# Silly things about online communication **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2002, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-about-online-communication/109586 "2002-05-17T17:44:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-about-online-communication/109586/1 "2002-05-17T17:44:41Z")
Pulling the quote from another thread, this is a perfect example of something I’ve been wondering about for years (p.s. I removed the poster’s name so as not to make this a “Hey you” post): > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by X \* > \*\*I neither know nor want to know what **sparlking** water is. > > sigh… > > I meant, of course, sparkling. \*\* Before we send off our replies, posts, emails, and often even hand written letters, we see a mistake, yet instead of correcting it, we just comment on the fact we screwed it up. Why is this? There have been plenty of times I myself have written something incredibly stupid, but instead of giong back, errasing it, and finding a less offensive/more gramatical way of saying it, I simply just appologize for my screw up in the next sentance. For me, it’s because often, I like to write free-thought expressions, and it’s fun to give someone an incredibly long letter (as if this post didn’t point out how long winded I am). But what about you others out there? ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-about-online-communication/109586/2 "2002-05-17T18:41:59Z")
I agree with you. I like the free-thought expression aspect of it. And leaving my mistakes in and then commenting on them is like opening my brain box and saying, “look, this is what goes on in here.” It’s somewhat egocentric in that I’m making people pay attention to me. - Jumps up and down waving arms and shouting \* Granted, the vast majority of the time I correct the mistake so no one knows I made it. But that is frequently dependent on context. Clearly, I’m not going have such a self-referential comment in a report I’m writing for my boss. But I do it in informal emails, even at work. And, of course, if the mistake has some Freudian aspect to it, I feel a need to show it off. - Holding out hand: “Here, look at my poo. Isn’t it cool?” 😃 \* ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-about-online-communication/109586/3 "2002-05-17T19:02:20Z")
I only leave mistakes if they’re amusing. Otherwise if I see it before I hit the “send” button, I’ll fix it. Sometimes I’ll even leave it and not even comment on it, knowing that it’d be funnier if I appear to have missed it. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-about-online-communication/109586/4 "2002-05-17T20:23:40Z")
Wow. I’m poster X. I corrected it because it was my sad, sad attempt at humor. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-about-online-communication/109586/5 "2002-05-17T20:28:31Z")
Don’t feel bad, **JuanitaTech** , I understand completely. Like I’ve said, I do it myself. I just always wondered why? But thanks for owning up to it. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-about-online-communication/109586/6 "2002-05-17T20:36:38Z")
I’ll correct the mistake and then say “Heh – I typed by mistake,” if the typo was of a Freudian nature or funny in other ways. Otherwise, I correct all mistakes I catch without comment. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-about-online-communication/109586/7 "2002-05-17T20:50:30Z")
I was IM’ing a potential date (which turned kinetic :)) and was mentioning how sometimes I’m better chatting online rather than on the phone because online I can “proofread myslef.” I went back to correct it then realized that it was much funnier if I didn’t. Musta worked!