Using a full stop could be a sign of passive aggression

Jenuall wrote:But it's a communication tool, surely the determining factor in whether someone is being stern with you or not should be based on who you are talking to and what they are actually communicating, not the tool that is used?

[...] Context is the key - hard rules like "full-stop = agressive" just can't exist in such a varied space.

Yes, obviously there is a hierarchy of context that goes into understanding any communicated message.

The "aggressive full stop" is only a possible context hint. Of course it is! But meaningful and nuanced communication always involves context hints, so it's still interesting (well, if you find language interesting!) to understand what those hints are and why they come about.

Jenuall wrote:

captain red dog wrote:It's just text based communication evolving. For example, if my missus is away, and we've had an argument, I would text "Goodnight." to communicate I am annoyed. It invites a response of "WTF is wrong with you, why so dry". If all was good, I'd message "Goodnight xxx" which would invite a similar response and end the conversation.

But again it's all about context and knowledge of the participants in the conversation - that's just how that example plays in your scenario.

Conversely for another couple "Goodnight" might just mean goodnight, where "Goodnight xxx" might indicate that the person sending it has done something wrong and is trying to get back in the others good books.

Context is the key - hard rules like "full-stop = agressive" just can't exist in such a varied space.

I kind of agree but these rules build up over time. If the fullstop rule is continued by young people as they age, it'll reach the point where it is commonly understood by the population, at that point it'd would become a general rule. Also sub populations can have their own linguistic rules, there are loads of rules that only apply to a certain type of slang or regional accent.

Jenuall wrote:

captain red dog wrote:It's just text based communication evolving. For example, if my missus is away, and we've had an argument, I would text "Goodnight." to communicate I am annoyed. It invites a response of "WTF is wrong with you, why so dry". If all was good, I'd message "Goodnight xxx" which would invite a similar response and end the conversation.

But again it's all about context and knowledge of the participants in the conversation - that's just how that example plays in your scenario.

Conversely for another couple "Goodnight" might just mean goodnight, where "Goodnight xxx" might indicate that the person sending it has done something wrong and is trying to get back in the others good books.

Context is the key - hard rules like "full-stop = agressive" just can't exist in such a varied space.

I kind of agree but these rules build up over time. If the fullstop rule is continued by young people as they age, it'll reach the point where it is commonly understood by the population, at that point it'd would become a general rule. Also sub populations can have their own linguistic rules, there are loads of rules that only apply to a certain type of slang or regional accent.

"Erika Darics, a lecturer in linguistics at Aston University in Birmingham, says it is all down to context." /thread

If you've sent a single sentence/phrase/word then a full stop looks out of place, I'd agree. If you've sent multiple sentences then it's fine. Emoji normally take the place of punctuation. Also never put a full stop after "lol".

If someone ever replies with "Lol." it's probably pragmatic to assume they are a serial killer.

OrangeRKN wrote:If someone ever replies with "Lol." it's probably pragmatic to assume they are a serial killer.

I think this is something we should all be able to agree on!

Likewise people who say "lol"

Karl_ wrote:Incredible that GRcade is now collectively old and lame enough to be going through its "young people these days don't speak English properly!" phase.

To be fair I’ve been like that since I was 13.

OrangeRKN wrote:Also never put a full stop after "lol".

Or never use ‘lol’. That way there’s no danger of a punctuation faux pas, and you don’t risk looking like a tit in a situation when you blatantly didn’t laugh out loud! Two birds one stone.

I say "lol" a lot. It's used ironically either when something is supposed to be funny but isn't (e.g. someone tells an unfunny joke, one replies with lol), or when something is very serious to which humour is an inappropriate response (e.g. someone declares they lost their job, one replies with lol).

Balladeer wrote:

OrangeRKN wrote:Also never put a full stop after "lol".

Or never use ‘lol’. That way there’s no danger of a punctuation faux pas, and you don’t risk looking like a tit in a situation when you blatantly didn’t laugh out loud! Two birds one stone.

I agree lol (lots of love)

It always starts with people saying they’re doing it ironically.

Extreme lollage!

It's amazing how subtle and almost subconscious the underlying emotion of a single word text can be.

Getting

ok

in response to a statement or question can mean 'I'm busy, but am acknowledging' or 'oh ffs I can't even'

Which of the following is aggressive and which is fine?

ok

ok.

ok!

OK

OK.

OK!

OK

Some are clear, but others are massively dependant on the person (their usual MO) and context.

So I'm going to have to say...... "It was much easier when I was younger and we just made phone calls to each other...."

k

okay

OrangeRKN wrote:k

How DARE you.

Garth wrote:okay

thanks man.

Lime wrote:It's amazing how subtle and almost subconscious the underlying emotion of a single word text can be.

Getting

ok

in response to a statement or question can mean 'I'm busy, but am acknowledging' or 'oh ffs I can't even'

Which of the following is aggressive and which is fine?

ok

ok.

ok!

OK

OK.

OK!

OK

Some are clear, but others are massively dependant on the person (their usual MO) and context.

So I'm going to have to say...... "It was much easier when I was younger and we just made phone calls to each other...."

Maybe I'm odd but I have no problem with any of those as there could be any number of reasons for the use of caps.
Maybe the sender was in a rush and had caps lock on and hit send without noticing as it's the type of message that can be sent almost without thinking.

Fine.

Okilly Dokilly.

Lime wrote:It's amazing how subtle and almost subconscious the underlying emotion of a single word text can be.

Getting

ok

in response to a statement or question can mean 'I'm busy, but am acknowledging' or 'oh ffs I can't even'

Which of the following is aggressive and which is fine?

ok

ok.

ok!

OK

OK.

OK!

OK

Some are clear, but others are massively dependant on the person (their usual MO) and context.

So I'm going to have to say...... "It was much easier when I was younger and we just made phone calls to each other...."

Yikes

Cuttooth wrote:Fine.

What are you being like that for?