Text conversations are tricky, because they allow you more time to formulate a response. They come without an attached tonality. Emoticons can help, but as Laycee Liston mentioned, everyone has their own idea of what each emoji means.
Last semester, I had a (verbal)
conversation with a guy in my ward that went something like this.
Guy: Hey,do you like cheesecake?
Me: Based on what you know of me,
what do you think my answer to that question would be?
Guy: Haha, I’m gonna assume yes?
Me: Of course! I mean, I guess some
people don’t like cheesecake, but you really shouldn’t hang out with those
people. Nobody needs that kind of negativity in their life.
Guy: Well I’m gonna make some
sometime, so you could come over.
Me: Totally! Just let me know.
And then I made a graceful exit because
I’m cool like that. As I walked back to my apartment, I group texted my
roommates, hoping for some help in analyzing whether or not this was a date…however,
the responses I got were surprising.
"Katelyn! Don’t you know that
cheesecake is code at BYU?? For NCMO's!!!" (Non-committal make out
session).
While at first I didn't believe
them, the continual texts I got ended up convincing me that they were telling
the truth. And I started to freak out. It was at this point that there was a
knock on the door. And who could it have been but cheesecake guy?
He came in. “So, cheesecake’s
ready.”
At this point I’m near
hyperventilating but trying to hide it.
I tried to stall for a while, as my
roommates snickered behind my back. It wasn't until they burst out laughing
that I realized--
IT WAS A JOKE. A PRANK. A TRICK.
My dear, sweet roommates ran to this
poor guy’s room after I texted and CONSPIRED AGAINST ME. AND HE PLAYED ALONG.
I Love that story!
ReplyDeleteyou make a good point when you said that the prank only worked because they were texting instead of talking in person.
writing can be deceiving you can say anything or be anyone over text. There have been many times when i am texting someone and they are very very different over text then in person. this can be deceiving but can lead to some great pranks.
Okay, how does this not have 8 billion comments?! Hahahahaha haha haha... This is a powerful example of how you were "wronged" by writing, but, concurrently, your roommates would probably view it as a testament to the power of writing. And, due to the facility of transfer of story through written word, all of my roommates have begun to use "cheesecake" for its false meaning hahaha
ReplyDeleteInteresting point I had never considered before--deadpan humor is MUCH easier to deliver in writing because most of us already read with a monotone voice in our heads. That is probably why so much of the humor we encounter on the Internet (i.e. Twitter, Tumblr) is abundant in that same kind of casual, matter-of-fact, sarcastic tone. Try any other genre of humor, and it just isn't as successful as it would be in person.
ReplyDelete