Читать книгу The Communication Playbook - Teri Kwal Gamble - Страница 215

The informality of the Internet, together with its potential for anonymity, also affects language use in other ways. When online, people sometimes share their thoughts without displaying any concern for the feelings of others. Instead of conversing honestly and openly with one another, they comment about one another. Whereas gossip used to be whispered from person to person, racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks are now plastered across the Web for anyone to read. Comments like “so-and-so is a slut” and “blank has herpes” pop up on anonymous gossip sites. Trash-talk has gone digital, and it encourages some to go to extremes in their voicing of distasteful and dubious comments. How would you suggest this issue be handled?

Online language also can be inflammatory. What you text or tweet in haste or in anger may reach a wide audience and have unimagined serious consequences. For example, when one teacher posted on her Facebook page that she was “a warden for future criminals,” the district’s school board scheduled a hearing to determine whether to revoke her tenure.⁷⁵ Do you think they should? Why?

Communication Skills

Practice Thinking Critically About Language Use

Throughout this chapter, we have stressed that mastery of certain language skills will improve your ability to communicate effectively with others. Use the following advice to ensure that your words work for you rather than against you.