Mixed Signals · No. 2
What does “We need to talk tonight” mean?
From Jordan, your roommate, out of the blue
We need to talk tonight.
It could mean
- Upset about something you did
- Worried, and wanting your help
- Excited, with news to share
What was going on
The lease renewal had arrived, and Jordan wanted to ask if you’d both stay another year. Nervous, not angry.
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 five experiments, people overestimated how well their tone (sarcasm, seriousness, anger) came across over email. They “heard” the tone they meant, and found it hard to imagine reading the message without it.
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.