catjudo,

This is an interesting thread. I definitely think the written word can be more easily misinterpreted as opposed to verbal communication and I do agree that we, as human beings (even despite PTSD) may have a hard time articulating ourselves.

I also think that this happens in verbal communication, as well. I can't tell you how many times I've taken someone's facial expressions and misinterpreted them. Or how many times my husband may something to me and I interpret it in a way that was not necessarily intended by him.

Communication is a complex form of evolution. We can try to hone this skill as best we can, but I doubt we will ever reach perfection because, I believe, we live in a subjective world, not an objective one. (Of course, that belief is a whole other debate.)

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I do think it's only responsible for us as members of an online community to think and write carefully and to do the same when we read. But I would never expect this "issue" to be resolved. This issue is something that just needs to be accepted.

I've definitely gone back and read some things that I've written on this board, especially when triggered, and thought "oh my, what was I thinking", while at the time it seemed perfectly logical. But it happens - and we move on.

If we were constantly trying to get everyone to "understand" us, we would all be exhausted.

Best,
Rachel

Hi Herc,

Woot...is just a funny way of saying "what?...and hermeneutics ... the theory and methodology of interpreting texts...well...it gets more complicated than that...but yeah...of course, then the questions of what constitutes a text arise...etc.

I do proofread. Sometimes I think I "sound" a bit rough but it is how I feel, the words I chose are ones I grew up with and how they are used . I have seen over and over for a few years now people taking what I said lighter than meant or harsher than meant, I think it is background. I can just put my feelings and thoughts in a two dimensional form with no tone and the rest is left to the reader as to what I typed was a horror fest rant or a heartfelt emotional plea. So yes, I think about it, but if I worry how every word came across my point never would.

The majority of time nowadays, yes... I will read what I am writing and responding to in order to ensure I am believing that I am taking what is written correctly. It is hard to interpret words... they don't come with emotion, facial expressions, etc. Much easier to be negative though... and its not a PTSD thing. People often tend to move towards a negative more promptly than a positive as that is easier.

I too try to re read what I have written, but I really believe that it comes down to the written word being misinterpreted. I also spend a lot of time deleting, rewriting, deleting... and writing again. LOL!!!!

In the moment writing has a big part in this also.... I think when a person gets triggered, something that has been said that gets them upset, or a personal issue that hasn't been resolved yet, that people just hit the respond button, type what they feel and post it.

I think asking for clarification is NEEDED MORE on the forum, instead of getting all pissy about things. JMO!!!!!!

Totally agree with that statement.... well said. I still fall into the trap sometimes, though quite rare nowadays which means I am still improving myself on this aspect.

I think as I write. If it's raw or harsh, I trust (VERY big deal) that the people here, if nowhere else in my life, will give me the benefit of the doubt and ask me, "Hey, red, did you mean to sound like a total ass, or did it just come out that way?" I try to keep in mind that this is somewhat of a sensitivity issue, as some folks are more easily triggered or more sensitive to raw emotions or just uncomfortable without being able to see who they're conversing with. I am almost, but not quite, impossible to offend. Easy to irritate, difficult to make truly angry. Irritants I've found are just so much easier to handle that it seems silly to expend my anger- a powerful force- on trivialities. Again, a sensitivity issue- I'm about as sensitive as a brick regarding things that don't matter to me. If I care, I care ALOT. Otherwise...ehhhh. I always try to be respectful of everyone's thoughts and feelings. I figure we've all had enough disrespect in those areas to last a lifetime. red

For me, it depends on what the topic is. But I do think I try to think about it first, for the most part. I try not to be too rash.

Annie