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Differences that change a conversation

I was only joking

Irony in the sender’s head and words on the screen

Olek sends a joke. Maja receives only words without his tone of voice.

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Olek smiles as he sends an ironic message from his laptop.
Great. Just five more revisions and maybe it will be ready.
Maja reads the message seriously while Olek still smiles.
So he thinks I did everything wrong.
You can obviously hear that I’m joking.
Maja replies formally and Olek is puzzled by the change of tone.
Understood. I will prepare another version based on your comments.
Why is she suddenly writing so formally?
Olek and Maja discuss the misunderstood message.
Maja, I was only joking.
How was I supposed to know it was a joke?
Olek and Maja see two meanings in the same words.
In my head it sounded light.
On the screen it sounded like a complaint.
Em, the Empatyzer coach
Olek reads his own message with the tone he can hear in his head. Maja receives only written words, without the smile and intonation. The irony disappears and the joke starts to sound like a complaint. In a short message, mark the joke clearly or use a channel that carries tone.