Ben has become one of my closest online friends. He’s a great guy, and I love chatting with him. When he signs onto Gchat, I usually greet him with “hi!” or “good morning!” He laughs and says hi back, often joking about my enthusiasm. The other day, I asked him just what was so amusing about it, and he said that he actually really likes it. My enthusiastic greetings make him feel like I’m genuinely excited to talk to him, that he’s not just another name on my buddy list. This is true, I am excited to talk to him, but I never realized that something simple like an exclamation point could have such an impact.
As much as we all love the digital world, relationships we form here are admittedly different because how we interact is different too. You can’t always tell someone’s tone from reading their words on your screen. You may not know if they’re lying or telling the truth. Not being able to see faces or hear voices totally changes the game. Add to that the casual typing practices of instant messaging and e-mailing, and it’s easy to see how words could get misinterpreted. My advice: When you’re writing something important, think about how the other person might read it before hitting the send button. And, when you’re on the receiving end of a message, don’t jump to conclusions without considering whether there could have been an alternate meaning.
As for exclamation points, throw one in every once in a while, even if it’s not usually your thing. When you’re talking to people who have hundreds or thousands of Twitter followers, Facebook friends, and blog commenters, sometimes you can’t help but wonder if they actually care about you. Something simple like an exclamation point or a smiley face let’s them know that they’re more than a name on your buddy list, and that means a lot. Bloggers can be friends, too, you just have to make the extra effort.
Disclaimer: If I happen to IM you without an exclamation point, it doesn’t mean I’m not excited to talk to you, so please don’t be offended 
What do you think of the exclamation point? How do you make sure your words are taken the right way online?
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