I'm bored. And i'm in the train. So i thought to myself. What a perfect time to blog and pen my thoughts!
Recently, i've been looking back on certain instances when a joke almost developed into a feisty situation. It usually is a fine fine line between humour and insensitivity.
When people get comfortable, they open up. The act of opening up shows trust. Trust that you're free to express your view and that it'll be taken with a pinch of salt, without it being personal.
Sadly, that isn't always the case. Both parties may not be on the same page. One might feel more comfortable than the other actually is. And when in a group chat setting, where messages are communicated without tone of voice, pauses and facial expressions, one is often misunderstood.
The onus is on the individual to try not to say anything which might provoke a unfriendly retort. Unless you're out to hurt, then by all means let it rip.
And if we're the one receiving the information, try to give the other party the benefit of doubt. The relationship would have been at a certain level before one might feel comfortable so why jeopardise all that with the misunderstanding of a careless remark?
In this day and age, loads of our communication takes place digitally. Let us practice digital social etiquette. Digital communication is here to stay, we might as well make it productive and enjoyable.
ps. suddenly, i'm reminded of 宫心计's 刘三好's famous saying, "做好事, 说好话, 存好心".
