Mixed Signals · No. 19
What does “Let’s just drop it” mean?
From your dad, after you disagreed by text about holiday plans
Let’s just drop it.
It could mean
- Done with it for good
- Hurt, and tired of arguing for tonight
- Fine, and moving on
What was going on
He was hurt and tired of arguing, and wanted to stop for tonight, not for good.
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.
What research says
In experiments about polarizing opinions, people who heard someone explain a view they disagreed with judged that person as more thoughtful than people who read the very same words.
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.