Mixed Signals · No. 4
What does “I guess I’ll just do it myself then” mean?
From Alex, your partner, after you said you’d do the dishes in the morning
I guess I’ll just do it myself then.
It could mean
- Fed up, and wanting help
- Hurt, and feeling alone with it
- Fine, just getting it done
What was going on
Alex was tired of asking and felt alone with the housework. They wanted help, and didn’t say so directly.
This message and its story are made up. Real messages don’t come with the story.Ask before you answer
Text loses tone, so a short message can read harsher, or softer, than it was meant. Before you answer, ask what they meant. That’s Check before assuming, one of the principles Porcupine is built on.
Got a real text like this? Run a Quills Check.
Paste it. I’ll show you a few ways it could be read, and what you could ask instead of guessing. Writing your own? Switch to “I’m sending it” and I’ll show you if the quills are up.
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Find the words with Porcupine
The Quills Check helps with one text. Porcupine helps with the whole conversation, from what you ask through their reply. It’s coming soon, and we’ll let you know when it’s ready.
Every message and story in Mixed Signals is made up.