Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Forum or face to face? Which is more informative?

Fljotsdale · 10-30-2001, 01:13 PM

There are advantages on both sides. Face to face you get all the nuances of body language, tone of voice, expression, eye-contact which all modify the words coming from the mouth, thereby reducing the possibilty of misunderstanding. But arguments are usually spur-of-the moment and ill-thought-out as a result.

In the forum we are also blind to all the visual communication of RL. We speak almost mind to mind, but without being able to actually READ the minds of others. So what are the advantages?
1. We have time to think before replying (not that we always do!)
2. We can do research before replying, so that we have a more reasoned approach to a topic, and, hopefully, more understanding of it.
3. It is easier to admit the other guy might be right if you can't see his/her smug reaction to such an admission!
4. You don't have prejudices to contend with - like the sound of a certain regional accent or bodyshape implying stupidity; or a certain style of clothing or hairstyle implying the person is a thug; or youth implying ignorance; or old age implying 'not with it'.

I enjoy RL debates, but forum debates can often be more interesting and thought-provoking.

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Here be Dragons!
Proud to be Dubbed Queen of the Illuminati by Diogenes.

"If I say something to you and it can be taken two ways, and one of those ways upsets you...I meant the other one."

10-30-2001, 01:13 PM	#4
Fljotsdale Thoth - Egyptian God of Wisdom Join Date: March 12, 2001 Location: Birmingham, West Mid\'s, England Age: 88 Posts: 2,859	There are advantages on both sides. Face to face you get all the nuances of body language, tone of voice, expression, eye-contact which all modify the words coming from the mouth, thereby reducing the possibilty of misunderstanding. But arguments are usually spur-of-the moment and ill-thought-out as a result. In the forum we are also blind to all the visual communication of RL. We speak almost mind to mind, but without being able to actually READ the minds of others. So what are the advantages? 1. We have time to think before replying (not that we always do!) 2. We can do research before replying, so that we have a more reasoned approach to a topic, and, hopefully, more understanding of it. 3. It is easier to admit the other guy might be right if you can't see his/her smug reaction to such an admission! 4. You don't have prejudices to contend with - like the sound of a certain regional accent or bodyshape implying stupidity; or a certain style of clothing or hairstyle implying the person is a thug; or youth implying ignorance; or old age implying 'not with it'. I enjoy RL debates, but forum debates can often be more interesting and thought-provoking. ------------------ Here be Dragons! Proud to be Dubbed Queen of the Illuminati by Diogenes. "If I say something to you and it can be taken two ways, and one of those ways upsets you...I meant the other one."