CHATTING EMOTIONS
Saturday, November 07, 2015
Some days ago, I can't really remember if it was on facebook, but the whole scenario was about a month after graduating my course mates are now unleashing their literacy skills. A friend and Course mate Kasi Junior the SEC GEN of NSBS 2014/2015 Excos commented on one of the posts with his big grammar and he was like "After four years, they thought they trained Biochemists but little did they know that they trained vicious writers who would attain heights that likes of Chinua Achebe didn't attain". So i thought to my self this must be termed "Biochemical Diversification", subsequently we came up with a code-name abi hashtag "#anywaynapathway". In respect to that I assembled a team of biochemical writers to thrill you guys on the blog. So our first writer happens to my able course rep who just turned a blogger.....But that boy never gree ginme im blog address. So enjoy his piece he entitled "Chatting Emotions".
Social networks
has easily become the most popular means of communication in the world with
over 73% of the world visiting the endless list of social networking sites (In
fact it has become a ritual for people to check their tweet, notifications,
messages and update even before they say their morning prayers). This is due to
the rapid rate of communication, ease of making friends and the freedom of
self-expression it offers.
Am also a fan of
the social networks (can spend my entire day sitting at a spot and navigating
the various social network sites I subscribe to). I have many friends I chat
with especially on FACEBOOK and WHATSAPP. Over time I have discovered the
inherent difficulty in expressing emotions (especially those that bothers on
the perception people form about your personality in general rather those for
expressing love) during chats on social networks and most other written forms
of communication. Though emotions could be expressed through words it is
difficult for the reader to detect the tone, the mood and facial expression of
the reader especially as the messages are usually brief and straight to the
point. Yet on the long run, (especially if it is someone you rarely or have
never seen) the person forms a perception about your personality such as harsh,
caring, pragmatic, talkative, strict, easy going and so on.
For example if
one says "I don’t want it " the
reader could interpret it to have a harsh undertone and so conclude that the
writer is angry and is shouting as well it, whereas the writer could be have
meant it in the most polite manner. And the fact that one rarely pays attention
to punctuation on social media doesn’t help matters.
I guess the
owners of some social networks have discovered this too and that’s the reason
behind the inclusion of smileys and other forms of facial expression in other
to enable the reader connect with the emotion of the writer.
One of the days
I was trying to establish connection with someone I used to know (although not
closely) on Facebook, so I was curious to find out some facts about her current
status because I thought I had seen her somewhere. I asked her a question
instead of replying she asked me her own
(Like any
typical Nigerian would do), then when I insisted she answered me first, the
next reply I got was
"Tie
a rope to my neck”
Then I knew that
the hand shake has crossed the elbow because she misunderstood my persistence
for rudeness. I knew this couldn’t have happen if it was a face to face or
phone conversation. So instead of reacting negatively I made fun of the
situation by sending her a smiley expressing laughter and told her I was only
curious and didn’t mean to be rude. She eventually called me up later, we had a
brief chat and it was all good. With anyone else who doesn’t understand this,
the whole thing could boil over and we would engage each other in a war of
words.
There is another
friend of mine whom for the past four years our only means of communication has
been through the social networks and calls (only once in a while). I observed
that in our recent chats she frequently used words like don’t judge me, don’t
scold me , you will be a strict dad…… so I asked her a few questions about her
perception of my personality, drawing her attention to the words she has been
using. And I got to find out she thought of me as someone that is strict,
pragmatic, uptight, and probably a perfectionist. Which I believe describes the
exact opposite of who I actually am. And I know it all boils down to the way
she interpreted the things I have said overtime.
This experience
has made me change the way I chat this days, I don’t fail to use smileys and
words like lol, smh, lmao, etc (If you don’t the meaning of the abbreviations
don’t ask me because you probably didn’t get the whole gist) to give my chat a
sense of humour.
Chigozie Okoro, B.Sc
- Mk I put im B.Sc ooo, cos that boy follow for our first class wey we dey graduate. Like the wise man will say, Thank you for the past 7 minutes you spent reading this post.
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7 comments
So true Chigo,i've actually had few disagreements with frnds bcos of misinterpretation of certain statements,one i'll neva forget was wen i askd a frnd a questn via whatsapp nd i perceived his ansa to be rude,but becos i knew he wasn't de kind dat gets angry unneccessarily i quelled by anger.Now,assuming i didn't know dat abt him,am sure dat relationship would have had hiccups.Trully the introduction of smileys has really made conversations via social media alot more understandable.
ReplyDeleteSo true Chigo,i've actually had few disagreements with frnds bcos of misinterpretation of certain statements,one i'll neva forget was wen i askd a frnd a questn via whatsapp nd i perceived his ansa to be rude,but becos i knew he wasn't de kind dat gets angry unneccessarily i quelled by anger.Now,assuming i didn't know dat abt him,am sure dat relationship would have had hiccups.Trully the introduction of smileys has really made conversations via social media alot more understandable.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! this was an apt read.. I specifically love how his writing is very detailed and professional, but yet still quite easy to relate with and understand. Weldone King Chigozie... and a hearty congratulations on bagging a 1st class in Biochemistry sir.. That is no small feat eh! even if i say so myself Oga Boss.. It is a worthy one. Oshey! Akada someboRRy..
ReplyDeleteYou know yeah brother.. Social media has more or less caused more Katakata and nwanyo nwanyo. i mean many atimes yeah.. Friendships are marred all because people take or took what another said too seriously.. So my decision of recent has been simple.. Study the recipient (Chatee).. If a chat goes awry the first time.. na Mistake.. If it happens Twice.. Then Back off.. Tahts all.. Its like Dating.. No be fight...
Weldone King Ice.. I see teh full team is coming on Board.. **Rubs Palms togeRRa.. Cant wait mehhnnn.. as this was a fun ghen ghen read.. and the crowd goes.. Oshey! King Ice for President. Cheers Boss..
Thanks Lord Duruh for ur warm comments! Made me feel better than Chinua Achebe!
DeleteTHANKS King Ice for making me write this piece! You are still the man! As for my blog its still loading n i dont think it will be done without ur professional touch!
ReplyDeleteThanks gift for reading and understanding as well!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThank you for making out time to read my blog, Your comments are appreciated.