Brain Scientists Explain Forum Threads Gone Bad

[rogerd]

One of the biggest causes of forum hard feelings and disputes between members is humor gone awry. Typically, one member makes a comment intended to be funny; another member takes it as a personal insult, and they are off to the races flaming each other.

I attribute most of these misunderstandings to the limitations of the text medium. Without facial expressions and body language, humorous intent, particularly sarcasm, is easy to miss.

Now, brain researchers have found that some people just "don't get it" because of their brain wiring: Researchers Pinpoint Brain's Sarcasm Sensor [forbes.com].

This could explain a lot... ;)

[ken_b]

I've tried, not always successfully, to live by the idea that just because something could be offensive doesn't mean it was meant to be so.

So far that's worked pretty well for me.

[bcolflesh]

rogerd, "thanks" for posting this - I really "appreciate" it.

[Webwork]

I'm so relieved. I thought it was me.

Except for your brain damage I'd be really funny!

[gethan]

> hard feelings and disputes between members is humor gone awry

Seen it so many times!

Forum humour is so hard to get right - I always suggest if making a joke, add a smiley ;)

So much of humour isn't related to the words, but context, tone of voice, situation. In a book humour works better because anyone reading has the context, even a blog has more chance. Whereas forums tend to be scanned.

I think sarcasm which relies so much on tone of voice is the worst form of humour to get across in a forum - under no situation will you find me using sarcasm in a forum.

[linear]

<sarcasm>Clearly what's needed is an XML schema for marking up your posts.</sarcasm>

<irony>I'm sure there will be incompatible implementations from working groups inside IBM and MSFT shortly.</irony>

[rogerd]

>>Except for your brain damage I'd be really funny!

I'll order the first T-shirt, Webwork. :)

[eEagle630]

Great post ... its comforting to find out the "forum drama" isn't only in my forum ...

Cheers!