I’m old enough to have been an adult when the internet was first opened up to the general public. I remember guides to writing email that stressed that you should be careful using irony or sarcasm, that the tone was very difficult to convey. I don’t know what it could be, but there seems to be something about online communication that makes it next to impossible to use such devices.
Sure, but for some reason there doesn’t seem to be the same difficulty in print. I don’t recall any warnings about the use of sarcasm or irony in style guides before the internet era, and no one seemed to feel the need for anything like “/s”.
Lack of nonverbal queues/tone and lack of context. It’s easier to convey sarcasm through text if you’re chatting with someone you know well. But online, you’re often talking to near strangers, and you don’t know if they’re the type to find this kind of thing hilarious among other beliefs.
I’m old enough to have been an adult when the internet was first opened up to the general public. I remember guides to writing email that stressed that you should be careful using irony or sarcasm, that the tone was very difficult to convey. I don’t know what it could be, but there seems to be something about online communication that makes it next to impossible to use such devices.
It’s because sarcasm is usually indicated with vocal intonations, which is lost in text.
Sure, but for some reason there doesn’t seem to be the same difficulty in print. I don’t recall any warnings about the use of sarcasm or irony in style guides before the internet era, and no one seemed to feel the need for anything like “/s”.
“Oh sure, that’s a great idea.” he said sarcastically.
Lack of nonverbal queues/tone and lack of context. It’s easier to convey sarcasm through text if you’re chatting with someone you know well. But online, you’re often talking to near strangers, and you don’t know if they’re the type to find this kind of thing hilarious among other beliefs.