Mixed Signals · No. 3
What does “👍” mean?
From Chris, your brother, after you sent photos of your new apartment
👍
It could mean
- Not that interested
- Busy, but glad for you
- Annoyed, and keeping it short
What was going on
Chris was in a meeting, sent a quick thumbs up under the table, and showed the photos to everyone at lunch.
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 a survey of 273 adults, Gen Z rated messages with a 👍 as less friendly than older generations did, and Baby Boomers rated them as more playful than any younger group did.
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.