Punaweb and Poe's Law

[konadave]

quote:

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Originally posted by freestate

This came up on the "Good People Leaving Punaweb" thread, sort of.

I don't think of Poe's Law as something to be obeyed, but rather as a kind of "Web Law of Physics" that was given a name. Basically just a truism.

One of the things about the evolution of the internet that I find fascinating is the genesis of new norms for communication. i.e. Poe's Law, Godwin, etc.

I interpreted Poe's Law to describe the phenomena that is is impossible to write something so outrageous that it will not be taken seriously by someone unless you use an emoticon.

But I don't think it means you can write some inflammatory screed and just throw an emoticon at the end and its all cool.

In the context of this thread I just offered it as something to keep in mind. If you are TRYING to be humorous on a web forum you probably should use the emoticon otherwise someone is going to take you seriously.

As to whether its funny or good taste etc, that is still up to the reader.

But its not like shields on Star Trek.

"Red Alert, EMOTICONS UP!"

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Okay, well said. I just have a question then. Where would you draw the line between "some inflammatory screed" and just a bad joke that is accepted as a joke?

I guess what I am asking is where does everyone draw the line? The problem I see is that every person here is going to have a different tolerance for it. Whose to say one man's joke is another man's derogatory remark?

Thanks!

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