The Secret Cause of Flame Wars
By Stephen Leahy
"Don't work too hard," wrote a colleague in an e-mail
today. Was she sincere or sarcastic? I think I know
(sarcastic), but I'm probably wrong.
According to recent research published in the Journal
of Personality and Social Psychology, I've only a
50-50 chance of ascertaining the tone of any e-mail
message. The study also shows that people think they've
correctly interpreted the tone of e-mails they receive
90 percent of the time.
"That's how flame wars get started," says psychologist
Nicholas Epley of the University of Chicago, who
conducted the research with Justin Kruger of New York
University. "People in our study were convinced they've
accurately understood the tone of an e-mail message when
in fact their odds are no better than chance," says Epley.
....
<http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70179-0.html>
--
Richard Gaskin
Managing Editor, revJournal
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