Failure to communicate

[Hellhound]

I'm frustrated again at my lack of ability to word things right, to be able to handle conversations. It seems that, no matter what say, people will misunderstand me in a negative manner. I probably say something as a joke, word it in an awkward way or in caps, then BAM, assumptions that I called them dumb, that I want them gone, that I'm acting bratty...

Then guilt. Because I didn't mean what I said, but the other person doesn't get it, they don't listen to me, they persist. Then bashing myself internally over and over, over what I should have said and how.

I feel like I'm about to go insane sometimes, because I don't know if the failure is in me or in others. But really, can others be in the wrong all the time? I doubt it.

 

[Anxy]

Ah, it sounds a lot like myself. I seriously envy people who have no trouble with carrying on a conversation. Talking is hard, especially if you're not really interested in what the other person is talking about or you simply don't feel like the answer is needed.

 

[jaim38]

Communication is hard! I experience severe word salad, train of thought breaking off before I could finish my sentences, short term memory, not to mention eye contact making it harder for me to concentrate on what people are saying, etc.

I am guilty of misinterpreting people at times. When people put words in CAPs for instance, it looks like they're yelling at me but that might not be their intentions.

I don't think you're in the wrong all the time. Misunderstandings are bound to happen especially for novices like you and me, but with practice I'm sure we'll get better!