Moderately true

[nancylebov]

You can't wrap a hug in words and send it through email. But you can send a fist. And that's the problem with asymmetry on the Intarwebz. From theferrett.

I do think positive emotions can be conveyed in text, but it takes work. Being nasty to people in text can be done reflexively.

Link thanks to shadesong.

Comments

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

I send hugs to my sweeties all the time, in text, SMS, and IM. And they get them, on some level. I think it's a matter of training; after a time of reacting to a textual "*hug*!" as a good thing, I am primed to feel it that way.

It's no replacement for a real hug, but then, an internet fist is not quite like actually getting punched in the chops, either.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

Rather than "moderately true," I would say "True for some people." I think that's reflected in the comments to the original post.

[zenlizard]

I less-than-three this post.

[mneme]

Hmm. You can't?

It is true that negative feelings are much easier to push through without a personal connection than positive ones.

Anyways, *hugs*

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

That was a quote from theferret, not exactly my own experience.

However, I think I generate a generic hug when I receive a "*hugs*" rather than remembering a specific person's hug. I think I'll work on that, though a few more samples might be useful.

[mneme]

*nod* I'll have to work on supplying a few samples at the next opportunity.

[solri.livejournal.com]

I'd say that asymmetry applies in all means of communication.