helps - now let the melee begin!
_____________________________________________________________________
160 lbs lost. Surgeons Goal Reached in 33 weeks. My Goal in 37 Weeks.
VSG: 11/2/2011; LBL+Thigh Lift+BL: 10/3/2012; Brach+Mastopexy: 7/22/2013
On June 18, 2012 at 8:48 AM Pacific Time, rhearob wrote:
There have been a few threads here recently that prompt me to share some tips I learned LONG ago in a communication class - geared towards e-mail but the same principles apply to forum posts and electronic methods in general.1. E-mail/forum posts are not complete communication - they lack contect and all of the nonverbal cues we use to inptepret people when either talking or in face-to-face situations. Rarely can the emotional state of the writer be accurately determined from written content. The reader infers emotional content based on their own reactions.
2. KISS - Keep it simple stupid. An e-mail/post that is too long or overly convoluted is less likely to be read completely.
3. Get to the point - Save the whole back story, or if its necessary include it after a simple statement of what you are asking for/relating. Readers often only scan a message trying to pick up salient points. The more they have to dig through the less likely they are to read everything and the more likely to miss something.
4. Pretend you are face to face.
5. Use simple english - Things that are too technical/jargony tend to be confusing, especially for the unintiated
6. Formatting counts - Make things easy to read by using paragraphs and bullett points. Let the reader get to the information quickly. Large monolithic paragraphs startle the reader and make them close to come back to later
7. Font matters - The large golden sparkling font you find so amusing can overpower your message. The Neon sign in your signature draws the readers eyet away from your text and your message. Let what you type have the impact - not the typeface.
8. GIve it a last read and edit.
9. Try not to post while Angry or in the throes of another passionate emotion. You may misinterpret what others say or post something you wish you could take back later.
I hope this helps - now let the melee begin!
I would more than likely be go to internet forum jail for virtually throat-punching people if I pretended we were face to face ! ! !
Great post as always! ! !
Band to VSG revision: June 3, 2009
SW 270lbs GW 150lbs CW Losing Pregancy Weight Maintenance goal W 125-130lbs
SW 270lbs GW 150lbs CW Losing Pregancy Weight Maintenance goal W 125-130lbs
On June 18, 2012 at 9:12 AM Pacific Time, rhearob wrote:
What do you think HWAG will say about that one, LOL!Excuse my level of inappropriateness this week, I'm fat, pregnant, full of boy testosterone hormones, my face is resembling a puberty-ridden 16 yr old, my panties don't fit right and I'm HUNGRY LOL. This is not a good recipe for healthy forum posting. Even though, I've been very nice lately.
Band to VSG revision: June 3, 2009
SW 270lbs GW 150lbs CW Losing Pregancy Weight Maintenance goal W 125-130lbs
SW 270lbs GW 150lbs CW Losing Pregancy Weight Maintenance goal W 125-130lbs
Wait until I have My plastics and am GRUMPY, LOL.
I'm saving my big jubilation post for hitting onderland - less than a pound away now!
_____________________________________________________________________
160 lbs lost. Surgeons Goal Reached in 33 weeks. My Goal in 37 Weeks.
VSG: 11/2/2011; LBL+Thigh Lift+BL: 10/3/2012; Brach+Mastopexy: 7/22/2013
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