Today’s prompt is a tricky one, so I’m going to have to think about it. Meanwhile, I’m going to answer yesterday’s: How do you communicate differently online than in person, if at all? How do you communicate emotion and intent in a purely written medium?

I am definitely much more smooth online than in person. In real life, I am self-conscious about my appearance and constantly feel like when I’m talking to somebody, they are focusing on my acne and round face instead of listening to what I say. So it makes me nervous and I end up stuttering and stammering my answer to their question.

Communication by written text has definitely become my favorite way to communicate. For one thing, I don’t have to answer anything at once. For example, if I see a comment or a prompt, sometimes, I will immediately answer if I know just the thing to answer back or write but sometimes, I have to think about the appropriate answer. That’s not always true though. Sometimes, I’m just away from my computer and busy with other things.

On the other hand, in real life, this is different. If someone like an employer asks you a question, what do you do when you don’t know the answer? “Hold on, please! Let me think.”

I don’t think that’s something you can say in life. The employer would chuckle, ” Ha ha, I don’t think so. I want the answer and I want it now.” So that’s definitely an upside to online communication.

Sure, conveying emotion through written context is difficult. I would rather just laugh out loud than write down the words, I laugh or use 😀 or write down the words, I smile or use :). Point made. In the end, I just prefer writing more than speaking.