I agree, but after being here since the site opened, I have found that there are folks that will just make up their own minds about what you typed and run with that thought without ever thinking or even asking what you meant to begin with.

Typed conversations are truly way more difficult to have and to hold than a verbal face to face one for sure.

I never copy tones. I have my own way to express myself and they have theirs. Copying tones sounds like a very strange way to show how you feel. Asserting yourself might be a great deal more clearer.

Basic de-escalation skill: if someone is yelling at you or taunting you, remain calm and rational. Either you talk them down, or they move on. Unfortunately, in our rush to militarize our police forces with SWAT teams and surplus armored vehicles during the "Peace Dividend" paring down of the military after the Cold War was presumably won, de-escalation skills were dropped from too many police utility belts and only now is being restored to training and priorities in too many police forces.

"Tone" is hard to convey in print, to be sure.

I have mistaken a comment as being made in earnest due to no marker (an emoji, etc.) to take it otherwise.

Good post.

I feel tone or intent can and is misinterpreted often in text communication is an almost lost skill

you are doing what is called Mirroring...pretty effective technique if you ask me.

People don't like it when you treat them the same way they treat you.

I tend to mimic phrases that people use and see if they notice

I type with hooves 🫎