PM replying etiquette...Am I crazy?
You can get into a lot of trouble reading emotion into text. For my input, though, if I write a trailing elipsis, I'm generally intending to convey the sentence trailing off without ending properly. If someone read my intent correctly, the sentence might come off as aloof.
I dunno where they got "hostile" from, though. His exclamation mark is much more hostile than a cute little elipsis
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/36641/My-Little-Exalt
Yeah, count me in with a "WTF are you talking about?" to "Player".
Dec out.
if I write a trailing elipsis, I'm generally intending to convey the sentence trailing off without ending properly.
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You know what they say about assuming...
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This, though typically I only end with a trailing ellipsis if the "missing half" of my sentence is obvious, or if the first half of the sentence is sarcastic. Otherwise, I never use an ellipsis anywhere other than in the middle of a sentence to indicate a pause or shift in thought.
You know what they say about assuming... |
He's right, trailing your sentence off with an ellipsis does imply negativity. Don't believe me?
"Congratulations Mrs Smith," the doctor said, "it's a boy..."
Why didn't you ask me? I was looking for some lvl 37 missions just last night...
-Largo
Founder of A.G.O.N.Y. Supergroup on Victory
Member of Thought Sanctum VG on Victory
Member of St0rm Batallion SG on Guardian
He's right, trailing your sentence off with an ellipsis does imply negativity. Don't believe me?
"Congratulations Mrs Smith," the doctor said, "it's a boy..." |
"Congratulations, Mrs. Smith. It's a boy.....but his vital signs aren't good. We put him in the NICU, and hopefully, he'll survive the night."
"We're going to have to amputate the limb, Mr. Anderson......but your symptom are very unlikely to spread, so the affliction should be contained."
In the OP's example, though? Player was reading WAY too much into it. They were just a few dots and he was lucky to get a response, especially one as polite and understandable as the OP's. Get over it and try to recruit another random stranger for your L37 missions.
I'm another one of those people who read it negatively. I wouldn't have commented on it, and would have just said 'Okay then. Have a nice day. ', but I would have felt the sting anyway.
I have a habit of reading them almost as somebody sighing. Somebody who's saying something because they feel they have to, but really can't be bothered. 'Yeah, I'm coming' says to me that this person wanted to let us know that he's on his way. 'Yeah, I'm coming...' says to me that the person either doesn't want to be on their way, or thinks that we're impatient for asking.
Another way I sometimes read it is someone who feels they're stating the obvious, but that you're too blind to see it. 'Come and get the glowie.' sounds to me like a leader leading his team. He's making it clear what he wants to do. 'Come and get the glowie...' however, sounds like he fully expected you to get the glowie immedietly, but now that you haven't he thinks you're a tad moronic.
I read it perfectly fine as a natural gap in a sentance though. 'We could... do a safeguard?' just sounds like someone thinking to themselves to me, and is just another little part of natural conversation. Unnecessary in text, but I like it anyway.
Technically, there is no reason for the elipsis unless you are continuting. This might be due to you being in combat at the time, etc.
I'd like it if we could say nty and it would be interpreted as "No, thank you." I do want to thank them for the invite. I usually go, "No, but thanks anyway." or sometimes elaborate, "Toon is totally busted up after a respec, but thanks anyway." Cause my toons are always busted up after a respec.
Originally Posted by ShadowNate
;_; ?!?! What the heck is wrong with you, my god, I have never been so confused in my life!
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This. I had a habit of doing it too, but I broke myself of it mostly. The PM guy got a bit too up in arms about it, but he is right. It makes whatever you were saying sound negative or that you're hesitant about something.
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The best idea is just not to use it unless you have a reason to.
You know, thinking about it now, I don't usually end a 'no thank you' with it, but at the time, I was thinking that my internet connection at work was going to end soon, and wasn't the best at times anyway, so it might have been an unconscious thing on my part that the "..." meant all that.
Hmm, I wonder if I should look for that player online next time, and somewhat apologize...I never really thought about the "..." much, but some valid points have come up here.
Global: @Midnight Blues
"How can you master, when you have not failed?"
Who the hell cares? It's in-game context, not like it's anything important.
.................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ...........
It takes time to type ... so it obviously means something to you or you wouldn't do it but the meaning is lost on the person reading it. If it is meaningless to you then don't do it.
Of course, on teh computrz, we have an entire character to use for ellipsis. No more need to type three whole periods when you can use a single ellipsis!
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Wasn't that easy?
Everyone has a unique writing style, the very nature of language and grammar guarantees that. Merriam Webster was just a tool of the Illuminati's Thought Retention & Eradication Division... all part of their Grand Conspiracy® (yes, they've really trademarked that... check the USPTO!) to keep the masses sleeping sheeple. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
Originally Posted by ShadowNate
;_; ?!?! What the heck is wrong with you, my god, I have never been so confused in my life!
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I think you're crazy for letting this get to you.
...but the other player was ridiculous.
Now, am I crazy or is this person reading way too much into three periods? Sarcastic? Hostile? Three dots?
*Names have been removed to protect the idiotic! |
It does make it seem you'd rather not be bothered by the person. I suppose that could come across as 'hostile' to some.
Despite that, the guy was reading too much into three dots
The plastic tips at the end of shoelaces are called aglets. Their true purpose is sinister.
--The Question, JLU
I'd like it if we could say nty and it would be interpreted as "No, thank you." I do want to thank them for the invite.
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I suppose I might be thankful for the reminder that I forgot to hide that particular character from searches, though.
That's probably the difference between an introvert and an extrovert talking there.
Some people will take your liberal use of the elipses as a way of showing your annoyance at being bothered by them. They're probably going to get defensive about it and act stupidly. Guess what? They'll get over it. My advice? Forget about it and move on. Don't bother wasting your time over something so trivial and just enjoy your game play.
This is a very short conversation I just had in game:
[Tell] -->Me: no thanks...
[Tell] Player: ok... dont know whats with the ... but theyre lvl 37 missions
[Tell] -->Me: just the way I end my replies...
[Tell] Player: you shouldnt. it comes across as very sarcastic and slightly hostile!
[Tell] -->Me: three dots does all of that?
[Tell] -->Me: seriously?
[Tell] Player: yarp
[Tell] -->Me: maybe you are reading too much into it...
*Names have been removed to protect the idiotic!
Global: @Midnight Blues
"How can you master, when you have not failed?"